PURPOSE & SCOPE

• Enhancement Grants provide financial support for innovative or visionary strategies to drive an organization’s achievement of their mission and goals.

• Enhancement Grants are intended to have an impact for multiple years such that the organization can realize a strong return on investment, continue to make progress, and realize long-term benefits of the funding.

• The intention of this program is to support a small number of projects each year to make significant investments in organizations’ growth strategies. 

• This program is not intended to support operating expenses.  However, requests to scale up operations in specific areas to achieve stated growth goals may be considered.

• Successful proposals will demonstrate the organization’s capacity to execute the proposed project and sustain long-term outcomes, considering sustained project funding and staffing after the grant period ends.  Capacity building needs may be integrated into the proposal.

• Enhancement funds will be awarded based on one or more of the following broad principles:

  • Building an organization’s capacity long term.

  • Increasing sustained earned income streams:

    • Earned income is revenue generated from the sale of goods, services rendered, or work performed.

    • This may include entrepreneurial activities, enterprise endeavors, revenue-generating projects, etc.

  • Advancing research to inform the organization’s long-term plans that also has utility to the community and/or sector.

  • Catalyzing/assisting an organization to expand impact, access, and sustainability.

  • Work that advances innovation, increases relevance and/or representation through groundbreaking or participatory experiences that reflect the unique characteristics of our communities.

  • Funding projects with high potential for return on investment and broad community impact, including capital campaigns.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

The Enhancement Grant is funded through a specific fund held in our endowment.  Created through a gift from the Plough Foundation in 2005 to support innovation in the arts sector, this fund has enabled $6.7 million in investments through 160 grants to 42 organizations since its inception.  Up to 7% of the fund balance will be distributed annually.

DECISIONS

ARTSmemphis Board members serve as the Enhancement Grant Committee.  The Enhancement Grant Committee will review applications, conduct site visits, and recommend funding decisions. In addition to a thorough staff and board committee review process, funding decisions will be voted on by the Board of Directors. ARTSmemphis’ Chief Operating Officer facilitates the committee, and the President & CEO and Community Impact Manager participate.

The FY28 grant process timeline will be announced in fall 2027.

• Organizations that received an ARTSmemphis unrestricted operating support grant in Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and have strong fiscal, governance and administrative accountability are eligible to apply. 

• Organizations must have one dedicated, paid staff or contract person responsible for managing the proposed project.

• Organizations that received an Enhancement Grant in 2026 are not eligible.

• Prior Enhancement Grants must be successfully closed out, and organizations must have demonstrated the impact of prior Enhancement Grants, to be eligible for funding this year.

• Organizations intending to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) must schedule a conversation with Tracy Lauritzen Wright, COO, to discuss the proposal before the LOI deadline.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Minimum grant awards are estimated to be $25,000.

• ARTSmemphis should not be the sole funder of the project.

• Projects must take place after Enhancement Grants are awarded.

• Be specific as to measurable results and their impact on the organization long term; explain how results will be measured and evaluated.  Multi-year reporting will be required in order to measure the long-term impact of funding.

• If your organization integrates capacity building support into your proposal, be sure to note specific needs and costs in the proposal and budget.

• Capital Campaign proposals may be submitted. Capital Campaign requests should not exceed $500,000.

• A project timeline may be longer than 12 months, and grant payments may be structured to align with project milestones over more than 12 months.  Grant payments will be distributed over no more than two of ARTSmemphis fiscal years.

• Organizations in good financial standing will be considered for this funding opportunity. Organizations should articulate how they meet the following indicators of good financial standing:

  • Diverse revenue sources

  • Managing expenses

• The following are not eligible for funding consideration:

  • Minor capital improvements or investments

  • Maintenance fees

  • Travel

  • Projects that are already part of a typical season or established programs

  • A one-time guest artist, unless the guest artist’s visit is part of a larger organizational growth strategy

  • Festivals or one-time events

  • Covering incurred debt

• These guidelines are reviewed annually and may be revised to ensure the grant program structure meets our strategic goals year to year.

AngelStreet | New Creative Hub Recording Studio and Content Creation Facility

Collage Dance | Raising the Barre: Strengthening Faculty for Sustainable Growth

Hattiloo Theatre | 20th Anniversary: Reimagining the Black Theatre Experience

Memphis Symphony Orchestra | MSO at Northside Square

Music Export Memphis | National Industry Showcase

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Comprehensive Expansion Planning

Tennessee Shakespeare Company | American Page to American Stage: National Annual Theatre Season in Memphis

WYXR | Infrastructure Upgrades & Studio Expansion