Current GFO Grantees

Applicants must:

• Produce or present the arts to the public through ongoing arts programming. 

• Have 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service at the time of application, except for units of local government and colleges and universities. 

• Be incorporated in Maryland as a nonprofit or have significant physical presence in Maryland. Organizations that are not incorporated in Maryland but have a significant physical presence in Maryland may not be eligible for a General Operating Grant but may be eligible for an Arts Program Grant to support activities taking place in Maryland. For more information please contact the program director for the artistic category for which this scenario applies. 

• Have operated as an arts organization or arts program for one full fiscal year and be able to submit a financial statement* for their most recently completed fiscal year at the time of application. 

• Establish that the majority of the arts activities it produces and/or presents take place in Maryland and that most of the arts organization’s or the arts program’s annual expenditures are devoted to activities that occur within the State of Maryland. 

• Be governed by a legally-liable board of directors acting under a mission statement and budget specific to the organization.

If your organization is a NEW Applicant or if your organization DID NOT receive a GFO Grant in the most recent funding cycle, your organization must complete the Intent to Apply form in order to be eligible to apply.

Starting FY 2027, MSAC will implement a four-year application cycle. Changes to the GFO application process include:

• Organizations will complete the same application on an annual basis.
• Every cycle, organizations will have a conversation with a GFO program director and one site visit by a public panelist.
• The cycle will be shaped by an organization's artistic discipline, as assigned by program directors. 

The FY 2027 GFO Guidelines will be available soon with full details about program updates.

MSAC will introduce a streamlined application and revised review process with the new FY 2027 cycle. Stay tuned for additional information and resources, as well as information sessions to guide applicants through the updates.

Grant agreement forms are prepared and emailed after July 1 to those that have been awarded funding. The forms must be signed and the grant recipient must meet all reporting requirements before grant funds are disbursed. Funds are generally distributed in full after the Grant Agreement Form and reports are submitted.

All MSAC grants are paid on the same timeline. To learn more, click here.

If awarded, a GFO grant, recipient organizations must file a final report in SmartSimple by the deadlines specified in communications from MSAC with the organization. 

See the Grant Guidelines for detailed information

• FY 2024 Awardees
• FY 2023 Awardees
• FY 2022 Awardees
• FY 2021 Awardees
• FY 2020 Awardees
• FY 2019 Awardees
• FY 2018 Awardees