Operating Grants for Organizations

How to Apply Program Guidelines - Eligibility - Application Components - Application Review Process - Grant Amounts - Grant Requirements - Timeline - Grant Payment Legal and Other Requirements Grants Management System

Application Process

Operating Grants for Organizations provides multi-year, unrestricted operating grants to nonprofit organizations and cultural affiliates that enrich Massachusetts’ cultural life.

This program is now open for applications for funding starting in FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The next application cycle will open in 2027, for funding beginning in FY28 (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028).

Además, usted también puede solicitar la traducción de los materiales de la aplicación y que estos se le sean enviados digitalmente. Este proceso tardará de 5 a 10 días hábiles.

Mass Cultural Council is happy to offer alternative formats, auxiliary aids, translation, interpretation, and other services necessary so that any individual can participate in Mass Cultural Council’s programs and services. Contact staff for help. To facilitate your request in a timely manner, please contact us at least three weeks before any Mass Cultural Council event or grant deadline.

Mass Cultural Council aims to build a diverse and equitable creative and cultural sector in the Commonwealth. To that end, historically underfunded organizations are encouraged to apply, including but not limited to Native American, Indigenous, or Urban Indian organizations, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) organizations, d/Deaf & Disability organizations, and organizations serving vulnerable populations.

How to Apply

Questions? Contact program staff, or call 617-858-2825.

Program Guidelines

Eligibility: Organization Types

The following organization types are eligible to apply:

1. Nonprofits that are independent and have active (not revoked or dissolved as of the application deadline, April 17, 2025):
   a. 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

AND EITHER

i. Registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (SOC) as incorporated in MA.

OR

ii. Incorporated as a Nonprofit Corporation in another state, but registered with the SOC as a foreign corporation in MA, with a MA address.

OR

iii. Registered as a Public Charity with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s (AGO) office.

2. Cultural Affiliates: This is the name that is given to semi-independent programs that operate under a non-cultural parent organization.

a. Cultural Affiliates can include:

i. Departments/Programs of a Massachusetts:

1. 1. 1. Federally-Recognized Tribal Government
      2. State Government (including public colleges or universities)
      3. Municipal Government

ii. 501(c)3 organization that is not eligible to apply on its own (including private colleges, universities, or conservatories)

iii. MA branch/program of a national 501(c)3 organization

b. Cultural Affiliates must also meet both of the following criteria:

i. Manage their own budget. (Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.)

ii. Have at least one full-time (min. 30 hours per week) compensated administrative staff position dedicated solely to operation of the cultural entity. This is only a requirement for Cultural Affiliates.

Eligibility: Mission, Purpose, and Programming

All eligible organization types must also meet the following criteria:

1. The organization’s primary mission or purpose is creating, presenting, or providing services in the arts, humanities, and/or interpretive sciences.
2. Over 50% of the organization’s programmatic (not administrative) work is in Massachusetts.
3. The organization contributes to the cultural vitality of Massachusetts by providing programming that is publicly available or intentionally serving a specific portion of the general public, rather than benefiting any private individual or group.

a. A college or university providing programs to its own students, or an organization that only provides programming for its donors, members, or other limited audiences is not considered to be serving specific portions of the general public for this program.

b. Programs of K-12 public, private, charter, or independent schools are typically not eligible for this program unless they meet certain programmatic requirements. We recommend that you contact program staff before starting an application. (Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.)

4. The organization must have an Access Plan that illustrates compliance with or improvement towards the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Eligibility: Financial Reporting

All eligible organization types must be able to provide financial reporting:

For the three most recently completed, 12-month fiscal years:

• Nonprofits will provide their 990 or 990EZ tax returns through FY24 or FY23.
• Cultural Affiliates will fill out a budget form in the application for FY24.

AND

• Show minimum expenses of $50,000 for each of the past two, full 12-month fiscal years being reported on.

(Refer to the Application Components section below and the Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.)

Please Note: Each applicant organization may only submit one application. Cultural Affiliate applicants with the same parent organization may each apply.

Other Mass Cultural Council Funding & Eligibility

To support our equity goals, Mass Cultural Council has taken steps to ensure that we can fund as many organizations as possible. Read our blog for more information. Organizations receiving funding from the following Mass Cultural Council programs should be aware of additional considerations, as described below:

Not eligible to apply:

• FY25 Operating Grants for Organizations recipients
• FY25 Cultural District Investment Grants recipients

Eligible to apply, but will only be funded by one program:

• FY26 Gaming Mitigation Fund recipients
• FY26 YouthReach recipients
• FY26 Creative Experiences recipients

May be eligible to apply:

• Organizations currently receiving funding from Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Investment Portfolio may only apply for Operating Grants for Organizations if FY25 is their final year of Portfolio funding.
• Organizations that manage a state-designated Cultural District might be eligible if it has operations that are independent of the Cultural District.

Organizations with questions about grants from more than one Mass Cultural Council grant program should review the Frequently Asked Questions and contact program staff or call 617-858-2825.

Application Components

The application consists of narrative sections and a financial section.

Narrative: Provide an overview of the organization, including a description of its core programming. The applicant then answers two required sections and chooses one of the other two sections that best suits their work.

Required Sections

1. Organizational overview
2. How does the applicant demonstrate equitable practices
3. How does the applicant support Massachusetts’ artists, humanists and scientists

Choose one of the following two sections:

1. How does the applicant engage their community deeply and authentically
2. How does the applicant advance the cultural sector

Financial Section

1. Answer a few questions about the organization’s financial operations
2. Upload the tax forms (990 or 990EZ) for the organization’s three most recently completed, full 12-month fiscal years. In most cases, this will be FY24, FY23, FY22, but for some organizations, this will be FY23, FY22, FY21.

a. Cultural Affiliates: programs of parent organizations that do not have their own tax reporting will be required to report their financial information on a budget form that is included in the application for FY24.

Application Review Process

Mass Cultural Council staff review all applications to confirm eligibility. Mass Cultural Council will make every effort to ensure accuracy but cannot be held accountable for missing or incorrect information in the relevant sources.

Staff will review the application for completeness and accuracy. Staff will contact applicants if any technical errors are discovered. The applicant will be given a deadline to resubmit the corrected application. If the applicant does not meet the deadline, the application will not be moved forward for review. Incomplete applications (i.e. leaving required narrative questions blank) will not be reviewed.

Eligible applications will be forwarded to a grant review team that will include a diverse group of individuals who are knowledgeable about the cultural sector. The review team will assign scores to the applications based on the review criteria applicable to all applications.

Individuals who are interested in signing up to be a reviewer should register online.

No one will be eligible to participate as a reviewer in a program where their application is being reviewed. All reviewers are subject to the Commonwealth’s Conflict of Interest policies.

Review Criteria

Through this program, we aim to support cultural organizations that celebrate, preserve, and inspire creativity, and use the arts, humanities, and/or interpretive sciences to support transformational change and strengthen communities.

Mass Cultural Council works to build a diverse and equitable creative and cultural sector in the Commonwealth, ensuring that all who practice and participate in creative and cultural expression see themselves in it.

Each of the following narrative sections of the application will be reviewed separately, with its own set of criteria and rubric. Seventy-five percent of the application score will be based on the narrative section of the application.

1. Demonstrate Equitable Practices (required)
2. Support Massachusetts’ Artists, Humanists, and Scientists (required)
3. And a choice of either:

• • Advance the Cultural Sector
  • Engage the Community Deeply and Authentically

The preceding review criteria serve as the Agency’s definition of excellence per the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) partnership agreement. Please read the Guidance on Application Narrative and Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Funding Prioritization

Mass Cultural Council envisions a diverse creative and cultural sector that is valued as essential in the Commonwealth. To that end, priorities have been established to support programmatic practices that advance equity, diversity, and inclusion through our services to the sector. Twenty-five percent of the application score will be based on the Prioritization elements.

Prioritization will include the following:

• Applicants that have not received funding from Mass Cultural Council in the last three fiscal years (FY25, FY24, FY23), or that are applying for the first time. This does not include grants awarded by Local Cultural Councils.
• Applicants that have not received multi-year operating support from Mass Cultural Council in the last three fiscal years (CIP Portfolio or CIP Gateway: FY25, FY24, FY23).
• Applicants that self-identify as led by and serving people of the global majority — Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latinx, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and all other ethnicities of color. (Applicants wishing to make this BIPOC Centered Organization identification will need to fill out a form in the Agency’s grants management system.) The BIPOC-Centered self-identification form must be submitted prior to the Operating Grants application deadline of April 17, 2025.
• Applicants participating in the Agency’s Card to Culture program. Applicants may sign-up for this voluntary non-granting program in the Agency’s grants management system. If an organization is not already participating in the program, an application must be submitted prior to the Operating Grants application deadline of April 17, 2025.
• Applicants that have completed the Arts & Culture Accessibility Self-Assessment and have uploaded the confirmation of completion as part of the Operating Grants for Organizations application. The Assessment must be completed and the confirmation uploaded to the Operating Grants application prior to the application being submitted. Staff will review the confirmation after the application deadline.

If staff identify any errors in the forms or applications submitted for any of the preceding prioritization elements or if additional information is needed, staff will reach out to applicants with a deadline to respond and/or make necessary revisions and resubmissions. If the applicant does not meet that deadline, prioritization points will not be applied for this grant program.

Equitable Distribution

Mass Cultural Council reserves the right to ensure equitable distribution of funding across the Massachusetts cultural sector – funding proportionate to the number of eligible applications – considering a variety of factors. This may include, but is not limited to, equitable distribution across geography, discipline, and budget size. Additionally, Mass Cultural Council reserves the right to place grantees in the most appropriate and/or advantageous grant program to ensure that our resources serve the cultural sector as broadly as possible.

Grant Amounts

Not all eligible applicants are guaranteed funding.

We anticipate the grant amount range for FY26 will begin at $6,000. Final grant amount ranges will be determined after the applications are submitted, depending on the amount of funding available for Operating Grants for Organizations, based on our annual legislative appropriation and the number of applicants to the program.

In FY25, grants ranged from $6,000 to $55,000. Organizations with smaller budgets receive smaller grants, which represent a larger percentage of the organization expenses. Larger budget organizations receive larger grants, which are a much smaller percentage of the organization’s expenses. Grants are made for one year and renewable annually for up to four years. Grant amounts will be redetermined annually.

Grant amounts are based on a formula, which uses a three-year average of an applicant’s cash expenses and includes weighting to align with Agency goals and priorities. Cultural Affiliates – entities working under a parent organization – may have additional caps applied to their individual or collective grant amounts. Read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how the formula works.

Timeline

Application Opens: February 18, 2025
Information Session: February 25, 2025 (12:30pm ET)
Application Deadline: April 17, 2025 (11:59pm ET)
Applicant Notification: September 2025
Annual Report Due: June 2, 2026

Grant Payment

To receive the funds awarded through this program, grantees must complete the following documentation:

• CASL (Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing) form
• Electronic Funds Transfer Form/W-9 including valid EIN
• State Contract and attachments

While Mass Cultural Council staff make every effort to confirm the organization’s legal status and standing during the review process, if during the contracting process it is discovered that the grantee does not meet the eligibility requirements of the program the grant will be cancelled, and the grantee will be notified. Grants cannot be transferred or redirected to a third party such as a partner or co-producer.

All the necessary documents will be sent via DocuSign to grant recipients to complete. Grantees who do not have a bank account that the funds can be transferred to can notify the Contract Officer at the time of award notification to request a mailed check. For Cultural Affiliates, the grant contract will be with the parent organization and the grant is restricted to the activities of the Cultural Affiliate.

Mass Cultural Council will make every effort to expedite payments as quickly as possible.

For more details, you can read detailed instructions about the Agency’s contracts, as well as contract Frequently Asked Questions.

Grant Requirements

Grantees must complete the annual reporting requirements to be eligible for a grant in the next year. The following reporting requirements MUST be completed by 11:59pm (ET) on June 2, 2026 to avoid penalties to your grant for the following year. Grant requirements include:

1. Acknowledgement of Funding: Grantees are required to credit Mass Cultural Council for funding. Refer to your Contract Package or the online Credit and Publicity Kit for more details.
2. Annual Report: Grantees will be expected to complete an annual report that includes a financial reporting section where you will be required to upload the most recent three years of 990s or 990EZ, or other required or approved financial reporting (Cultural Affiliates). This will be used to calculate one of the formula factors to determine grant amounts for the following year.

Because information from the annual report is required for grant calculations, if you do not complete all the requirements by the June 2, 2026 deadline, there will be a 25% penalty to your grant for the following year. You have an extension to June 9, 2026. If you still haven’t completed your requirement by this time, your organization will be suspended and not eligible to receive a grant for the following fiscal year.

Annual Report Extension Policy

Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for organizations facing extraordinary circumstances. Please notify Mass Cultural Council Staff as soon as possible to request an extension.

Tax Document Delay Policy

For those grantees submitting a Form 990 or Form 990EZ for FY25 for their final report, if you have been notified by your auditor or accountant that these tax documents will not be completed in time to meet the deadline, please notify Mass Cultural Council Staff as soon as possible to request an extension. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Suspension, Holds, Reductions, and/or Removal from Funding

Mass Cultural Council may suspend funding if an organization does not meet annual grant requirements. If the organization’s funding is suspended for two consecutive years, they will be removed from the grant program and will need to reapply.

Additionally, Mass Cultural Council has the right to withhold, reduce, discontinue funding, or apply restrictions to the use of grant funds if an organization:

• Intentionally misrepresents their finances, programming, or other eligibility requirements.
• Does not notify Mass Cultural Council of significant organizational changes.
• Encounters a situation that creates grave concerns about an organization’s ability to effectively and ethically operate. These concerns could include but are not limited to the following:
  • Violation of ethics and standards as determined by professional associations in an organization’s field or discipline.
  • Operations in violation of the provisions governing the operations of public charities.

In cases where an organization experiences serious organizational capacity issues, Mass Cultural Council will attempt to work with them to address the challenge. Read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information on suspensions, holds, reductions, and/or removal from funding.

Legal and Other Requirements

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Mass Cultural Council is committed to ensure that all programs, services, policies, and practices will be formulated and conducted in a manner which will ensure equal access for all people and prevent discrimination not only as a matter of law, but also as a policy designed to encourage the participation of all segments of the Commonwealth’s population in Mass Cultural Council programs and services.

Mass Cultural Council is happy to offer applicants/grantees alternative formats, auxiliary aids, and services necessary so that any individual can participate in the Mass Cultural Council’s programs and services. Contact our staff for help. To facilitate your request in a timely manner, please contact us at least three weeks before any Mass Cultural Council event or grant deadline.

Mass Cultural Council is dedicated to creating a workplace, programs, and services that welcome, respect, and value people of all races, color, age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religions, creeds, ancestry, national origin, disability, and veteran status. Mass Cultural Council will not fund any organization or program that discriminates based on these attributes. We strive to reflect diversity in all activities, programs, and services removing any barriers to accessibility. Mass Cultural Council and its grantees are expected to comply with:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Mass Cultural Council’s grantees sign a contract (see contract requirements) certifying that they will comply with ADA and Section 504. Mass Cultural Council aims to help grantees understand their obligations and recognize the opportunities that increasing access can support both the public and the grantee. Additional information about Mass Cultural Council’s Accessibility Requirements and Compliance Tools for Grantees are located in our Access Policy.

Requesting Feedback

Applicants that are not funded are encouraged to reach out to program staff for feedback on their application, which would include scores and any reviewer comments.

Reconsideration Policy

An applicant may request reconsideration of a Mass Cultural Council decision if the applicant can demonstrate that Mass Cultural Council did not follow published guidelines and procedures. Dissatisfaction with the denial of an award or the award amount does not constitute grounds for reconsideration.

A written request must be sent to the Mass Cultural Council’s Executive Director within 30 days of the date of notification of the decision. Such requests will be reviewed by the Mass Cultural Council Grants Committee and the governing Council.

Grants Management System

All applicants should submit their applications through the grants management system. After you log in, the application is located under “Current Funding Opportunities”. If you have not applied to Mass Cultural Council before on behalf of your organization and/or do not already have a user profile, you must register in the grants management system.

• Go to the grants management system and click “Register”.
• On the next page select “Organization”.
• Your organization may already exist in our system. Use the “Organization Name” search to find it. If you cannot find your organization in the list, you must register your organization in our system.
• After completing the registration, you should receive an email from “MassCultural_noreply@smartsimple.com” to activate your account.
• Please activate your account within 48 hours.

If you have previously applied for a Mass Cultural Council grant using your email address, you may have a profile in the system already. Here’s how you can check:

• Go to the online system and click “Forgot Password”.
• Once you submit your email address, you will receive an email from “MassCultural_noreply@smartsimple.com” with a link to reset your password. The link is active for 48 hours.
• If you do not receive an email, you do not have an account and you should create one using the instructions above.

Contact grants help desk if you have questions about your account.

Proceed to the Online Application