Arts & Culture Grants Funded by The Endowment
Administered by the Arts Council of Wilmington & New Hanover County
Grant Cycle: February 1-28, 2026
Register for a Webinar
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
Monday, February 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, February 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Building on the success of its 2025 pilot, The Endowment is launching an enhanced Arts and Culture Grants Program for 2026. Grants of $5,000 to $15,000 will be awarded to nonprofit arts & culture organizations based in New Hanover County.
The Arts Council of Wilmington, the authorized intermediary partner, will accept grant requests from February 1-28, 2026. The guidelines and application will be available at www.artswilmington.org/theendowment on February 1, 2026. Total funds available in this round are $430,000.
All grantmaking is conducted in alignment with The Endowment’s mission, values, and funding priorities, with a specific focus on strengthening New Hanover County’s arts and cultural ecosystem to drive The Endowment’s four pillars: education, social and health equity, community safety, and community development.
Organizational Eligibility
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Be based in and primarily serve New Hanover County
- Demonstrate an arts and culture–centered mission
- Be in good standing with the Arts Council and the New Hanover Community Endowment
- Be able to execute a grant agreement and meet reporting requirements
- Operational history (newly formed organizations will not be considered)
- Independent governance structure (active board with fiduciary oversight)
Eligible Uses of Grant Funds
- Arts programming and public engagement
- Artist fees and contracts
- Production and presentation costs
- Community-based cultural projects
- Capacity-building or operational support
- Marketing and audience development
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
- Activities outside New Hanover County
- Political or lobbying activities
- Religious instruction
- Capital construction
- Deficit reduction
Grant Categories & Award Structure
Small Organization Grants (up to $5,000)
For emerging or volunteer-led organizations supporting arts programming and community engagement
Organizational Sustainability Grants (up to $15,000)
For established organizations with paid staff, facilities, or significant operating expenses
In administering funds from The Endowment, the Arts Council is committed to expanding equitable access to arts funding, supporting organizations of varied sizes and disciplines, ensuring broad geographic and community representation across New Hanover County, and advancing arts and culture as drivers of community vitality and economic development.
Final funding recommendations must be approved by the board of directors of the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County in accordance with its governance policies and the terms of its grant agreement with The Endowment.
Questions? Email us at grants@artswilmington.org.