Best Grants for Visual Artists in Tennessee

Tennessee 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing, or community arts and culture can access funding through US Bancorp Foundation’s Community Possible Grant Program. Organizations, including those supporting visual arts, may submit a letter of interest or be invited as established partners, with priority for groups led by people of color in designated U.S. Bank communities.

Tennessee 501(c)(3) nonprofits with innovative human services or social problem-solving programs can seek funding that may also support visual arts or fine art initiatives with a strong social impact. Focused on new approaches to societal issues, Creag Foundation invites letters of inquiry from organizations that have held 501(c)(3) status for at least one year.

501(c)(3) nonprofits worldwide, including those in Tennessee, can apply for DanPaul Foundation grants of up to US $15,000 to support youth health, education, development, and welfare programs. Funding may benefit projects in child advocacy, homelessness, poverty alleviation, refugee enrichment, environmental education, and related services for children and young people.

Early-stage, impact-first nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations working on scalable social or environmental solutions in Tennessee, including visual arts initiatives, can access funding through Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. Grants from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation help organizations globally with up to US $300,000 over three years plus intensive capacity-building and community support.

Tennessee educational institutions, government programs, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and 501(c)(4) volunteer fire companies can apply for State Farm Companies Foundation’s Good Neighbor Citizenship grants supporting safety, education, and community development initiatives. Visual arts organizations may be eligible if their projects advance auto or home safety, disaster preparedness or recovery, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, or education outcomes.

Tennessee cultural nonprofits with audited expenses over $2 million can access funding for arts and science programs that engage broad audiences, especially youth. Grants from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation may support program, capital, or limited general and endowment needs for institutions like museums, theaters, symphonies, and arts schools, including initiatives that benefit visual artists.

Nonprofit organizations working on health, education, or community programs in Tennessee can access funding through Labcorp Charitable Foundation to expand services and support local residents. Grants may benefit visual arts groups that incorporate STEM education, community engagement, or wellness initiatives. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations or have charitable equivalency status.

With a mission to advance Southern vitality through the arts, South Arts provides Tennessee arts organizations with up to US $1,000 for professional development. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government or tribal arts entities with budgets under $500,000 can fund staff or board training, conferences, workshops, travel, and consultant-led learning tied to their arts programming.

Accredited charities running arts, culture, education, environmental, or humanitarian projects in Tennessee and worldwide can apply for Roche’s philanthropic support. Focused on impactful, sustainable initiatives, Roche prioritizes innovative, high-quality programs in areas like contemporary visual arts, youth education, community development, and disaster relief that allow collaboration with local Roche affiliates and engage Roche employees.

With a mission to strengthen charitable, scientific, medical, and educational work, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust provides Tennessee 501(c)(3) organizations with flexible funding for programs serving U.S. communities. Visual arts nonprofits and fine art institutions may be eligible if they are tax-exempt and their funded activities take place within the U.S.

Non-sectarian nonprofits addressing disadvantage, poverty, disability, social services, or disaster relief in Tennessee and other eligible countries can seek US $5,000 - US $250,000 to help people become self-reliant. With a mission to support focused interventions for disadvantaged people, Gupta Family Foundation provides annual and multi-year grants to smaller organizations, typically 501(c)(3)s.

Focused on contemporary visual art, this program invites Tennessee visual artists and artist collectives to propose innovative, public-facing projects; awards US $7,500 for project expenses. Eligible applicants are 21 or older, working in 2-D, 3-D, or 4-D media, and creating new work that engages Tennessee communities.

Nonprofit arts organizations and public entities in Tennessee and other South Arts region states can receive US $500 - US $2,500 to make arts programs more accessible for people with disabilities. South Arts supports costs like accessible materials, assistive services, website upgrades, and modest facility enhancements; visual arts groups and those engaging disabled artists are especially encouraged to apply.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and aligned for-profits seeking support to tell impactful stories about their work can apply for the Storytelling Grant, with awards of more than US $50,000. Focused on preservation, education, and wellness, Jesse W Couch Charitable Foundation invites applicants nationwide, including Tennessee groups, to showcase their community impact through compelling narrative and media projects.

Tennessee 501(c)(3) organizations working on education, poverty relief, health, animal welfare, conservation, veterans, or spiritual programs can access funding through Robinson Foundation for single-year projects serving communities below the Mason-Dixon line. Visual arts nonprofits whose work advances these areas may be eligible, provided they have operated for more than three years and are not seeking capital support.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, and libraries seeking support for environmental or human services programs in Tennessee and beyond can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $10,000. With a mission to back environmental and human services work, Lawrence Foundation provides unrestricted operating or program funding, which may benefit visual arts organizations whose work fits these priorities.

Nonprofit organizations in Tennessee and across the U.S. can seek funding for museums, cultural and performing arts programs, education, community services, environmental and wildlife activities, and more. The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation provides US $1,000 - US $20,000, which may benefit visual arts groups whose work fits these broader program areas.

Rural Tennessee hospitals and eligible 501(c)(3) or local government entities can receive up to US $25,000 to create or expand arts-based health and wellness programming. Tennessee Arts Commission’s Tennessee Arts & Rural Health Initiative funds visual, music, dance, and literary arts projects in rural hospitals, which may include murals, meditation gardens, exhibitions, or artist-led classes for patients, families, and staff.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on basic needs, community vitality, or volunteer-driven programs in Tennessee can apply for Ameriprise Financial’s national community grants. Focus areas include hunger relief, shelters and supportive housing, financial literacy, workforce readiness, and cultural enrichment, which may benefit visual arts nonprofits offering arts education or access for underserved audiences.

Tennessee K–12 public schools, districts, 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations, higher education institutions, and local government agencies can access funding to build sustainable, community-driven arts education systems. The Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Education Community Impact Grant supports cross-sector partnerships for innovative arts learning, workforce development, arts integration, and professional learning across Tennessee, including visual arts initiatives. Awards are more than US $20,000.

Nonprofit organizations and local government entities in Tennessee’s urban counties can receive US $1,000 - US $18,000 to support visual arts and other arts projects that build community vitality and engagement. Tennessee Arts Commission funding can cover exhibitions, festivals, workshops, public art, touring projects, accessibility improvements, and related administrative or technical support costs.

Nonprofit organizations and local government entities in Tennessee rural counties can receive funding for arts projects across disciplines that build community vitality and engagement. Tennessee Arts Commission supports visual and fine arts in Tennessee by backing exhibitions, festivals, performances, artist residencies, public art, accessibility improvements, and related administrative or technical support. Awards range from US $1,000 - US $25,000.

Tennessee 501(c)(3) public charities and government entities can seek funding for visual arts, arts education, or art therapy programs, with grants up to US $15,000. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s William N. Rollins Fund for the Arts supports organizations advancing visual arts and related educational or therapeutic initiatives in the state.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations can seek project funding in education, social services, health care, civic and cultural, or environmental programs, including work benefiting visual artists in Tennessee. Grants from Dr Scholl Foundation help U.S. organizations with one-year initiatives, offering US $5,000 - US $25,000 for eligible projects rather than general operating support.

Nonprofit organizations providing community services like economic stability, workforce development, health and social services, or disaster relief in Tennessee may be eligible for project, operating, or capital support; grants from O'Reilly Automotive Foundation help U.S.-based 501(c)(3) groups in O’Reilly Auto Parts communities. Visual arts nonprofits that meet these criteria and serve underserved residents could apply.

Nonprofit and governmental arts presenting organizations in Tennessee can use these grants for staff travel, conferences, festivals, workshops, and other professional development or artistic planning needs. With a mission to strengthen Southern presenters, South Arts provides support up to US $1,000 for visual, film, performing, literary, traditional, and multidisciplinary arts organizations.