NEA Challenge America, FY2025

The NEA Challenge America is a grant program initiated for FY2025 that primarily targets small organizations. The grant aims to extend and broaden the scope and reach of the arts in communities possessing rich and dynamic artistic and cultural diversity but are underserved.

This program acknowledges that certain communities and geographical locations with unique cultural identities have had limited opportunities to gain grant funding and have historically been underserved by national arts funding. It also recognizes that some small organizations encounter barriers when in pursuit of grant funding, and some applicants may find it beneficial to have extensive technical assistance resources.

Through an effort to break down these barriers, Challenge America features a simplified application process, a standardized grant amount of $10,000, and a strong framework of technical assistance to make access to NEA funding more feasible. This program is particularly beneficial for organizations applying for federal funding for the first time.

Challenge America is open to applicants who have never received a grant from the NEA before or those who have applied but weren't recommended for funding in the Grants for Arts Projects, Research Grants in the Arts, or Our Town programs in the fiscal years 2022, 2023, or 2024.

However, previous applicants who were recommended for funding in the same aforementioned programs within FY2022, FY2023, or FY2024 are ineligible to apply. Alternatively, those who have previously applied for or received Challenge America, American Rescue Plan (ARP), or CARES Act grants are still eligible to apply, provided they were not recommended for funding in the Grant for Arts Projects, Research Grants in the Arts, or Our Town for FY2021, FY2022, or FY2023.