Tips for your NEA Grant Application
In This SectionThe National Endowment for the Arts continues to review the recent executive orders and related documents to ensure compliance and provide the required reporting.
During the accounting closeout period, the NEA Office of Grants Management continues to receive and review payment requests and typically resumes payment approvals on the first business day of the following month.
On February 7, 2025, the NEA revised FY26 grant guidelines, following a notification that both grant guidelines and deadlines would be updated.
The NEA will provide more information as it becomes available. (Updated February 6, 2025)
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has shared updated its FY2026 grant process, including new deadlines, revised grant guidelines, and eligibility rules. Please read the complete announcement from the NEA for full details and the updated Grants for Arts Projects guidelines directly from the NEA website. A few key highlights are:
- New grant guidelines have been issued in response to recent directives and to “streamline and simplify the application process and align with the agency’s mission.”
- There are two new application deadlines, which are now March 11 and July 10, 2025.
- Organizations that have initiated an FY26 application will need to reapply under the new grant guidelines.
- The Challenge America grant opportunity is being canceled for FY2026 and prospective applicants are encouraged to apply to Grants for Arts Projects.
The NEA will hold a free webinar about the updated guidelines on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 2:00pm. Registration is required and webinar recordings will be posted shortly after the presentations in the Applicant Resources section of the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects webpage along with answers to frequently asked questions.
To be fully prepared for the NEA grant application process, read the guidelines very carefully, and be in touch with a specialist to talk through your plans for preparing an application. Be aware that SAM validation is returning to Grants.gov. For the past five years during the pandemic, Grants.gov had not validated applicants’ SAM registration in the Part 1 portion but this is no longer the case and SAM must be active.
To assist orchestras with the application process, the League regularly consults with NEA staff, and outlines helpful tips for preparing your application, including an overview of guideline changes as they occur. The League will determine how to revise our FY26 application tips.
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