Purpose

The purpose of the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program is to encourage a breadth of programming through arts and cultural heritage projects that support the building blocks of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action (Appendix A). Catalyzing Impact 2026 grant projects must occur between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Note: the project cannot be completed prior grant award notification in February 2026.

Who May Apply

ArtsWave believes that strong arts create strong communities and actively seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusiveness in its grantmaking. To be eligible for the FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grant Program, an organization must meet all the following requirements:

· Have a 501(c)3 tax status or be non-profit in nature with an established fiscal agent.

· Propose an arts-based project for this grant.

· Based in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA, which includes the following counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.

· Did not have a current, active Sustaining Impact grant for the FY24-26 cycle.

· Does not currently have an open Catalyzing Impact Grant with ArtsWave that will not be completed by February 1, 2026 and has successfully completed all previous Catalyzing Impact grant requirements.

· Has not received funding for the proposed project through another ArtsWave project grant.*

 *Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Circle, Pride, Young Professionals grant programs or Inspire Individual Artist grant program are not eligible for funding. A recipient of any of those grant programs is still eligible to apply if they meet all of the requirements above and propose a different project for the Catalyzing Impact grant program.

NOTE: Applicants new to ArtsWave must schedule an introductory virtual meeting or phone call prior to the application deadline. Please contact Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org to schedule a time. Returning applicants are also encouraged to reach out with any questions they may have related to their project or application. All applicants will be given the opportunity to submit their applications by a pre-deadline, specified date as a review and edit resource. 

UPDATE: Beginning with the FY23 grant cycle, an organization may apply for funding for two (2) consecutive years and if awarded funding in both years would then be required to take one (1) year off before applying for the Catalyzing Impact grant program again. For example, if you were funded for Catalyzing Impact in FY24 and FY25, then you would be ineligible to apply in FY26.

Eligible Requests

The Catalyzing Impact Grant Program provides funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that demonstrate impact in one or more of the five building blocks of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action.

A project is defined as a specific, connected set of activities with a start date, end date, and explicit goals and objectives. Projects with multiple components and/or event dates must show a cohesive theme that ties the entire project together.

Receiving a Catalyzing Impact grant is a competitive process. Eligible project requests may include a new project or an existing project that demonstrates an expansion of impact. Organizations proposing existing projects that have been funded through the Catalyzing Impact program in previous fiscal years should be prepared to demonstrate how the proposed work is expanding impact. Examples may include:

· serving a new or expanded geography (e.g., neighborhood, municipality, or county);

· serving a new or expanded audience (e.g., age or culturally specific); or 

· deepening impact within an existing project (e.g., expanded themes, content, or timeframe)

Catalyzing Impact Grants cannot be requested for any of the following:

· General operating support

· Fundraisers

· Re-granting

· Advancing or inhibiting a religious ideology

· Advocacy of specific political causes or candidates

· Non-arts projects

ArtsWave will not award grant support to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws, or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief. In doing so, we seek to promote respect for all people.

Organizations may only submit one application per deadline. Organizations may only receive one Catalyzing Impact Grant in a single fiscal year. 

Grant Amounts

Grant awards will be made up to $10,000 or 50% of the total expenses for the proposed project and may be funded partially or in full. Please note in the application if you cannot complete your project with partial funding.

Match Requirements

Grants received through the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program are matching grants through which applicants are expected to leverage ArtsWave funds to secure support from outside sources. This grant program requires a 1:1 match by the applicant. Up to 50% of your organization’s matching dollars can come from in-kind contributions. Matching funds do not need to be secured at the time of application, but documentation of the source(s) of matching funds will be required in the final report. For purposes of determining the value, volunteer time should be calculated at $34.79 per hour (Independent Sector, 2025).

Application Instructions

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system. We strongly recommend that you begin your online application well before the due date to familiarize yourself with the online grantmaking system and to address any technical concerns. While completing your application, remember these tips: 

· Be brief, clear and direct, focusing on what is most important. 

· Review panelists may have little or no prior knowledge of your organization. Create a stronger application by: 

o not assuming reviewers have extensive knowledge of all artistic disciplines;

o explaining acronyms; and

o explaining the characteristics of your community or audience as needed.

· We recommend that you prepare your responses offline in a word processing program and then copy and paste them into the appropriate sections of the online application.

· Limit the use of bullets and other formatting in text fields.

· Add Impact@ArtsWave.org to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive all communications from the online grantmaking system.

The application for the FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grant Program can be accessed using the following link: https://artswave.submittable.com/submit/ 

The application consists of the following sections (*delineates a field required to submit):

A. Grant Applicant Information

· Organization name and legal address*

· If 501(c) 3, Organization EIN *

· If not 501(c)3

o Describe the non-profit status of your organization, including your organization's relationship with an established fiscal agent. (150-word limit)*

o Provide your organization’s contract or letter agreement with your fiscal agent *

o Fiscal Agent’s legal street address

o Fiscal Agent’s EIN*

o Fiscal Agent’s UEI status/number*

B. Organization Information

· Organization County/Phone/Website/Neighborhood served*

· Chief Professional Officer Contact Information*

· Grant Contact Information (if applicable)

· Type of Organization*

· Provide a brief description of your organization and the type of programming you provide. (150-word limit)*

· Describe your organization's audience and the communities you serve. Please include demographic information such as your audience age, communities--geographic, language, ethnicity, etc. (150-word limit)*

· Has your organization received an ArtsWave grant since 2020? If yes, please list grant(s), amount(s) and fiscal year(s).

· Number of Full-Time, Part-Time, Contract, and Unpaid staff members and Number of Board members.*

C. Details of Request

· Project title*

· Select the Blueprint Outcome to which your proposed project most closely aligns.*

· Provide a summary description of the proposed project that will be used for announcements and other marketing summaries. * (75 word maximum)

· Explain what makes this an arts or cultural heritage project.* (30 word maximum)

· Provide a more detailed description of the proposed project. Be sure to clarify how the project demonstrates impact of the Blueprint outcome selected above and the defined criteria for this grant.* (500-word limit)

· Estimated total participation (Adults and/or Youth)*

· Project request type*

o If “existing project” - Description of project expansion and impact of past program(150-word limit)

· Anticipated project start date and end date*

· Provide a proposed timeline for project implementation.*

· Who are the artists involved with this project? Briefly describe their qualifications and background. (150-word limit)

· Please list any organizations you will collaborate with for this project and briefly describe the nature of the collaboration. (150-word limit)

· Provide the physical address of where the proposed project will be completed, held, or performed. Your response should include a street address, city, state, zip)*

· What are the project's objectives and intended outcomes? What is the change/impact you wish this project to have? These objectives and intended outcomes should be specific, measurable, and aligned to the selected Blueprint outcome and reflective of the defined criteria for this grant. (250-word limit)*

· How will outcomes be measured and who (e.g. staff, consultant, etc.) will measure them? (250-word limit)*

· Select grant program resource opportunities of which you have taken advantage.*

· Impact Team feedback opportunity if application submitted by December 29, 2025.*

· Please upload an example of your organization's work that illustrates your capacity to accomplish the proposed project from the past 12 months. (attachment)*

D. Financials

· Annual operating budget*

· Total project budget*

· Requested grant amount*

· How will the grant funds be used? (150-word limit)*

· Can this project still be completed if award is for partial funding?*

· Most recent annual financial statement (attachment)* 

· Complete Catalyzing Impact Grant Budget Form*

· From where do you anticipate receiving the match for your grant?*

· Any additional budgetary notations. (150-word limit)

· Please attach a high-resolution organization logo (attachment)*

· Attach IRS determination letter

E. Statement of Assurances – An authorizing official will certify that s/he is authorized to submit the application on behalf of the organization and that the information submitted in the application is true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge.

All application materials must be submitted through the online grantmaking system by 5:00 pm EST on January 8, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Grant Overview Session

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program Guidelines, the application process, and any questions you might have about the program. The webinar will be held on December 10, 2025. For details and to register, please visit: 

FY2026 ArtsWave Catalyzing Impact Grant Program Webinar Registration, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Noon | Eventbrite

This webinar session will be recorded and made available on ArtsWave’s website.

Grant Writing Workshops

ArtsWave will host three online Grant Writing Workshop webinars as a free resource in conjunction with this grant program.

The General Grant Writing Workshop webinar will be held on December 12, 2025 at noon. For details and to register, please visit: 

FY2026 ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop-General Registration, Friday, December 12, 2025 at Noon | Eventbrite

The Goal Setting and Assessment Grant Writing Workshop webinar will be held on December 16, 2025, at noon. For details and to register, please visit:

FY2026 ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop-Goal Setting and Assessment Registration, Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Noon | Eventbrite

The Budgets Grant Writing Workshop webinar will be held on December 17, 2025, at noon. For details and to register, please visit: 

FY2026 ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop-Budgets Registration, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at Noon | Eventbrite

Other Grant Resources

If you would like to receive feedback on your application draft, complete the application in Submittable, and click SUBMIT by December 29, 2025. After we have reviewed your application, you will receive an email through Submittable opening your application to edit that feedback. You must edit and resubmit by the deadline January 8, 2026.

Determination of Grant Amount

All applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of community volunteers and ArtsWave staff. Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

· The organization has the capacity to provide quality cultural experiences for the community;

· The organization demonstrates the capacity to complete the project;

· The proposed project is aligned with ArtsWave's Blueprint for Collective Action;

· The project can be achieved in the proposed timeline; 

· The project objectives and intended outcomes are clear and measurable;

· The proposed project budget is reasonable and meets matching funding requirements;

· The proposed project can deliver a high level of community impact

· The project is relevant to the Greater Cincinnati region

Grant Requirements

Upon notification of award, grant recipients must submit a grant acceptance form. A single grant payment will be issued once the grant acceptance form has been received.

Along with the award notification, grantees will receive the FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grantee Handbook, which will outline the grantee expectations and requirements set by ArtsWave for Catalyzing Impact grantees in FY2026. By accepting funding, an organization agrees to adhere to the grant recipient guidelines outlined in the handbook, including all of the Terms and Conditions of the federal portion of their award.

A final report will be due after the project’s completion, but no later than December 31, 2026 or prior to applying for another Catalyzing Impact grant. Applicants are ineligible to apply for funding if a previous final report is outstanding. An applicant may not have two Catalyzing Impact grants open at the same time.

All requirements must be submitted through the online grantmaking system, and access to all records related to this grant must be retained for no fewer than three (3) years following December 31, 2026, and which may be made available to ArtsWave and their financial auditors.

Key Dates

Grant Overview Session - December 10, 2025

Grant Writing Workshops - December 12, December 16 & December 17, 2025

Application Deadline * - January, 8, 2026

Funding Decision - February 2026

Final Report Due - December 31, 2026

* application closes at 5pm on the deadline date

Contact ArtsWave

Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt, Grant Programs Manager at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org.

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Performances can range from an evening of live, in-person entertainment to a quick 5-10 minute virtual drop-in. All art forms are available to fit you and your team. Some examples include...

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For a list of available artists, check out the Artist Roster.

The rate for each 5-10 minute virtual performance is $125, with most of that fee going directly to the artist. The suggested rates for live, in-person performances are as follows:

• Soloists: $150/hour
• Duos: $300/hour
• Trios: $375/hour
• Quartet+: $125 per performer/hour

 
* Please note, a $25 processing fee will be added to all in-person performances. Rates are subject to change based on artist/ availability.