Strategic investment Grants
opens October 8, 2025
The Strategic Investment Grant is designed to provide funding to established nonprofits in Mecklenburg County with a primary mission centralized in arts, science, history, and/or heritage. This support will fund one-time strategic opportunities to invest in their organization’s growth and sustainability. These project-based grants aim to significantly improve an organization’s management, strengthen fundraising, provide a unique learning opportunity for staff/board, and/or achieve operating efficiencies for maximized impact. By investing in these capacity-building initiatives among local nonprofits and fostering collaboration throughout the creative ecosystem and with other sectors, this grant recognizes that targeted strategic investments are fundamental to achieving sustained community benefit.
Grant Highlights
- Application Opens: October 8, 2025
- Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with preference to applications received by Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 12:00pm/Noon.
- Projects must take place: Between October 1, 2025 – May 1, 2026.
- Grant amount: ASC will make grants up to $50,000 for project-based support.
- For requests up to $10,000, a match is not required.
- For requests up to $50,000, ASC requires grantees to provide 50% matching funds toward the project expenses via funding from other grants, cash, or in-kind. This requirement demonstrates additional buy-in, financial sustainability, and expansion of the impact of this request among your organization. If providing a cash match is a burden to your ability to pursue this opportunity, please contact ASC staff at grants@artsandscience.org. Organizations with an operating budget of $1.25 million or more must provide matching funds.
- One Application Per Cycle Policy: This grant follows 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.
- Timeline: For those who apply by November 4th, applicants will be notified of approval or decline by December 8th. All others may expect notification approximately 4 weeks after application receipt.
- Due Diligence requirements: must be a 501(c)3 public charity, have a determination letter, and be in good status/current on filed tax returns.
How do I apply?
All applicants are required to apply through our online application system. The “Start Your Application” button will be linked on October 8th.
City of charlotte & Mecklenburg County Strategic Support
The Strategic Investment Grant stemmed from the research and development of the City of Charlotte Arts & Culture Plan, which outlined a vision to nurture and grow the arts and culture sector in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Capacity-building grants to organizations provide sustainability, strategy, and/or operating efficiencies.
questions?
We’re here to help! Please email our Community & Artist Support team at grants@artsandscience.org.