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:

•  📄 Download in English (PDF)
•  📄 Descargar en Español (PDF)

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.

Start Here

Before you begin your application, we recommend you review the information in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page. It has lots of useful information to consider while formulating your plan and answers.

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 (12pm ET) Application Opens & Virtual Info Session View Recording
• June 27 & July 8, (12-12:30pm ET) Virtual Q&A Opportunity 
• July 10 (12-12:30pm ET) Virtual Info Session re: Budgets & Fiscal Sponsors
• July 14, (6-9pm ET)  In-person Grant Writing Workshop (3 hours)
• July 16, (6-8pm ET)  Virtual Grant Writing Workshop (2 hours)
• July 30, (5:30-7pm ET)  - In-Person Workshop at Dupp & Swat in Camp North End (90min)
• August 4, 2025 (5pm ET) Application Deadline
• August - September  Application Review Period with Community Panels
• Late September: Applicants Notified
• November 14, 2025Creative Growth Grant recipient funds dispersed 

Additional Grant Writing Resources

• View the Info Deck: OVERVIEW SLIDE DECK.
• View the presentation deck: BEST PRACTICES FOR GRANT WRITING (Autumn Keck)
• View the presentation deck: BEST PRACTICES FOR METRICS (Diane Gavarkavich)

Virtual Grant Coaching

A limited number of one-on-one virtual grant coaching is available with Scribe, LLC to applicants.  Applicants may sign-up for one 30-minute grant coaching session (first-come, first-served). 

PLEASE NOTE: All available appointments have been reserved. 

Questions?

Click here to view a full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

For any questions about this opportunity, please email: applications@charlotteiscreative.com.

Please note that we respond to all emails within 2 business days during our regular working hours (9:00am - 5:00pm ET, Monday to Friday). 

How to get started and use Submittable:

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