Culture Blocks Funding call for Non-Profit Organizations will open applications in Summer 2026.
Programming takes place between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Purpose and overview
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Local Arts Agency and the cultural catalyst, driving economic growth and community retention through the arts, sciences, and culture. ASC leads as the voice of culture in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, fueling community retention and upward mobility for all our residents.
ASC Culture Blocks is a vital piece of ASC’s mission to actively remove barriers to access and connect communities across Mecklenburg County with free arts, science, and history experiences. Culture Blocks is funded by Mecklenburg County and administered by the Arts & Science Council in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.
The program organizes funds and supports cultural experiences shaped by residents, close to where they live, and delivered through our partnership with public libraries, recreation centers, parks, and other community spaces. These programs are focused within historically underserved neighborhoods, with minimal opportunities or access to arts, science, and history experiences.
Culture Blocks offers a wide range of programs, including though not limited to workshops and experiences in visual arts, dance, theater, writing, photography, culinary arts, music classes, film screenings, concerts, festivals, and multicultural events. These programs serve neighborhoods in Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.
APPLY FOR CULTURE BLOCKS FUNDING
- Fee: Free
- Application Opens: Friday, July 11, 2025
- Deadline:
Monday, August 11, 2025, at NOON EST.Monday, August 18th at noon EST. - Programming must take place: Between January 1 – December 31, 2026.
- Funding allowed: The total funding request should not exceed $40,000. Culture Blocks awards may be partially funded based on available resources and the goal of providing a variety of programming across the community. Funding decisions consider access at all of the partner facilities, diversity of age groups and program types, alignment with Block population size, and the significant role of local creatives and nonprofits in offering programs near where residents live.
- One Application Per Cycle Policy: Culture Blocks is now implementing a one-application-per-cycle policy. The new policy is designed to support a more equitable review process and ensure fair distribution of funding across our community. We encourage applicants to submit their strongest proposal each cycle.
*Applicants will be notified of approval or decline by September 30, 2025.*
DRAFT APPLICATION AND BUDGET REVIEWS
Staff will receive draft applications and budgets by email between July 14 – August 1, by 5 pm
Schedule a 15-minute meeting here.
- July 16, 17, 18: 1-3 pm (12 meetings)
- July 21, 22, 23, 25: 10 am-12 pm (16 meetings)
- July 28, 29, August 1: 1-3 pm (12 meetings)
- August 4, 5, 6: 10 am-12 pm (12 meetings)
Applicants are welcome to reserve only one time slot for a feedback meeting. Please do not reserve more than one meeting.
Eligibility & Funding Levels
Non-profit organizations applying for Culture Blocks funding in FY26 will be categorized into three funding levels based on their average operating revenues over the past three fiscal years:
– Level 1: Organizations with operating revenues up to $1 million
– Level 2: Organizations with operating revenues between $1 million and $5 million
– Level 3: Organizations with operating revenues above $5 million
General Rules & Requirements
- Non-Profit Status: Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization in good standing.
- Financial Documentation: Organizations must provide the 990 form for the previous year.
- Program Alignment: Proposed programs must align with Culture Blocks’ mission to provide accessible arts, science, and history experiences in neighborhood settings. Community Feedback Themes, Partners contact list by Block and Culture Blocks’ designated Geographic Areas.
- Funding Usage: Funds must be used for program-related expenses, including artist fees, materials, marketing, and operational support directly related to Culture Blocks activities.
- Community Engagement: Programs must demonstrate a strong connection to community needs and actively engage residents.
- Reporting & Evaluation: Funded organizations must track participation data, assess program impact, and submit reports as required by ASC.
Restrictions Ineligible Requests and Expenses
Culture Blocks funding is specifically intended to support the direct expenses of creative individuals or non-profit organizations delivering programs. Before applying, please review the following restrictions:
- Ongoing staff or faculty salaries within organizations.
- Operating expenses, including staff salaries, marketing budgets, annual product licenses, membership fees, and web hosting fees.
- Investments in technology or software.
- Capital expenditures, such as laptops, digital cameras, kilns, instruments, or other equipment purchases, are not eligible for funding.
- Applicants cannot budget for lost revenue or income offsets.
- Programs involving PreK-12 children during school hours are not eligible for funding.
- Programs designed for fundraisers are not eligible for funding.
- Programming occurring out the designated areas within the Block’s will be not considered.
- Food and beverages are generally not funded, except for specific cases (e.g., snacks for after-school youth programs only or water for physical activities like dance).
- Mileage or mileage reimbursement is not covered.
- Custom T-shirts for programs are ineligible.
- Costumes and props are typically not funded but may be considered on a case-by-case basis, up to 10% of the total program budget.
- Culture Blocks does not fund temporary lodging or airfare.
REQUEST AMOUNT AND BUDGET GUIDELINES
The total funding request should not exceed $40,000. Culture Blocks awards may be partially funded based on available resources and the goal of providing a variety of programming across the community. Funding decisions consider access at all of the partner facilities, diversity of age groups and program types, alignment with Block population size, and the significant role of local creatives and nonprofits in offering programs near where residents live.
Note: Newer nonprofits that have not yet filed a Form 990 may submit their IRS determination letter as proof of their 501(c)(3) status, along with a one-page budget overview, to provide additional insight into the organization’s financial planning. If the organization does not yet have the IRS letter, an alternative option is to provide a copy of your solicitation license obtained through the state
Budget Guidelines:
- Budget Template Requirement: All program expenses must be detailed using the Official NON-PROFIT Culture Blocks Excel budget Applications submitted without using this template will be disqualified.
- Detailed Expense Descriptions: Applicants must provide clear and detailed explanations for each requested amount. Include specifics about how the funding will be used, indicate the number of artists, pay rate, hours, and number of programs.
- Clarity Across Documents: Ensure all details in the application and budget are consistent and clear to facilitate the review process.
- Advertising and Communication Costs: These expenses must not exceed 10% of the total project budget.
- Content Creation: Photography and/or Video Up To $1,500 Total. All photos and videos must be submitted to Culture Blocks with your final report.
- Administrative Fee: A 15% administrative fee will automatically be applied to your budget to cover administrative costs associated with the project.
FACTORS CONSIDERED PROGRAMMING SELECTION
The selection process is transparent and emphasizes the providers’ ability to reflect and respond to resident input, reinforcing Culture Blocks’ commitment to fostering community-driven cultural experiences.
- Equitable Access: Ensuring all Blocks have equal opportunities to experience arts, science, and history programs.
- Facility Utilization: Guaranteeing programming is presented at every public library and recreation center.
- Audience Inclusivity: Providing programming that caters to all age groups in each Block.
- Program Diversity: Offering a wide variety of experiences to reflect the unique interests and needs of each Block.
- Population Alignment: Adjusting the quantity of experiences to align with the population size in each Block for maximum engagement.
SELECTION PROCESS
The review panel, consisting of representatives from Mecklenburg County, Public Library staff, key community advisory members, and artists, brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Panelists evaluate and score applications using the Culture Blocks Rubric and selection criteria, including funding guidelines, ensuring a thorough and fair evaluation process.
ASC staff calculates the average score of all panel evaluations to rank applications and ensure selected experiences are equitably distributed across all Blocks and partner facilities. This transparent process, guided by the panel’s expertise and rubric, ensures a fair evaluation. The rankings are then used to identify grant recipients, with final decisions submitted for Board approval.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- FEASIBILITY: There is compelling evidence that the organization and/or creative individual can carry out this program effectively. The applicant has provided sufficient detail for the panel to determine that the applicant can deliver this program to the public if their application is selected.
- MISSION ALIGNMENT: There is compelling evidence that this proposal aligns with the spirit of the funding opportunity, namely, providing engaging arts, science, and history programming to Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents.
- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: There is compelling evidence that this proposal aligns with the interest of the community the applicant seeks to engage in; the proposal specifically leverages the community feedback provided in the guidelines.
- MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS: There is compelling evidence that this applicant has a clear marketing plan to reach the community their program intends to serve; relevant marketing expenses are specified in the budget.
Assistance
If you have any further questions, please email cultureblocks@artsandscience.org.