Grant FAQ

A grant is a financial award given by the Wisconsin Arts Board for a specific project or purpose linked to public benefit and does not need to be repaid.​

Listed below are our deadlines for each program. Please click on a program's name to see more information.

 

Creation and Presentation Grants:

September 12th, 2025 – Intent to Apply Deadline (for new applicants only)

October 9th, 2025 – Application Deadline

December 12th, 2025 – Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

Date TBD – Earliest Beginning Date for Grant-Related Activities

Date TBD – Final Report Due

 

Creative Communities Grants:

February 20th, 2025 – Intent to Apply Deadline

February 27th, 2025 – Phase 1 Application Deadline

March 14th, 2025 – Announcement of Phase 2 Invitation or Rejection

April 10th, 2024 – Phase 2 Application Deadline

May 2025 – Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

July 1st, 2025 – Earliest Beginning Date for Grant-Related Activities

Date TBD – Final Report Due

 

Woodland Indian Arts Program:

February 13th, 2025 – Application Deadline

March 2025 – Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

March 15th, 2025 – Earliest Beginning Date for Grant-Related Activities

December 31st, 2025 – Latest End Date for Grant-Related Activities

January 31st, 2026 – Final Report Due

 

Arts Challenge Initiative:

January 20th, 2025 @ 3:00 PM CST – Application Deadline

March 2025 – Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

July 1st, 2024 – June 30th, 2025*** – Earliest Beginning Date for Grant-Related Activities (this grant can be applied retroactively to expenses incurred anything between July 1st, 2024 and June 30th, 2025)

Date TBD – Final Report Due

 

Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program:

March 6th, 2025 – Intent to Apply Deadline

March 20th, 2025 – Application Deadline

Mid-May through June 2025 – Announcement of Grant Reward or Rejection

June 30th, 2026 – Final Report Due​

As of now, with the exception of the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program, we do not fund individuals or creative entrepreneurs. Individuals may want to explore funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. We support individual creatives indirectly through many of our grants and through our technical assistance activities.

 

We define technical assistance as the support, encouragement, and skill building that our staff provides to people through phone calls, emails, virtual meetings, webinars, and in person activities like grant proposal writing workshops and board development sessions.

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must:

  • have a record of consistent artistic activities for at least three consecutive years prior to application;  
  • have as a primary purpose the creation/production or presentation of artistic programming (performances, exhibits, events) that benefits the general interested public; 
  • demonstrate community participation in the program planning; 
  • match each dollar of Arts Board support with at least one dollar of public (non-state) or private funds; 
  • have an average of at least $10,000 in organizational revenue for each of the past three years (WAB cannot contribute more than 25% of an organization's overall budget);
  • be incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin in order to apply for support (organizations are required to provide proof of incorporation and activity in Wisconsin before applications are reviewed or funds awarded.);   
  • be a certified 510(c)3 nonprofit in good standing, OR an organization that has applied for non-profit status using a fiscal receiver;
  • have a federally required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which replaces the previously required DUNS number (to obtain a UEI, follow the instructions at SAM.gov). If a grant applicant can show that it has applied for a UEI prior to submitting its application — even if that UEI has not yet been received — then the application will be accepted for review.

 

For Colleges, Universities, and Units of Tribal or Local Government including Public Schools:

  • The Arts Board does support programs that fall under the auspices of these organizations, provided those programs involve the local community in planning, execution, and participation. These applicants must demonstrate that their programming reaches the general public in addition to an academic audience. (This can be shown through financial support from sources beyond the school such as local corporations, businesses, individuals, and foundations; through its audience and participant evaluation statistics; and through board, advisory or steering committee composition that includes community members.) 
  • Performing Arts Series, Galleries/Museums and Art Film Series that are ongoing and a part of colleges, universities, or public schools are eligible. Grants are based on the arts program's budget, not the overall university/college/school budget. Indirect costs may be shown as in-kind, but not as part of the cash budget/match. No administrative fee for this grant may be charged to the grant or to the program's budget by the university/college/school.   

 

For “Presenting Organization" applicants only: 

  • Note: A presenting organization is defined as an organization that serves its community primarily by brokering relationships between touring performing artists and the presenter's community. It does so by acting as the catalyst to bring those artists from outside of the presenter's community into that community, to perform in concerts and/or residencies.
  •  The applicant must present four or more performances annually by professional touring artists who reside outside of the presenting organization's community in a series that is locally planned.

A fiscal receiver is an incorporated, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that provides administrative and financial services for projects initiated by unincorporated, nonprofit organizations - or by incorporated, nonprofit organizations that do not have financial/administrative capability or meet the 3-year requirement. The fiscal receiver accepts responsibility for administering paperwork and project funds throughout the Arts Board's grant process. The unincorporated group or organization completes the project activity.

Yes. Grantees must match or cover the portion of the activity costs not borne by the Wisconsin Arts Board. Matching funds shall amount to at least 50 percent of total costs. Each dollar of Arts Board support must be matched with at least one dollar of public (non-state), private funds, or in-kind contributions. 
In-kind contributions are goods or services contributed to the applicant organization by individuals, other agencies, or businesses that have a demonstrable cash value. These may include items such as donated or discounted space and equipment rental, printing, advertising costs, professional services and other labor, etc. In-kind contributions are valued at fair market price and must be capable of being verified upon request.

Yes. In general, the Arts Board does not fund the following nor can the direct dollar for dollar match for Arts Board funds be used for these expenses:

  • ​​Capital equipment (items costing more than $5,000 with a useful life of more than one year) or capital expenditures, e.g., renovation of existing facilities;
  • Food or beverage;
  • Building/space rental for administrative purposes;
  • Benefit/fundraiser activities;
  • Cash prizes or awards;
  • Competitions;
  • Deficits incurred from past activities;
  • Individual tuition;
  • Activities for which academic credit is given;
  • Curriculum expansion;
  • Out-of-state travel;
  • Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties, gallery openings;
  • Activities that have already been completed by the beginning of the grant period;
  • Activities that have a religious purpose;
  • Lobbyists’ payments;
  • Activities not open to the general public.​​

Accessibility Information

The Wisconsin Arts Board is committed to insuring ADA compliance and we are advocates for full access to the arts. Organizations that receive funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board must be fully accessible and inclusive to every individual including people with disabilities and older adults. If you are unsure if your organization or facility is in compliance, please contact the Wisconsin Arts Board's ADA Coordinator, Dale Johnson​.

The Wisconsin Arts Board is equally committed to making sure our services are accessible to people with disabilities, including artists with disabilities.

To request accommodation at meetings, or related to WAB grants or services, please contact artsboard@wisconsin.gov or call 608-264-8191.

Grant Application Assistance

Arts Board staff can arrange to meet applicants with disabilities virtually, in our office (which is wheelchair accessible), or in another location that may be more convenient. Grant guidelines are also available upon request in alternative formats. Please contact our Accessibility Coordinator Dale Johnson (608-264-8191) for more information.

 

Accessibility Requirements for Grantees

All WAB grantees are required to meet accessibility requirements. Our staff can provide guidance and assistance for applicants and we have more accessibility information here. Please contact our Accessibility Coordinator Dale Johnson (608-264-8191) for more information.

Our funding policies begin with our legislation and administrative rules. The rules and guidance of the National Endowment for the Arts have also molded our programs. From there, we work with our board, arts groups, artists, and our constituents to create funding goals, criteria, guidelines, and the grant programs themselves. We also take into consideration the policies of other state arts agencies and adopt policy that strengthens and melds with our existing funding policies.

Our board approves the grant programs and their guidelines. Our staff members bring their own experience and expertise throughout the process, too. Evaluations by staff, panels, applicants, and grant recipients occur annually. Occasionally, the board approves any major adjustments in the guidelines that arise from our annual evaluations.

We empanel groups of people to review, discuss, and make recommendations regarding funding for applications and grant requests. Our board then meets to consider those recommendations, either approving or denying them.

Panels insulate the distribution of money from the political process, and bring a helpful level of expertise, perspective, and experience to the application review and to the feedback that the applicants receive during and after the panel meetings.

These peer review panel meetings have always been open to the public, with transparency and accessibility being enhanced by our use of virtual meeting platforms.

Please find specific toolkits for each grant program listed or take a look at our general grant recipient resources below.

Creation and Presentation Grant Recipient Resources Toolkit

Creative Communities Grant Recipient Resources Toolkit

 

After Receiving a Grant… What Comes Next?

Complete your grant agreement.

  1. Log in to SmartSimple.
    1. ​​Access your grant agreement by selecting In Progress under the Requires Attention section of your SmartSimple home page.
    2. Open the item that says Grant Agreement in the Activity Type column.
    3. May be applicable:
      1. If your grant award is less than your original requested amount by more than $100, click the Open Grant Revision Report  to complete, scan and upload this report.
      2. Complete, scan and upload the Credit Line and Logo Use Form .
    4. Click the Open Grant Agreement button. Print and sign the grant agreement, then scan and upload the signed document as a PDF file. Upon receipt, we will add our signature and upload a copy of the final completed contract back to that site for your records.
  2. Notify your stakeholders (board, staff, members, etc.) - this is something we strongly recommend 
    1. Send an email to your board of directors and let them know you have received this grant. 
    2. Gather your staff and celebrate your success 
    3. Share your award with your online community (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
  3. Notify your government officials (governor/senator/representative) - this is something we require 
    1. Write a letter of thanks to the Governor. Explain the importance of state support and how that support not only helps you/your organization but also the state. 
    2. Write a letter of thanks to your state senator and state representative. Explain the importance of state support of the arts and how this grant will affect you (individual) or your organization.
  4. Notify your local media - this is something we strongly recommend 
    1. Send out a media release announcing your grant award. Explain the importance of state support of the arts, how this will impact your community and the significant role the Wisconsin Arts Board plays in the state's artistic health. 
    2. Issue a photo release of yourself/your team with the check you received. Share enthusiasm and great need to continue to have state arts support.
  5. Market the award on your website/print collateral/signage - this is something we require 
    1. Place the Wisconsin Arts Board logo on your site and explain what the Arts Board is and that you have received support for your work. Access the logo here.
    2. Insert the Wisconsin Arts Board logo on all print collateral. 
    3. Insert the National Endowment for the Arts logo on all print collateral. Access the logo here.
    4. The credit line language to use is: "Our operations are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts."
  6. Track the impact of your grant - this is something we require
    1. Throughout the year, track the number of people that your organization serves, including youth.
    2. If possible, track the social/economic impact of this grant within your community (including its impact on youth, elderly, within communities of color, within the disability community, etc.). Here's a helpful tool for tracking this data.
    3. Track exactly where the funds were used (personnel, marketing, production costs, etc.). This information will be required for your final report.
    4. Document people engaging with your artistic work.
    5. Share photos and media and explain that this is supported through a grant of the Wisconsin Arts Board.
    6. Share photos online and link/tag the Wisconsin Arts Board.
    7. Gather credit information, when available. 
    8. Keep track of program successes or areas where improvements could be made.
  7. Submit your final report for this project by the date specified within your grant agreement - this is something we require
    1. After you login, you will see the home screen with two sections. The top section titled Welcome… shows the in-progress and approved/declined applications.
    2. The section titled Requires Attention shows the in-progress and submitted activities associated with your applications. The final report is one of these activities.

 

Grant Recipient Quick Links

    • The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage. For more information on the Wisconsin Arts Board, please visit artsboard.wisconsin.gov. 

 

Government Contact Resources