Cary offers two grant programs designed to support non-profit organizations in strengthening and enriching our community: The Cary Non-profit General Services Grant Program and the Cary Cultural Arts Grant Program listed below. Please review both options to determine which best aligns with your organization's mission and services.

Cary Cultural Arts Grant Program

General Funding assistance is made available through Cary's Policy for Support and Sponsorship of Cultural Groups and Activities. For Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), $191,000 will be allocated for distribution to support Cary-focused Cultural Arts non-profit organizations. 

Mandatory Cultural Arts Funding Information Sessions

For a request to be considered, a representative from your organization must participate in one of two mandatory virtual Cultural Arts Funding Information Sessions: 

• Tuesday, January 21|  6-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 23 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Sign up here for your chosen Grants Funding information session no later than Monday, January 20 by noon.   

Important Dates

January 14: FY26 Cary Cultural Arts funding application period opens.
January 21 (6-7:30 p.m.) and January 23 (6-7:30 p.m.): Mandatory Cultural Arts Funding Information Sessions 
February 28: FY26 Cary Cultural Arts funding applications are due by 11:59 p.m.
April: Cultural Arts Committee will make recommendations for awarding FY26 funding to cultural organizations.
June: Cultural Arts Committee funding recommendations will be communicated to FY26 grant applicants.
Early July: FY26 funding will be available to cultural arts grant recipients.
August 1: FY25 Grant Report form is due.

 

FY26 Grant Reference Materials

FY26 Grants Guidelines and Instructions

 

FY26 Cary Cultural Arts Funding Request Form Sample 
Only applications submitted through the Cary Grant Portal will be accepted.

A Glossary of Terms is included for reference.

 

Cary Grant Portal Application

Application opens on January 14.

2026 Cultural Arts Grant Application

 

Contact

Organizations that are applying for the first time are strongly encouraged to contact William Lewis, Cultural Arts Manager, at william.lewis@carync.gov or (919) 462-3861.
If you need guidance in filling out this application, please contact Robbie Stone, FY25 Cultural Arts Grants Manager, at robbie.stone@carync.gov or (919) 460-4969.