The Arts Dollars Project and Education Grants, administered by Quad City Arts, support projects that enhance the quality of life in the Quad Cities region through community engagement and arts education. These grants are open to individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and K-12 schools in Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois, and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa. Applications for the 2025 grant cycle are due by January 31, 2025, with funded projects taking place between April 1 and December 31, 2025.

The Project Grant supports arts initiatives that emphasize access and engagement. Individual artists may apply for up to $2,500, and nonprofits or schools may request up to $5,000. Preference is given to new or first-time projects, although ongoing programs may also apply. The Education Grant focuses on arts programming for K-12 students, offering similar funding limits. All applicants must include cash or in-kind support from other sources, and budgets must include payment to at least one local artist.

Applicants must submit a comprehensive project plan detailing the goals, participants, key activities, and promotional efforts. Attachments include a project budget, work samples, and resumes or bios of key personnel. Organizations with less than a year of operation must provide a letter of support from their board of directors. If partnering with another entity, a letter affirming collaboration is also required.

Grant funds cannot be used for operating expenses, capital projects, permanent equipment, or academic scholarships. Applications are reviewed based on artistic merit (50%), community involvement (25%), administrative ability (15%), and the budget (10%). A community review panel scores the proposals, with final approval by the Quad City Arts Board of Directors. Grantees must complete a final report within 30 days of project completion and no later than January 31, 2026.

The program is funded by grants from the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For further details, prospective applicants can visit Quad City Arts’ website or contact their staff directly.