FY2027 Grants: Letter of Interest The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro is accepting Letters of Interest from eligible nonprofit arts, culture, and humanities organizations for FY2027 grant funding.   

The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro (The ACGG) invests in organizations that contribute to a strong, vibrant, and sustainable arts ecosystem across Guilford County.   For FY2027, we are beginning our grantmaking process with a Letter of Interest (LOI). This creates a common first step for organizations interested in funding from The ACGG and gives us an opportunity to learn about organizations across Guilford County before determining which funding opportunity may be the best fit.   We welcome Letters of Interest from organizations that The ACGG has supported in the past and from eligible organizations that may be new to our grantmaking process.   Depending on the organization, its size, and the applicable funding source, organizations invited to submit a full application may be considered for operating support or project support.   

Who is eligible to submit a Letter of Interest?   For FY2027 consideration, an organization must: 

• Be a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is arts, culture, or humanities, as demonstrated by an IRS National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code within Major Group A: Arts, Culture & Humanities. 
• Have been in existence and actively operating for at least one full year by the Letter of Interest deadline. 
• Meet the geographic and other eligibility requirements of the applicable ACGG funding program. 
• Meet any additional requirements associated with the source of grant funds. 

  The IRS uses the NTEE classification system to identify the primary purpose and activities of tax-exempt organizations. 

Major Group A: Arts, Culture & Humanities includes a broad range of organizations working in areas such as arts and culture, folk arts, arts education, visual arts, museums, performing arts, dance, theater, music, humanities, history, and arts services.  Organizations outside NTEE Major Group A are not eligible for consideration through this FY2027 grant process. 

Not sure of your organization's NTEE code?   The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) provides an NTEE lookup tool. Enter your organization's Employer Identification Number (EIN) to view the NTEE code associated with your organization. Organizations may also use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to review their IRS record and filings.   

What is The ACGG looking for? 

Sustainability: Strengthening the long-term financial, organizational, operational, and programmatic health of arts organizations.   

Shared Initiatives: Supporting opportunities for organizations to share resources, services, infrastructure, knowledge, or capacity.   

Collaboration: Encouraging meaningful partnerships that increase effectiveness, extend reach, or strengthen the broader arts ecosystem.   

Community Impact: Supporting organizations whose work creates meaningful value for people and communities throughout Guilford County.   Organizations are not expected to address all four pillars. We want to understand where your organization's work, needs, and priorities have the strongest and most meaningful alignment.   

What will we ask in the Letter of Interest?   The LOI is intentionally designed to be a concise first step rather than a full grant application. We will ask organizations to tell us about: 

• their mission, work, and role in the community; 
• the community need, opportunity, or cultural contribution they address; 
• their most important goals and priorities over the next 12 to 24 months; 
• their alignment with The ACGG's grantmaking pillars; 
• recent financial trajectory; and 
• anything else they believe is important for The ACGG to understand about their organization. 

 What happens after the LOI?   The ACGG Grants Committee will review Letters of Interest to understand each organization's role and impact in the community, financial and organizational trajectory, current priorities, alignment with The ACGG's grantmaking pillars, and the potential for an ACGG investment to strengthen the organization and the Guilford County arts ecosystem.   Selected organizations may then be invited to submit a full grant application. The type and amount of funding available, including whether an organization is considered for operating or project support, will depend on the applicable grant program, organizational eligibility, and available funding.   Submission of a Letter of Interest does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application or an award of funding.