EVENT LINK: https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/shakespeare-in-american-communities/

FEE: Free to apply

Shakespeare In American Communities

Shakespeare in American Communities provides grants of up to $30,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants support performances and workshops in schools and in the justice system, and apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals.

About Shakespeare in American Communities

Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. It offers three grant opportunities for eligible nonprofit theater organizations:

• Schools Program: Supports Shakespeare-related performances and educational activities for middle and high school students. Matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.

• Juvenile Justice Program: Brings Shakespeare-related theater experiences to juvenile justice facilities. Non-matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.

• Apprenticeship Program: Provides paid apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals in administrative and technical roles. The programming that apprentices support does NOT have to be Shakespeare related. Matching grants range from $20,000-$30,000.

Since its inception, Shakespeare in American Communities has reached thousands of communities in all 50 states. In that time, more than 140 participating theaters have provided 16,000 performances and 60,000 educational activities.

Starting this year, applicants must choose one grant opportunity—Schools, Juvenile Justice, or Apprenticeships. Applicants can explore which grant opportunity might be the best fit for them using our eligibility quiz.

Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle are now open. A mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 29, 2026. Full applications are due February 12, 2026.

EVENT LINK: https://www.maaa.org/for-organizations/creative-forces/

FEE: Free to apply

Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: January 15, 2026

This grant program, a partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA), aims to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military-connected populations through cost-sharing grants of $10,000 to $25,000 for emerging and advanced arts engagement projects. The program funds arts initiatives that encourage creativity, build social connections, improve resilience, and help smooth the transition to civilian life.

EVENT LINK: https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/nea-big-read/

FEE: Free to apply

NEA Big Read Grants

Intent to Apply Deadline: January 15, 2026

Full Application Deadline: January 29, 2026

The NEA Big Read, a partnership with Arts Midwest, is a program that awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to organizations for community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. Programming for the 2026-2027 grant cycle will center around the theme America250 with titles that celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. 

EVENT LINK: https://wcif.org/promise-act-grants/

FEE: Free to apply

Promise Act Grants

West Central Initiative is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to distribute PROMISE Act Grants to businesses in west central Minnesota. The PROMISE Act grant program was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 to support small businesses and nonprofits that did not receive state grants during the pandemic.

The Providing Resources and Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs (PROMISE) Act, which was approved by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz, will award grants to eligible businesses and nonprofits in specific communities. Over $86,000,000 will be awarded across the state as grants in multiple rounds. West Central Initiative will distribute over $1.15 million in PROMISE Act Grants to businesses and nonprofits in west central Minnesota in State Fiscal Year 2026.

Grant funds can be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, equipment, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business.

Important Dates

We received a large volume of applicants for the 2024 grant round. We anticipate to complete the reviews and funding determinations for the 2026 grant round by February 27, 2026.  All applicants will be notified if they will receive funding or not.

The application is open December 1-January 15 at 4:30 p.m.