Grant Resources
Learn more about applying for California Arts Council grants with these resources.
Current Grant Programs
Visit our Grant Programs webpage for a list of our current and past grant opportunities.
Grants Manual
The 2025 Grant Applicant and Awardee Manual is a comprehensive resource guide through each step of the CAC’s grant application process, offering grants management system instruction, grant panel review processes, contract information, and more.
Videos
***Resource for New Applicants***
VIDEO
Grant Applicant Website & Registration Overview
Click here to watch
If your organization is interested in learning how to explore the CAC website and register as an organization for grants for the first time, please watch this video. Learn how to find the guidelines for our latest grant programs and register your organization profile before applying for your state arts funding.
***Resource for Returning Applicants***
VIDEO
Organization Certification, Contact and Address Changes
Click here to watch
If you are a returning applicant to CAC grants, please review this video on the certification process in order to reapply for CAC grants or update any contacts for your organization.
VIDEO
Why Race? A Learning Journey to Achieve Racial Equity
Click here to watch
As the Arts Council has been evolving its own racial equity practices, the agency invites applicants to start, continue, or strengthen their racial equity practices as a part of the arts community. In October of 2020, the Arts Council offered a public webinar to share the history and background of the agency’s relationship with racial equity and to support a community-based learning practice. The recorded webinar is available online, in addition to various other racial equity learning resources for prospective applicants. State-Local Partners/State-Local Partner Mentorship
Frequently Asked Questions
***NEWLY UPDATED***
View answers to some of the frequently asked questions about our current grant offerings.
Resource Documents
- Ranking Guide (PDF): The ranking system used by CAC peer review panelists. (Spanish version)
- Fiscal Sponsor Policy (PDF): Fiscal Sponsors are accepted in some CAC grant programs for applicant organizations without federal tax-exempt status.
- Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement (Word document) – A letter template for applicant organizations using fiscal sponsors.
- What We Do Not Fund (PDF): Arts Council grant funds to organizations may not be used for the purposes or items listed in this document.
- Match Contribution Information (PDF): Information on eligible cash and in-kind contributions for grant programs requiring a funding match.
- Definition of a Signature (PDF): Acceptable forms of validation for required signed documentation.
Grants Management System Quick Guides
- SmartSimple – Online Application Portal (link)
- Registration Instructions (PDF): Details on how to register your organization for our online application portal.
- Annual Certification Process (PDF): Instructions for your organization’s annual information certification within the online application portal.
- Organizational and Contact Change Requests (PDF): Updating names, addresses, and contacts within your organization’s profile.
Infographics
***NEW***
Promotional Toolkit
Use these assets to help get the word out about California’s grant season offerings, including flyers, images and suggested language for your organization’s social media and newsletters.
Flyer: General All-Programs Grant Season
Flyer: Arts & Cultural General Operating Support
Flyer: Arts Education Exposure
Flyer: Arts Integration Training
Flyer: Creative Youth Development
Flyer: Impact Projects
Flyer: State-Local Partners
Flyer: State-Local Partner Mentorship
Flyer: Statewide and Regional Networks
Social Media/Newsletters: Images and Copy
***COMING SOON***
VIDEOS
2024 Grant Program Overviews
This video series introduces the grant application elements and how to apply through the CAC’s online portal for each of the 2024 grant program offerings.
- Arts and Cultural Organizations General Operating Support
- Arts Education Exposure
- Arts Integration Training
- Creative Youth Development
- Impact Projects
- State-Local Partners/State-Local Partner Mentorship
- Statewide and Regional Networks
Grant Review Panels
Visit our Grant Panelists webpage to learn about the critical role of peer review panelists for the 2025 grant panel season.
Virtual Office Hours
Office hours via Zoom are available for grant applicant technical assistance. Join California Arts Council Programs specialists as they answer general questions regarding technical aspects of applying to CAC grants through the grants management system. Office hours are structured to be a “drop-in” format. Audience members are welcome to join and exit as needed; advanced registration is required to participate.
Visit our grant program webpages to review all available grant information, including eligibility requirements and grant timelines.
2025 Program-Specific Technical Assistance Office Hours
Grant program offerings for 2025 with currently scheduled hours are as follows:
- Monday, May 12 – 2 p.m.
Click here to register - Monday, May 19 – 2 p.m.
Click here to register
Monday, May 5 – 10 a.m.
Click here to registerTuesday, May 27 – 10 a.m.
Click here to register
Monday, May 5 – 1 p.m.
Click here to registerTuesday, May 27 – 1 p.m.
Click here to register
Tuesday, May 27 – 12 p.m.
Click here to register
Monday, May 5 – 11 a.m.
Click here to registerTuesday, May 27 – 11 a.m.
Click here to register
Tuesday, May 27 – 3 p.m.
Click here to register
Tuesday, May 27 – 3 p.m.
Click here to register
Technical Assistance for the Grant Application System and CAC Website
Join Programs team member Yaquelin Ruiz as she answers your questions regarding the grants application system and CAC website. Registration is required for the following sessions.
Tuesday, May 6 – 12 p.m.
Click here to register
Wednesday, May 14 – 12 p.m.
Click here to register
Grant Workshops
Arts Program Specialists conducted more than a dozen live, in-person grant workshops throughout California during the month of May, providing an overview of our grant programs for 2025, sharing tips and insights into the state grant process, and guiding participants in best practices for putting together a successful application.
Thank you to all who joined us!
- Click here to watch on online version of the grants workshop.
- Click here to download the workshop presentation slide deck.
Grants Staff Contacts
View a directory of our Arts Program Specialists contact information at our grants staff contacts page.
- Please read the grant-specific guidelines, application instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions before contacting staff.
- Due to a very high volume of inquiries, there may be a delay in our response.
- Please note: Staff assistance is not available after 5:00 p.m. on the day of a grant deadline.
Logos for Grantee Use
Click here to view and download Arts Council logo files and our branding guidelines.
