Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants

Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants (PCBPG) are available to arts and/or humanities organizations and groups located in Montgomery County, MD that may or may not be incorporated as non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Grant awards support projects for organizations and groups that work in a wide array of arts and humanities disciplines including performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, folk and traditional arts, history, and philosophy. Grants for FY26 will be awarded for activities occurring between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

New! Award amounts range from $1,000 up to $15,000. Requests for over $5,000 require the applicant to submit proof of 501(c)(3) status.

By awarding Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks to:

  • Encourage organizations/groups to maintain an active, two-way, ongoing relationship with the community in the planning, participation, and evaluation of public activity/activities, which include intentional strategies for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA);
  • Promote stability and healthy growth for arts and humanities organizations/groups by supporting enhanced capacity needs;
  • Help ensure diverse arts and humanities experiences for constituents of Montgomery County, MD;
  • Stimulate local support and involvement in the arts and humanities, including volunteer participation, audience development, and financial contributions;
  • Strengthen the scholarly and artistic capabilities of arts and humanities organizations/groups; and
  • Improve and/or stabilize the management infrastructure and effectiveness of arts and humanities organizations/groups.

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    Important Dates

    Application Deadline
    Friday, March 7, 2025 - 11:59 pm

    Questions?

    Jesús Guzman
    Grants Assistant Manager
    (301) 565-3805 ext. 21
    Takenya LaViscount
    Grants Director
    (240) 839-4519
    Krystle Seit
    Grants Coordinator
    (301) 565-3805 ext. 20
    Dates + Deadlines

    FY26 Important Dates

    • Guidelines Published – Tuesday, December 24, 2024
    • Application Deadline – Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

    New applicants are highly encouraged to contact AHCMC grants staff. All applications and relevant materials must be submitted online through AHCMC’s grants portal, SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply).

    Late applications and relevant materials will not be accepted.

    Additional Dates Post-Application

    • Panel Review (virtual) – April 2025
    • Award Announcement – late June 2025
    • FY26 Final Report Due – July 2026
      Webinars

      Webinars

      • Friday, February 14, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
      • Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
      • Register on Eventbrite!

        All AHCMC webinars will be hosted through the Zoom platform. Visit to our Webinars page to see upcoming workshops and webinars for all open grant categories.

        Webinars allow grant-seekers to ask AHCMC grants staff specific questions about the grant guidelines, application, and online grants portal.

        At each webinar, AHCMC grants staff review eligibility requirements and offer technical assistance for the application process.

         

        FY26 PCBPG Application Preparation Webinar

        AHCMC Project Budget Tutorial

        SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply) Tutorial

        Guidelines + Eligibility

        Guidelines

        Required Application Materials for Organizations:

        1. A Completed Narrative
        2. Organizational Support Materials
          • IRS Letter of Determinations;
          • List of Board of Directors;
          • Bios of Key Staff and Volunteers;
          • Current Strategic Plan, if available; and
          • Organizational Chart, if available.
        3. Financial Support Materials
          • FY24 990, 990EZ, or 990N, or letter of extension (990 must be received by AHCMC no later than June 1, 2025);
          • Profit & Loss Statement for the most recently completed fiscal year;
          • Current Fiscal Year’s Operating Budget with Actuals Year-to-Date; and
          • Current Balance Sheet or Balance Sheet for the most recently completed fiscal year.
        4. Programming Support Materials
        5. Work Sample(s)
        6. AHCMC Reporting Data Form

        Required Application Materials for Groups:

        1. A Completed Narrative
        2. Group Support Materials
          • List of Group Members;
          • Bios of Key Staff and Volunteers;
          • Current Strategic plan, if available; and
          • Organizational Chart, if available.
        3. Financial Support Materials
          • Previous fiscal year’s end-of-year revenue and expenses (Profit & Loss Statement);
          • Current Fiscal Year’s Operating Budget with Actuals Year-to-Date; and
          • Current Balance Sheet or Balance Sheet for the most recently completed fiscal year.
        4. Programming Support Materials
        5. Work Sample(s)
        6. AHCMC Reporting Data Form

        Eligibility Requirements

        Organizations/groups eligible to apply must have met all the following requirements by the published application deadline:

        • Has its primary mission or objective as the exhibition, presentation, production or performance of, and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services to artists and/or scholars and/or arts and/or humanities organizations;
        • Has been in operation for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline;
        • Has had its primary location and/or a verifiable mailing address in Montgomery County, MD for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline;
        • Operates as a non-profit:
          • The organization or group may or may not be incorporated and may or may not be formally recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a public charity or otherwise officially established as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) institution. However, the applicant must operate in the manner of a non-profit (the organization’s/group’s net earnings cannot be distributed to those who control it); and
        • Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.

        Project Eligibility Requirements

        Eligible project-types include any of the following:

        • The creation of new work
        • A public event or program
        • Capacity building

        Eligible activities must:

        • Take place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
        • Take place in Montgomery County, MD.
          • Activities that include events or programs must be open to the public with or without an admission fee, in person or virtually.
        Application + Templates

        Application Now Open in SM Apply! https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/

        Deadline: March 7, 2025

        Applicants are highly encouraged to use the application templates to prepare the narrative and supplementary materials. Need to review or download your application? Access SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply): https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/

         

         

        FY26 PCBPG Templates:

        *Know that these are templates for your reference only – all applications and relevant materials must be submitted online through SM Apply.*

        Previous Grants Awarded

        FY25 Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants (PCBPG)

        $387,141 awarded for July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

        Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants provide support to non-profit arts and/or humanities organizations or groups that may or may not have 501(c)(3) status. Grants support high-quality programs open to the public and capacity-building projects. Forty-six organizations received FY25 awards within this category.

        View previous grants awarded for PCBPG and other grant categories.

        Amazing Theatre Company Inc., dba AmaZing Theatre Company

        Gaithersburg, Maryland ($9,800)

        Funding supports Scars, a new play written by Percy Thomas, reveals the impact of antisocial behavior within. family as it is passed on to children, and as it develops through social interactions in the community .

        Anna H. Wang Concert Series

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($9,800)

        Funding supports a musically collaborative program. Violinist Paul Huang will present a recital featuring violin, piano, and chamber music with a percussion ensemble.

        Best Medicine Rep, Inc.

        Gaithersburg, Maryland ($5,820)

        Funding supports Blame It On Beckett, by Artistic Director John Morogiello, an examination of office politics within the literary office of a small, professional theater.

        Bethesda Blues & Jazz Foundation, Inc

        Bethesda, Maryland ($9,600)

        Funding supports jazz music performances by the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Youth Orchestra.

        Bethesda Historical Society

        Bethesda, Maryland ($8,730)

        Funding supports capacity building, using grant funds to purchase desktop computers and related office equipment, providing workstations for contract staff and volunteers. The desktops will be used for cataloging collections, centralizing record/data, improving office workflow and addressing other administrative needs.

        Bethesda Little Theatre

        Olney, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports Sing Me a Rainbow, a musical revue. The theme is all the colors of the rainbow (and more), comprising a wide range of musical numbers from Broadway, the movies, standards, pop, rock, and country, featuring solos, duets, small and large ensembles, many of which will be choreographed.

        Community Building Artworks

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,900)

        Funding supports A Day of Belonging, a community gathering providing veterans, active-duty military, their spouses, caregivers, and community members with a day of professionally-facilitated expressive arts workshops, performances, readings, and visual art exhibits showcasing artwork created by artists from military and veteran communities, held in partnership with Strathmore.

        DC South Asian Arts Council, Inc.,

        Gaithersburg, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports the DC South Asian Festival, which includes screening independent films, book discussions, poetry recitations, dance performances, music performances, and panel discussions.

        Ebong TheatriX

        Bethesda, Maryland ($9,600)

        Funds support a two-day in-person theater festival.

        F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, Inc.,

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports a literary festival, featuring a County Library Book Club Discussion of the Honoree’s work, short story contests for students and adults, a free evening reading in honor of the honoree, writing workshops and masterclasses for both students and adults, a bus tour about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life in Rockville, and an art contest.

        FocusMusic

        Rockville, Maryland ($5,820)

        Funding supports folk/acoustic/world/words-that-matter music performances, and Local Cream Songwriter showcases.

        Four Seasons Dancers, Inc.,

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,200)

        Funding supports Dances of the World, a globally-inspired annual performance featuring original choreography influenced by traditional cultures. The program presents a sample of dances from around the globe, with couture costumes that enhance the visual experience.

        Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre

        Poolesville, Maryland ($10,000)

        Funding supports A Winter’s Eve, a dance production highlighting varied joyous cultural observances of the holiday season. A Winter’s Eve combines excerpts from traditional ballet, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, with an original adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ short story The Snowman. This production merges a Christmas classic with broader cultural representation.

        Institute of Musical Traditions, Inc.,

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($3,088)

        Funding supports the purchase of lighting equipment, replacing old, damaged lighting.

        InterPLAY Orchestra, Inc.,

        Derwood, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports performance production costs for three live concerts, providing people with disabilities inclusive musical experiences. The organization strives to create a safe space for artistic learning and expression, where negative stereotypes about disabilities are challenged, and people are celebrated for their abilities.

        Kassia Society for Music, Inc.,

        Burtonsville, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports a four-concert series featuring premieres by ensemble members; chamber music classics; lesser-known works by marginalized composers such as Dora Pejacevic and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; and works by contemporary composers including Marc Chan, Ioana Ilie, and Richard Ratner, centering melodic, tonal music outside the academic mainstream.

        Kentlands Community Foundation

        Gaithersburg, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports a series of programs: The Gaithersburg Artist Collective visuals arts program, performing arts programs led by the Kentlands Community Players, screenings of independent films led by the Kentlands Film Society, free live orchestral concerts presented by Musica Viva, and Kentlands Under the Lights, a community festival with local musicians.

        Kolot HaLev, Inc.,

        Kensington, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports a concert entitled Sweet Singer of Israel – Psalms that Inspire Our Lives, a presentation of choral selections drawn from the Psalms, featuring contemporary composers as well as traditional music.

        Live Garra Theatre

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($9,100)

        Funding supports programming and production costs for theatrical presentations.

        Mayur Dance Company

        Potomac, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports a traditional Odissi performance (a mix of theatrical and abstract/rhythmic pieces), with original choreography, the organization’s interpretation of this ancient dance form, and contemporary sensibilities.

        Montgomery Philharmonic, Inc.,

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports seven concerts, including outreach to youth and seniors in underserved communities. The organization aims to impact the community with quality orchestral music, perform a wide repertoire, present music composed by women and BIPOC composers, and grow the orchestra’s talent.

        Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Inc.

        Takoma Park, Maryland ($6,802)

        Funding supports a youth concerto competition and free community concert. The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra will select three middle and/or high school soloists who will perform a movement of a concerto or a single-movement work with the orchestra. The concert will also include at least one orchestral work by a Black American composer in honor of Juneteenth.

        NIH Community Orchestra

        Potomac, Maryland ($4,729)

        Funding supports performances by underrepresented composers, including females, LGBTQ+, and those of color. The orchestra aims to perform more diverse composers to stretch their members both musically and culturally, while also encouraging audiences to engage with a wider range of classical music.

        NIH Philharmonia

        Bethesda, Maryland ($4,850)

        Funding supports a series of eight free concerts presenting symphonic music to Montgomery County residents. Each piece is introduced to the audience by Dr. DAlimonte, who provides historical context to enrich the experience.

        Orfeia Vocal Ensemble

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($3,325)

        Funding supports the development and recording of the Learn a Song series, recorded at the Sandy Spring Museum, and shared on YouTube, Instagram, and other media platforms. Each video will focus on a different folklore region of Bulgaria and demonstrate the stylistic and cultural differences of the region.

        Rockville Brass Band

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($7,760)

        Funding supports music performances featuring 30 musicians. The band aims to improve and diversify its membership, increase outreach to youth, as well as increase its community impact and national reputation.

        Rockville Musical Theatre

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,310)

        Funding supports family-friendly performances of The Little Mermaid. The theatre will also present Sweeney Todd. Activities also include workshops covering technical skills and DEI education.

        Sherwood Community Chamber Choir Incorporated

        Damascus, Maryland ($4,750)

        Funding supports a new Upper Choir for 7th – 8th graders. The choir already established the created Sherwood Community Lower Youth Choir for 35 Olney-area 4th – 6th grade students in 2022. Both youth choirs will perform in joint concerts during the 2024-25 school year.

        Sweet Adeline International, dab Capital Accord Chorus

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($4,608)

        Funding supports engagement with diverse communities of Montgomery County through a cappella music performed in the barbershop style. Workshops, rehearsals and performances will build on learning and relationships that emerged from year one of the chorus’ Culture of Belonging project.

        Symphony of the Potomac

        Glen Echo, Maryland ($9,600)

        Funding supports four classical orchestra concerts at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center (MCCAC), featuring approximately 50 volunteer musicians and 14 paid professional musicians, all under the direction of Music Director, Maestro Joel Lazar.

        Tagore Music Group of Greater Washington DC, Inc.,

        North Potomac, Maryland ($9,300)

        Funding supports four short plays. The contents of the plays will be substantially different from one another, showcasing the creativity of the Nobel-laureate poet/philosopher/playwright Rabindranath Tagore.

        Takoma Park Folk Festival, Inc.,

        Takoma Park, Maryland ($9,600)

        Funding supports The Takoma Park Folk Festival, an annual community event held in Montgomery County coordinated by a team of volunteers. The event hosts local musicians from a variety of genres, local craft activities, vendors, as well as games to join the local community together. The Festival has been a 45-year event in Takoma Park.

        The American Friends of Lafayette

        Gaithersburg, Maryland ($9,400)

        Funding supports the creation and presentation of an interactive music-theatre experience designed to recreate the historic reception of and performances for the Marquis de Lafayette upon his visit to Maryland in early October 1824. This event, coinciding with the bicentennial of Lafayette’s visit to Montgomery County, celebrates this historic leader in the American and French Revolutions, and features poetry, prose, and musical outpourings given by the State of Maryland to honor him.

        The Civic Circle.

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($4,410)

        Funding supports capacity building initiatives. The Civic Circle will retain nonprofit coach and consultant Bob Wittig to help the organization recruit and hire its first paid Executive Director, supporting a smooth transition from a founder-led organization to an organization with long-term sustainability. Wittig will work closely with the Board to conduct an organizational financial assessment, identify strategies to help The Civic Circle absorb anticipated expense increases, and develop an Executive Director job description.

        The Free Theatre Corp

        Germantown, Maryland ($9,800)

        Funding supports a musical theatre production. The show title will be chosen by the student company. Students will lead the entire production. The Director, Music Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, and all Design leadership roles will be held by students.

        The Menare Foundation

        Germantown, Maryland ($7,760)

        Funding will support an interpretive plan and docent training program to instruct staff and docents in historical interpretive standards and practices. The Menare Foundation will also hire a local, nationally recognized, historian to lead docents and staff through the process.

        The National String Symphonia

        Germantown, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports four concerts featuring string orchestra music in Montgomery County.

        The Printmaking Legacy Project, Inc.,

        Rockville, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports two documentary film projects. The first, covers Lloyd Menard, who created a national model for print programs at the University of South Dakota-Vermillion, one of the first printmaking residencies where visiting artists collaborated with students to produce and exchange print portfolios. The second, focuses on Menard’s mentor, Rochelle “Roci” Toner, an openly gay woman who forged a path in the 1970s as a feminist printmaker, creating imagery that centered gender inequality.

        The Village Youth & Family Center, Inc., dba Vikara Village

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($9,800)

        Funding supports Exploring Expressive Arts, a collaborative project between Vikara Village, Create Arts Center, and Pride Youth Services. The intersectionality of art disciplines will foster creativity and develop healthy avenues for self-expression for youth. Students explore the creative and performative arts by participating in art therapy and trauma-informed movement.

        Trinity Chamber Orchestra

        Germantown, Maryland ($9,500)

        Funding supports concerts featuring composers who have written works specifically for the orchestra, as well as publicity and advertising costs. The orchestra will collaborate with partners to encourage young artists and complete a strategic plan that involves both the orchestra and external stakeholders.

        Urban Artistry, Inc.

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($9,800)

        Funding supports capacity building initiatives. Urban Artistry seeks development support to increase the impact of the current development team, growing beyond grassroots membership with in-kind assistance, to keep up with the organization’s programmatic expansion.

        Vessel, Inc.,

        Derwood, Maryland ($9,016)

        Funding supports the Homecoming Intensive, featuring a line-up of industry Hip-Hop dance artists who are originally from the DMV area. Homecoming Intensive includes eight advanced classes, a dance cypher, and a Q&A panel.

        Vika Visual Arts Association

        Silver Spring, Maryland ($9,700)

        Funding supports the Mind Your Art Business program, specifically designed for emerging visual artists. Through professional development workshops, art supplies, and strategic exposure throughout the year, the program prepares artists for a successful career.

        Wheaton Wonders, Inc., dba Wheaton Arts Parade

        Wheaton, Maryland ($9,300)

        Wheaton Arts Parade operates a non-profit, artist-run art gallery in Wheaton that showcases local artists. Funding supports costs to operate the gallery for one year, exclusive of rent.

        Wildwood Summer Theatre

        Bethesda, Maryland ($9,500)

        Funding supports the presentation of the musical Alice By Heart.

        Word/Dance/Theater, Inc., dba Word Dance Theater

        Bethesda, Maryland ($7,363)

        Funding supports the free Sophia workshops, exploring areas of health and wellness that intersect with a philosophy of dance as a healing experience. Funding will also support the organization’s newly trained RESTORE: Movement for Wellness teacher who works with memory care patients at Rockville Village, guiding seniors in movement sessions that incorporate the concepts put forth in the Sophia workshops.

        FY25 Grantees

        The FY25 PCBG cycle runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

        Important Dates Post-Application

        • Final Report – July 31, 2025
          • Final Report Templates Coming Soon!

        For current FY25 grantees, all final reports must be completed online through AHCMC’s grants portal, SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply). Access SM Apply: https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/

        Need to make changes to your project? Fill out a grant change request form, available on our resources page: https://www.creativemoco.com/find-opportunities/resources/