The City of Charlotte’s 2025 Creative Growth Grants, administered by Charlotte Is Creative, are designed to strengthen Charlotte’s creative ecosystem by providing financial support to individual artists, grassroots arts organizations, collaborative projects, and other activities that support the Arts and Culture Plan.
The application portal:
- Will OPEN for submissions on Thursday, June 19
- Will CLOSE submissions at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, August 4.
Application Guidelines & Sample Questions
Download the 2025 Creative Growth Grants Overview & Application Guidelines using the links below. This document includes full details about eligibility guidelines, available grants, timeline and important dates, evaluation criteria, and sample application questions. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review it before applying.
Available in both English and Spanish:
Organizations that received operating funds through the Foundation For The Carolinas in the City of Charlotte’s 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026), unless applying as part of a collaboration with an artist or grassroots organization (with the latter serving as the lead applicant), are not eligible for this grant. For a list of organizations receiving operating funds through the Foundation For The Carolinas in the City of Charlotte’s 2025-2026 fiscal year, CLICK HERE.
Budget Section:
NOTE: Do not use the “$” (dollar sign) or any commas when inputting numbers into the budget table.
- Click here to view a sample budget for Project Grants.
- Click here to view a sample budget for Professional Development Grants.
Application Timeline & Registration for Info Sessions:
Applicants are encouraged to attend or watch the recording(s) of at least one information session prior to submitting an application.
June 19, 2025 (Noon) - Application Opens & Virtual Info Session (90 min) - View Recording
June 27, (Noon-12:30 p.m. ET) - Virtual Q&A Opportunity (30 min)
July 8, (Noon-12:30 p.m. ET) - Virtual Q&A Opportunity for General Questions (30 min) - Register Here
July 10, (Noon-12:30 p.m. ET) - Virtual Q&A: Budgets/Fiscal Sponsorship (30+ min) - Register Here
July 14, (6-9 p.m. ET) - In-person Grant Writing Workshop (3 hours) at Independent Picture House - Register Here
July 16, (6-8 p.m. ET) - Virtual Grant Writing Workshop (2 hours) - Register Here
August 4, 2025 (5 p.m. ET) - Application Deadline
One-on-One Virtual Grant Coaching
A limited number of one-on-one virtual grant coaching is available with Scribe, LLC to applicants. To receive one-on-one grant coaching, you must meet all Creative Growth Grants eligibility requirements. All applicants must reside in Mecklenburg County and demonstrate that they are a certified non-profit or have obtained a fiscal sponsor. Applicants may sign-up for one 30-minute grant coaching session (first-come, first-served). Sign-up using the links below:
Click here to sign-up with a one-on-one session with Autumn Keck, Scribe LLC.
Click here to sign-up with a one-on-one session with Sara Cortes, Scribe LLC.
Questions?
Click here to view a full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
For any questions about this opportunity, please email: applications@charlotteiscreative.com.
How to get started and use Submittable:
- To start your application form, click the "Apply Now" button below on the opportunity you'd like to explore. That is where you will create your free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit your form.
- Submittable allows you to save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.
Upon submission of the application, you will receive a confirmation email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
Need technical support?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions.
Click here to review the application overview, timeline and to register or view recordings of the 2025 Creative Growth Grant Info Sessions.
Submittable Tips:
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.
For any questions about the City of Charlotte’s 2025 Creative Growth Grants application, please email: applications@charlotteiscreative.com.
Click here to review the application overview, timeline and to register or view recordings of the 2025 Creative Growth Grant Info Sessions.
Submittable Tips:
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.
For any questions about the City of Charlotte’s 2025 Creative Growth Grants application, please email: applications@charlotteiscreative.com.
Click here to review the application overview, timeline and to register or view recordings of the 2025 Creative Growth Grant Info Sessions.
Submittable Tips:
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.
For any questions about the City of Charlotte’s 2025 Creative Growth Grants application, please email: applications@charlotteiscreative.com.