The Arts Grants Program has been at the heart of the Charles County Arts Alliance (CCAA) since the organization was founded in 1987. Since then, CCAA has awarded more than $1 million in grant funding to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Charles County, supporting programs, projects, events, and activities that enrich our community through the arts.
In FY 2026, CCAA awarded 18 grants to local organizations and schools, supporting music, dance, theater, literary programs, visual arts exhibitions, workshops, arts education, and other creative opportunities for Charles County residents of all ages.
- Community Arts Development Grant – General Operations (GO-CAD) Application
- Community Arts Development Grant – Special Project (SP-CAD) Application
- Arts In Education Grant (AIE) for Public Schools and Non-Public Schools Application
Our Grant program is a very competitive process, and decisions are made based upon the submission of a formal grant application, rating and ranking by the CCAA Grant Committee, and final review and approval by the CCAA Board of Directors. All applicants must provide a cash match within the same fiscal year with organizational funds, on a 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 basis depending on the amount requested. This ensures that each CCAA grant truly becomes a joint partnership with the grantee organizations in support of their requested arts programming.
Grant applications are reviewed based on three main criteria:
- Artistic merit of the proposed activities
- Organizational effectiveness and fiscal responsibility
- Service to the community
The CCAA Grant Committee is chaired by a CCAA Board of Directors member and includes additional Board members and members of the local community. Grant panel members must file a written disclosure form listing all their arts-related affiliations in advance to avoid any conflict of interest.