Upcoming Deadlines

  • Ready To Learn Programming (RTL)

    This is the beloved Ready To Learn program, which historically has been competed every five years, with CPB/PBS as the biggest recipient, managing smaller grants and outreach efforts by local public television stations. The competition is open once again, and public television stations producing nationally distributed early education content, or a coalition of stations doing so, are eligible to apply. Deadline: July 8, 2026.

  • Challenge America

    This NEA program is designed as an entry point to small organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. $10,000 is available and requires a 1:1 match. Note that this program is meant for first-time NEA applicants with an operating budget of less than $250,000 (new requirement in 2026). These grants could be helpful for a smaller community partner, as part of a collaborative project. Deadlines in 2026: February 25 and July 21.

  • Grants for Arts Projects

    The NEA Grants for Arts Projects program supports creation, engagement, learning and livability in communities through grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. (1-1 match required). New guidelines include new priority areas including creative arts therapies, disability and intersections with the 2028 Olympic games. Deadline: July 21, 2026.

  • Our Town

    NEA's Our Town encourages partnerships of organizations to support activities that integrate arts, culture and design into local efforts that strengthen communities.These grants are now available through the Grants for Arts program, and supported activities include arts festivals, performances, and public art. Deadlines: February 25 and July 21, 2026.

  • Public Humanities Projects

    NEH grants of up to $750,000 support planning and implementation projects that bring the humanities to life for the public through public programming. The last deadline was in September 2025. We expect to see new guidelines released in September 2026 with a deadline of December 9, 2026.

  • Collections Stewardship

    Up to $350,000 over 3 years is available from NEH to create and implement training programs for staff members of cultural institutions. Consortia of organizations are eligible for up to $500,000. Smaller planning grants are also available. Stations with experience in digitally preserving recorded sound and moving image collections may find a fit here. This grant program now has two annual deadlines, in May and December.

  • Sustainability Program Open Call - Collaborative Operating Models

    The Bridge Fund’s first open call under the Sustainability Program focuses on advancing collaborative operating models across the public media system. The purpose of this initiative is to implement new operating and collaborative structures that strengthen the long-term sustainability of public media organizations while preserving their essential local service. Partners working together submit an LOI that will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

  • Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition

    This new grant program from the NEH supports archival work using primary sources of many kinds, including sound recordings. The program aims to preserve historical documentation related to the founding and expansion of the country, as well as the history of American government at the federal, state and local level. Grants of up to $350,000 for organizations and $750,000 for collaborations are available. The 2026 grant cycle has closed. The deadline was January 15, 2026. We expect to see a new competition with a deadline in January 2027.

  • Recordings at Risk

    CLIR's Recordings at Risk grant program awards $10,000 - $50,000 to preserve "at-risk" recorded content. We expect to see the next round open in the fall of 2026.

  • Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant Program

    Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations to help students who are reading below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Applicants must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. The 2026 competition has closed, with a deadline of April 2, 2026. We expect to see another competition in the spring of 2027.