Organizer Information

The North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) is a state agency tasked with cultivating, promoting, and sustaining the arts in North Dakota. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the North Dakota State Legislature, the Council administers grants and programs designed to make creative and cultural experiences accessible to all populations across the state.

Title & Description

Special Projects (SP) Grant Program (Fiscal Year 2027).

This reimbursement grant program provides up to $1,500 to support community-centered art events across all artistic disciplines. Designed to enrich local cultural capacity, the program funds public projects that intentionally engage audiences, celebrate local heritage, or introduce new creative expressions. Funded projects must take place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.

Eligible Projects Include:

  • Public art events, including exhibitions, theatrical or musical performances, and multidisciplinary festivals.
  • Community-informed public art installations, such as murals or outdoor sculptures.
  • Collaborative literary publications featuring local community input.
  • Annual community events (eligible for up to 2 consecutive years if adjustments are implemented to reach new audiences).

Categories

Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Music, Literature, Film/Media, Crafts/Ceramics, Public Art, and Interdisciplinary Projects.

Eligibility

  • Eligible Applicants: Must be a North Dakota-based entity, including state or federally tax-exempt non-profit arts/non-arts organizations, public entities (state, local, or tribal governments), community education units, or university divisions offering public programming.
  • Geographic Mandate: The organization must be physically located in North Dakota, and the majority of activities must explicitly serve and engage North Dakota audiences.
  • Exclusions: Individual artists cannot apply directly. The program does not fund programs inside the standard K-12 school curriculum, closed/private events, fundraisers, capital campaigns, permanent acquisitions, or projects where student teaching/learning is the sole outcome without public engagement.

Program Benefits and Awards

  • Grant Range: Up to $1,500 (reimbursement format).
  • Funding Caps: May not exceed 80% of the total project cash expenses.
  • Exclusivity: Only one Special Projects grant may be awarded per applicant organization per fiscal year.

Fees

  • Application Fee: None (Free to enter).

Budget and Financial Requirements

  • 20% Cash Match Required: Applicants must provide a minimum 20% match from non-federal/non-NDCA cash sources (e.g., general operating funds, corporate sponsorships, ticket revenue). For example, to receive the full $1,500, total project cash expenses must equal at least $1,875 (where $1,500 is requested and $375 is the match).
  • In-Kind Allowances: Donated services, space, or materials may be listed to strengthen the application but cannot exceed a calculated fair market value of $1,200. Volunteer time must be calculated using the state minimum wage rate of $7.25/hour unless professional services are being donated.

Application Requirements (Digital Portal Submission)

Applications must be completely finalized at least six weeks prior to the project start date. Required materials include:

  1. SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI): Active registration number from Sam.gov.
  2. Narrative & Implementation Timeline: Detailing the arts activity, target community benefits, ADA accessibility accommodation plans, and project milestones.
  3. Comprehensive Budget Form: Uploaded utilizing the current NDCA FY27 template.
  4. Work Samples (3–5 items): Images (Max 5MB JPEGs), video/audio links (Max 3 minutes uploaded to YouTube/Vimeo/SoundCloud), or written prose/scripts (Max 3 pages) produced within the last 5 years.
  5. Administrative Resumes: 1 to 2 professional resumes of key project leadership (Max 2 pages each).
  6. Official Board List: Documenting names, professional affiliations, and cities of residence for a minimum of 3 board or advisory committee members.
  7. Tax-Exempt Proof: 501(c)(3) determination letter, state non-profit incorporation certificate, or official government tax-exempt letter.

How to Apply?

Register and complete all segments of the digital form via the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager on the NDCA portal. Apply for the NDCA Special Projects Grant Here.

Key Dates

  • Priority Deadline: Rolling basis, but must be submitted at least six (6) weeks before the project begins.
  • Final Cycle Close: May 31, 2027, at 11:59 PM CST.
  • Project Window: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
  • Final Reporting: Due 30 days after the project concludes or by June 30, 2027, whichever arrives first.

Location

United States, North Dakota (Bismarck headquarters; projects executed statewide).

Additional Details

For technical walkthroughs on managing your online account profile, reviewing historical applications, or utilizing the platform's multi-user collaboration features to build your proposal, applicants can access the official NDCA Portal Tutorial Video [01:25]. All awardees must explicitly credit NDCA by placing the agency logo on marketing collateral. Direct programmatic inquiries can be sent to Program Officer Brenna Lahren at blahren@nd.gov.

Website Link: https://www.arts.nd.gov/arts-organizations/special-projects