Mission Based Grant

Project Period July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s (ACFCC) Mission Based Grants provide general operating support to 501(c)(3) organizations whose primary services provide programming, community services, and/or educational activities which are of high artistic, cultural, or historical merit and are executed through artistic disciplines. This funding program supports organizations whose missions and programming support the ACFCC's mission to Cumberland County, to:

Connect our Communities

Embrace Diversity

Promote Individual Creativity

Foster Lifelong Learning Through the Arts

Advance Tourism & Economic Development

The overall grant request should not exceed 25% of your prior year’s total operating expense as reported on prior year’s audit/990 or $250,000, whichever is less. Organizations with total operating expenses of less than $50,000 should apply for funding via the Grassroots Art Project Grant.

download guidelines

Guidelines

For the first cycle of the Mission Based Grant program (2026-2027), requests should align with the ACFCC grant funding transition plan. For details on how much funding you may request during this transition period, please speak with Michael Houck, Director of Grants and Allocation at 910-323-1776.

Eligibilty

ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS MUST

Be a 501(c)(3) organization with an arts-, culture-, or history-focused mission to serve Cumberland County.
Produce artistic-based programming, community services, and/or educational opportunities which align with two or more tenets of the Arts Council’s Mission.
Be committed to engaging tourism to Cumberland County evidenced by regional marketing.
Have three years of successful arts-based programming supported by financial history and high quality work samples.
Have a governing Board that is representative of Cumberland County with defined term limits.
Contract artists and arts professionals who are qualified and representative of the Cumberland County community.
Match operating support 1:1 (match waived for organizations operating expense under $250,000 annually)

The following types of institutions are ineligible for Mission Based Funding and should seek support through the Arts Council’s Grassroots Art Project Grant.

Educational Institutions
Municipal Entities
Start Up Organizations
Unincorporated groups
Organizations whose primary services lack arts, culture, or history programming
Organizations operating with planned or unplanned deficits on
EOY financial statements the prior two (2) fiscal years (unless approved by Arts Council)

Application Process

A full application is required initially and every two years thereafter. Current recipients submit streamlined updates in alternate years, though continued funding is subject to financial assessment (see application process).

Example, if awarded:

Year One: Apply with a full application process

Year Two: Update and revise funding request

Year Three: Apply with a full application

Year Four: Update and revise funding request

FULL APPLICATION

Organizational Details
- Mission Statement
- General Organizations Programs and Services
- Charitable Solicitation License
- Other organizational documents as requested for first time applicants (e.g., Bylaws, Staff Chart, etc.)
Finance
- Prior Year 990
- Three Year Budget Comparison, highlighting ACFCC funds
  - Prior Year-End budget
  - Current Year-to-Date budget
  - Proposed upcoming FY Budget
Narrative Questions
- Planned Scope of Service
- Marketing/Cultural Tourism plans
- Community Impact, historical and planned
- Management Excellence and Transparency
- Financial Stability and Accountability
Work Samples
- Organizations should provide three (3) examples of programs and services of high artistic quality.
- Both Images and Video are acceptable.
- Work Samples should be from the prior five (5) years.
- Include brief narrative description to include:
  - Date of work
  - Title/Event Name/Program Name
  - Key Artists/Personnel
  - Audience reach/participation

UPDATE APPLICATION

Returning entities will complete an "Update Application" for the cycles between years when full applications are completed. Sustained funding during update application cycles is contingent on financial assessment.

Update applications include:

Year to Date Budget Update & Proposed Next FY Budget
Year to Date Scope of Services Update & Proposed Scope of Services for Next FY
Year to Date Participation Log & Next FY Marketing Strategies
Annual Work Samples
Annual Impact Story
Board Engagement Narrative

Evaluations

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County assess and evaluates funding request through a multi-tiered process:

1. Staff Review for Eligibility and Completeness

2. Board-level Grants Assessment Committee review and funding recommendations

3. Full Board-level review and vote to adopt or amend committee level-recommendations

Requests are evaluated along the following review criteria :

Mission Alignment & Innovation: Organization's programming and services clearly support two or more tenets of the ACFCC mission (Connect Communities, Embrace Diversity, Promote Creativity, Foster Lifelong Learning, Advance Tourism & Economic Development) through innovative artistic approaches for Cumberland County. Program Quality & Expertise: Organization demonstrates high-quality programming consistent with current industry standards, supported by strong work samples and professional staff expertise in their artistic discipline(s).

Program Quality & Expertise: Organization demonstrates high-quality programming consistent with current industry standards, supported by strong work samples and professional staff expertise in their artistic discipline(s).

Economic & Tourism Impact: Programs create opportunities for positive economic impact on local arts professionals while

demonstrating measurable cultural tourism impact through visitor attraction, attendance data, and economic metrics.

Organizational Sustainability: Evidence of year-to-year sustainability in audience development, income diversification, and

program management.

Community Impact & Accessibility: Programming creates measurable impact through sustained audience engagement while ensuring equitable access that addresses socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, geographic, and physical barriers to reach all

Cumberland County populations.

Financial Management: Budget demonstrates realistic planning, strong management, diversified income sources, and internal controls ensuring financial accountability.

Organizational Leadership & Accountability: Active board with representative Cumberland County membership and defined term limits; transparent operations demonstrated through accurate reporting, site visit responsiveness, and consistent past performance with ACFCC.

Important dates

Action Item	Date
Grant Program Details and Application Instructions Published	December 15, 2025
Grant Information Sessions	January / February 2026 Confirmed dates TBD
Grant Submission Deadline	Thursday, March 5, 2026 5:00 PM
Notification of Recommended Funding or Declination	Friday, May 15, 2026
Earliest Project Start Date	Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Project Update Reports & Meetings as required	November 2026 - March 2027
Latest Project End Date	June 30, 2027
Final Reports Due	Friday, July 31, 2027 5:00 PM

questions?

For questions regarding the Mission Based Grant application or your proposal, contact:

Michael Houck | Director of Grants and Allocations MIchaelh@theartscouncil.com

Kashia Knight | Arts Education Manager

KashiaK@theartscouncil.com

Fund
Partners

Mission Based Grants with the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County are supported locally by the Cumberland County and the Cumberland County Occupancy Tax.

Financial information and a copy of its license are available from the Charitable Solicitation Licensing Section at (888) 830-4989.

The license is not an endorsement by the State.