Funding

The NEA offers the Grants for Arts Projects program, which funds projects that engage the public with art, provide arts education, and integrate arts into community strategies. These grants support dance, music, theater, visual arts, literary arts, and media arts education for pre-K to 12th-grade students. View their grant opportunities here.

Schools can use the following Title Funds for Arts Education:

Title I: Ensures that academically at-risk students have educational programs that allow them to meet their state’s academic standards.

Opportunities for Arts Education:

• Engaging the arts to improve students’ non-academic skills, such as self-efficacy or engagement.
• Supporting student attendance and other non-academic indicators through increasing access and opportunities in the arts and other well-rounded educational subjects.
• Incorporating arts-based techniques in professional development programs to strengthen the effectiveness of educators in improving student learning outcomes.

Title II: Provides supplemental activities that strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

Opportunities for Arts Education:

• Establish professional learning opportunities for arts educators
• Develop programs using arts-based techniques or arts-integrated strategies to build the capacity of teachers
• Implement professional learning opportunities to strengthen an arts educator’s ability to use content area-specific readings to help build student literacy, while also addressing the teacher’s arts-specific educational objectives

Title IV: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Part A, Subpart 1) provides funding for districts to support well-rounded education opportunities, safe and healthy students, and the effective use of technology.

Opportunities for Arts Education:

• Develop arts education programming and courses, programs that integrate arts into other subject areas, and programs that focus on addressing student engagement and school culture
• The arts can be included in strategies to help ensure that schools help keep students safe and healthy. For example, trauma recovery programs that utilize the arts as a therapeutic measure.
• Purchases of technology for arts classrooms or professional development for arts educators to incorporate new technology in the classroom or implement blended learning strategies.

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC): This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities, including arts education, during non-school hours. Non-profits can also apply!

Opportunities for Arts Education: 

• Implementation of arts education programming before or after school, or during summer hours

Ask your local district if they are allocating any of these funds towards arts education!

Grants

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School districts may apply for:

• Project Grants (see page 7)
• Curriculum-based Project Grants (see page 9)
• Live Arts Learning Grants (see page 20)
• Administrative Projects for Training or Professional Development, only (see page 10)
• Quick Assist Grants (see page 21)

Arts organizations may apply for:

• Project Grants (see page 7)
• Curriculum-based Project Grants (see page 9)

The Alabama State Department of Education offers $20,000 – $25,000 grants to public schools and community organizations in order to strengthen the development and implementation of a comprehensive arts education program in the schools. Grants may provide additional support to schools having a current plan designed to provide quality arts instruction. Schools must have the full support of staff, including teachers, administrators, specialists, and assistants, and be willing to participate in intensive arts professional development. Programs must show a concerted effort to include the participation of every student, staff member, and administrator. Community organizations must show evidence of planning in partnership with school personnel, designing to meet the needs of the school(s).

RFP’s are usually available and due in the fall of each school year. Funding, if awarded, becomes available in the late spring. For more information about this funding opportunity, contact Andy Meadows at ameadows@alsde.edu

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Diverse groups can apply for foundation grants on the Alabama Power website, where various grants are available. Proposed projects must address a need in at least one of the five initiatives: educational advancement, civic and community development, arts and cultural enrichment, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. The project must have the potential to lead to permanent improvements in a community while addressing the needs of underserved segments of the population, such as racial or ethnic minorities.

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For Nonprofits:
Foundation Grants (arts education projects, up to $10,000)

Elevate Grants (workforce development, up to $5,000) – Application window closes November 1, 2025

For Teachers/Schools:
Classroom Grants (supplies, up to $1,000) – Application window Sept. 15 – 26, 2025

Power to Play Grants (supplies and programs, up to $2,500) – Application closes August 22, 2025

Field Trip Grants (field trips, up to $2,500) – Application window Aug. 4 – Sept. 5, 2025

Reimbursement grants (minimum of $5,000) are provided by various Resource Conservation and Development councils across the state serving different regions. Grants generally fall into two categories: general grants and education grants. All counties in Alabama are represented by an RC&D Council. You may be eligible for a statewide grant from the Alabama Association if your project spans multiple counties. RC&D councils accept applications from April 1 to June 30.

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The Daniel Foundation of Alabama is based in Birmingham but strives to improve the quality of life for citizens from all regions of Alabama by funding four types of initiatives: education and youth grants; arts, culture & community grants; health initiatives; and community needs. Each funding category has its own application time frame and deadline. Organizations must be within Alabama.

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501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, schools, and school systems may apply for a grant up to $5,000 for arts education. To see the full guidelines, click here. To apply, complete this form.

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Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama

The Northeast Alabama Community Foundation offers a number of funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations with varied focus areas. Nonprofits must operate within the Northeast Alabama region: Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Cleburne, Calhoun, Etowah, St Clair, Cherokee, and Dekalb Counties.

Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville

Serving the greater Huntsville area, the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville provides funding opportunities focusing on the neighborhoods and community, environment, recreation, economic opportunity, education, arts and culture, health and wellness, and basic needs. Find a full list of their grant funding resources on their website.

Our Community Foundation–Birmingham

The Community Foundation of Birmingham serves organizations and nonprofits in the greater Birmingham area. The Community Foundation has two grant-making cycles and five priority areas: Thriving Communities, Equity and Inclusion, Regional Cooperation, Economic Opportunity for All, and Overcoming Persistent Poverty.

Community Foundation of East Alabama

The Community Foundation of East Alabama supports various special programs and events in the East Alabama area. They offer a Mini-Grant program that annually awards three $500 grants to nonprofits for operational support. Nonprofits that have been in operation between 2 to 5 years are given preference. They must operate in Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa, Chambers, and Russell Counties.

Community Foundation of West Alabama

The Community Foundation of West Alabama offers community and education grants that support various nonprofit organizations in various areas, including arts and humanities, children and youth, education, elder care, environment, health and medicine, recreation, and social welfare.

Walker Area Community Foundation

Qualified 501c3 nonprofit organizations may apply to the foundation for funding during the spring cycle (deadline of March 1) or the fall cycle (deadline of September 1) each calendar year. Feeding programs and food banks must apply in the spring. Grants are made for the following charitable purposes: arts and humanities, children and youth education, elder care, environment, health and medicine, recreation, and social welfare.

Central Alabama Community Foundation

The Central Alabama Community Foundation funds community projects via Community Trust Grants to Central Alabama and serves Montgomery, Lowndes, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston Counties.

Black Belt Community Foundation

The Black Belt Community Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to uplift and fund projects of need in the Black Belt region. They serve a 12-county region including the following counties: Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox.

Wiregrass Foundation

The Wiregrass Foundation offers grants to nonprofit community organizations that positively impact the greater Dothan area’s health, education, and quality of life.

J.L. Bledsole Foundation–Southwest Alabama

The J. L. Bedsole Foundation serves Southwest Alabama and is focused on providing post-secondary educational opportunities for the region. It supports qualifying organizations that provide civic, artistic, cultural, artistic, and economic development opportunities in the greater region.

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