GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Enhancement Grant

The ARTSmemphis Enhancement Grant program encourages our Operating Support grantees to pursue significant projects that reflect innovation and calculated risk-taking.

Established through a gift from the Plough Foundation in 2005 to support innovation in the arts sector, this fund, now held in our endowment, has enabled $5.7 million in investments through 151 grants to 40 organizations since its inception. 

This grant’s purpose is to build an organization’s long-term capacity, increase long-term earned income streams, catalyze and assist an organization in going to the next level, and/or fund venture capital/risk-taking initiatives with potential for return on investment and broad community impact.

Enhancement Grants support strategies to strengthen an organization’s infrastructure, and position them for sustained growth, so that they may have a greater impact in the community.  This program embodies tolerance for calculated risk taking, encouraging organizations to pursue significant projects that can propel mission achievement.

  • This biannual grant will be available in 2025.

  • Organizations that received an ARTSmemphis unrestricted Operating Support grant in the current fiscal year are eligible to apply.

  • Enhancement Grants are intended to function as venture investments and to have an impact for multiple years such that the organization can continue to make progress and realize the benefits of the funding before submitting a request for another Enhancement Grant.

    This program is not intended to support operating expenses. However, requests to scale up operations in specific areas to achieve stated growth goals may be considered.

    Successful proposals will demonstrate the organization’s capacity to execute the proposed project and sustain long-term outcomes, considering sustained project funding and staffing after the grant period ends. Capacity building needs may be integrated into the proposal.

    Application Guidelines

    • Minimum grant awards are estimated to be $25,000.

    • ARTSmemphis should not be the sole funder of the project.

    • Projects must take place after Enhancement Grants are awarded.

    • Be specific as to measurable results and their impact on the organization long term; explain how results will be measured and evaluated. Multi-year reporting will be required in order to measure the long-term impact of funding.

    • If your organization integrates capacity building support into your proposal, be sure to note specific needs and costs in the proposal and budget.

    • Capital Campaign proposals may be submitted. Capital Campaign requests should not exceed $500,000 total.

    • Proposals may not be multi-year requests. However, a project timeline may be longer than 12 months, and grant payments may be structured to align with project milestones over more than 12 months.

    • Organizations in good financial standing will be considered for this funding opportunity. Organizations should articulate how they meet the following indicators of good financial standing: Diverse revenue sources; Managing expenses. The following are not eligible for funding consideration: Minor capital improvements or investments; Maintenance fees; Travel; Projects that are already part of a typical season or established programs; A one-time guest artist unless the guest artist’s visit is part of a larger organizational strategy; Festivals or one-time events; Covering incurred debt.

  • Ballet Memphis | Re-envisioning a classic story

    Creative Aging | Scaling Senior Studio Access

    Indie Memphis | Black Creators Forum Expansion

    Memphis Brooks Museum of Art | The New Brooks Capital Campaign

    Opera Memphis | Midtown Music Hub

    Overton Park Shell | Shell on Wheels

    PRIZM Ensemble | Audience Development

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