Operating Support Grant

Applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements: 

• Applicant is an arts and culture organization as defined by grant guidelines 
• Applicant is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with at least two years of programming documentation and two Form 990s.
• Applicant serves residents of the city of Dubuque, and programming occurs within the city of Dubuque limits 
• Applicant will have a clean record of compliance and be in good standing with the City of Dubuque’s Arts and Culture Grant Program(s)  

Ineligible applicants include:

• For-profit organizations or businesses or sole proprietors;
• City of Dubuque government departments or entities; 
• Individual artists 
• Nonprofit organizations that are not arts and culture organizations (for example, social service nonprofits, religious institutions, or athletic groups);
• Educational institutions, including private or public K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and community colleges;
• An organization with a delinquent City of Dubuque Arts and Culture Grant Program Final Report.

In FY27, funding awards will be based on the organization’s certified operating expenses for their most recently completed fiscal year. The maximum funding an organization can receive is calculated at 6% of those operating expenses, not to exceed $30,000. Funding levels will be impacted by the number of eligible applicants and how applicants score.

• Funding is calculated at 6% of certified operating expenses, not to exceed $30,000.
• Awards may be less than requested.
• No match is required.
• A total of $250,000 in funding will be distributed.

The FY27 Operating Support grant application will open on March 6, 2026. 

Applicants must submit applications via the SlideRoom application portal. Applications will not be accepted in any other format.

• Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• Application Questions (Word)
• Financial Request Worksheet (Excel)
• Scoring Rubric (PDF)
• Informational Webinar Video
• Webinar Slides (PDF)

Grant applications are due via the Slideroom portal on Friday, April 17, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be accepted.

Award Notification: July 2026
Disbursement of Funds: August 2026
Final Report Due: August 31, 2027