The NEA Challenge America grant is for the purpose of extending the reach of the arts to underserved groups and communities across the U.S. This program primarily welcomes applications from small organizations, first-time NEA applicants, and returning Challenge America applicants. Eligible entities include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applicants must not have been recommended for funding in any of the three most recent fiscal years in specific NEA grant programs like Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, or Research Awards. This funding is not available for individuals, commercial enterprises, or state/regional arts agencies.
Opportunity ID: 357683
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | 2025NEA01CA |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NEA Challenge America, FY 2026 |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Arts |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 280 |
| Assistance Listings: | 45.024 — Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Feb 06, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Apr 24, 2025 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 06, 2025 |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $2,800,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $10,000 |
| Award Floor: | $10,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Independent school districts City or township governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Endowment for the Arts |
| Description: |
Challenge America supports projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. The program welcomes applications from applicants that are primarily small organizations, first-time applicants to the NEA, and/or returning Challenge America applicants. Eligible applicants include: nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes; and applicants that have not been recommended for funding in any of the three most recent Fiscal Years in the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, or Research Awards grant programs. Funding in this category is not available for individuals, fiscally sponsored entities, commercial/for-profit enterprises, State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Regional Arts Organizations (RAO). |
| Link to Additional Information: | Program Guidelines and Application Instructions |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NEA Web Manager
webmgr@arts.gov Email:webmgr@arts.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Challenge America opportunity is canceled for FY 2026. Organizations that have applied or were planning to apply to the FY 2026 Challenge America grant opportunity are encouraged to apply to the Grants for Arts Projects category at the March or July deadlines instead. | Feb 06, 2025 | |
| Dec 12, 2024 |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 2
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | 2025NEA01CA |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NEA Challenge America, FY 2026 |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Arts |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 280 |
| Assistance Listings: | 45.024 — Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Feb 06, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Apr 24, 2025 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 06, 2025 |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $2,800,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $10,000 |
| Award Floor: | $10,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Independent school districts City or township governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Endowment for the Arts |
| Description: |
Challenge America supports projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. The program welcomes applications from applicants that are primarily small organizations, first-time applicants to the NEA, and/or returning Challenge America applicants. Eligible applicants include: nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes; and applicants that have not been recommended for funding in any of the three most recent Fiscal Years in the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, or Research Awards grant programs. Funding in this category is not available for individuals, fiscally sponsored entities, commercial/for-profit enterprises, State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Regional Arts Organizations (RAO). |
| Link to Additional Information: | Program Guidelines and Application Instructions |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NEA Web Manager
webmgr@arts.gov Email:webmgr@arts.gov |
DISPLAYING: Synopsis 1
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | 2025NEA01CA |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NEA Challenge America, FY 2026 |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Arts |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 280 |
| Assistance Listings: | 45.024 — Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | – |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Apr 24, 2025 |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $2,800,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $10,000 |
| Award Floor: | $10,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Special district governments Independent school districts City or township governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | – |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Endowment for the Arts |
| Description: | Challenge America supports projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. The program welcomes applications from applicants that are primarily small organizations, first-time applicants to the NEA, and/or returning Challenge America applicants. Eligible applicants include: nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes; and applicants that have not been recommended for funding in any of the three most recent Fiscal Years in the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, or Research Awards grant programs. Funding in this category is not available for individuals, fiscally sponsored entities, commercial/for-profit enterprises, State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Regional Arts Organizations (RAO). |
| Link to Additional Information: | Program Guidelines and Application Instructions |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NEA Web Manager
webmgr@arts.gov Email:webmgr@arts.gov |
Related Documents
There are no related documents on this grant.
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NEA Web Manager webmgr@arts.gov Email: webmgr@arts.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.024 | 2025NEA01CA | NEA Challenge America, FY 2026 | PKG00289599 | Dec 12, 2024 | Mar 05, 2025 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
357683 SF424_Short_3_0-3.0.pdf
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