Flexible Support

Providing up to $25,000 to help organizations/groups create and sustain Minnesotans’ access to the arts. Grant funds may go to a number of eligible expenses:

Support for operations and/or organizational capacity to directly provide arts access to Minnesotans
Capital expenses, including facility improvements and/or equipment purchases (with some restrictions)
Arts programming activities in Minnesota, whether a single event or a series

Flexible Support: The Basics

Have an idea for an arts project or proposal that fits the description above? First review a few basics with these frequently asked questions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible organizations/groups must meet the following requirements:

Maintain a primary address in one of the seven metro area counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington.
Be a arts, cultural, or non-arts/non-cultural 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a community education unit of a school district, a public entity (such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government), or apply with a fiscal sponsor.
Meet eligibility rules for annual expenses limits and leadership.

Review the Flexible Support Grant Overview and Application Instructions document for full eligibility rules.

When can our proposal happen?

All grant-related activities must occur, all grant funds must be spent, and all expenses must be incurred during the eligible funding periods:

Round 1: December 4, 2025–May 31, 2027

Round 2: June 2, 2026–May 31, 2027

What are some examples of eligible funding requests?

For operations and/or organizational capacity, examples of eligible requests include: paying rent or utilities for a space, software subscriptions, website updates, salaries or benefits for staff, insurance.

For capital expenses, including facility improvements and/or equipment purchases, examples include: new chairs for theater audience members, specialized printing equipment, ADA accessibility improvements. Note: there are restrictions on capital expense eligibility, please see the Flexible Support Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions, available below.

For arts programming or the purchase of art supplies, examples include: theater production, series of music concerts, arts day for kids, paint and paintbrushes for arts day.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you have questions about expense eligibility, please reach out to flexiblesupport@mrac.org.

What if my group needs a fiscal sponsor?

If your group doesn’t have federally tax-exempt status, you can apply for Flexible Support with an eligible fiscal sponsor.

It is the group’s responsibility to research potential fiscal sponsors and secure the sponsorship. We strongly recommend reaching out to potential sponsors and reaching a sponsorship agreement before starting your Flexible Support application.

You can find out more about this process on our Fiscal Sponsorship page.

Important Dates

Grant Round	Application Window Opens	Applicant Services Ends	Application Deadline
Round 1	July 7, 2025, 12:01 am	August 15, 2025, 5 pm	Now Closed
Round 2	January 5, 2026, 12:01 am	February 13, 2026, 5 pm	February 17, 2026, 12 noon

Congratulations to our Round 1 grant recipients! Please note: if you received an award in Round 1, you may not apply in Round 2.

Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions

To find out about Flexible Support, read through the Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions (previously known as our “Guidelines”), available below. In it, you’ll learn:

Information about when and where your proposal can happen.
What classifications of organizations/groups can apply.
What types of funding are allowed, including eligible and ineligible expenses.
Details about how applications are reviewed and scored by our review panelists.
What to do if you’ve received an MRAC grant in previous years.
A list of the narrative questions you’ll be asked when you describe your proposal.
Instructions on providing your proposal budget.
How to use Submittable to complete your application.

View and Download the Grant Overview

To submit an application, you’ll need to be very familiar with the requirements for Flexible Support. View and download the version that works best for you!

Branded PDF

Great for viewing on your phone or computer, or for printing a hard copy. This PDF opens in a new window.

Flexible Support Program Overview (PDF version)

Interactive Word Document

Created for screen readers and other assistive technologies, and is also a good choice if you like a standard, clickable table of contents. This Word file downloads directly to your computer.

Flexible Support Program Overview (Word version)

Apply on Submittable

Flexible Support is now closed until January 5, 2026. If you have questions about a previous or pending application, please contact flexiblesupport@mrac.org.

Application Assistance

We provide the following resources to help you complete your application.

Pre-recorded Informational Webinar

Hosted by grant program staff, this webinar reviews the information in our Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions, available above. Staff go through each section step by step, including what happens after you submit your application. Helpful to use if you take in information better by listening or by seeing it laid out on slides!

Public Q&A Sessions

Our Flexible Support team will be back in January with Q&A sessions for Round 2!

One-on-One Assistance

Flexible Support is now closed until January 5, 2026.

Additional Resources

You can download and use the following resources to help you prepare and plan your application.

Flexible Support