Arts and cultural organizations across Montgomery County have the opportunity to bring creative projects to life. Applications for the 2026–2027 Special Projects Grant opened today, March 20, with up to $275,000 in total funding available through the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District.
Dayton Dance Initiative is a past recipient of Special Projects Grant funding
Administered by Venus Child Productions, the grant awards up to $15,000 per project to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and government agencies located in or primarily serving Montgomery County. This cycle features an extended 18-month project window running from July 2026 through December 2027, giving organizations more time and flexibility to plan and execute their work.
Eligible projects span six categories: Cultural Heritage, Cultural & Multi-Arts, Education, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. In a notable change from previous cycles, the Letter of Intent phase has been removed. Applicants now proceed directly to the full application.
“We want to make this process as accessible as possible,” said Libby Ballengee, Program Administrator at Venus Child Productions. “Whether you’re a first-time applicant or a returning grantee, the streamlined application and extended timeline are designed to support strong, thoughtful projects.”
Two free virtual information sessions are scheduled for prospective applicants:
Signature Educational Solutions
Both sessions will be recorded and posted online. New applicants are especially encouraged to attend.
The application deadline is Friday, May 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST.
Full program guidelines, FAQs, and the online application are available at specialprojectsgrant.com.
