The FY26 Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants (PCBPG) is a funding opportunity provided by the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) to support arts and humanities organizations and groups located in Montgomery County, Maryland. This grant aims to foster creativity, enhance organizational capacity, and promote diverse cultural expressions through public programming, strategic development, and project implementation. It is designed for organizations and groups engaged in various disciplines such as performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, folk & traditional arts, history, and philosophy. The funding period for this grant covers activities taking place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

The primary goal of the PCBPG is to encourage organizations and groups to maintain active engagement with their communities by integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) strategies into their programs. The grant also seeks to promote stability and growth by funding projects that strengthen artistic and scholarly capabilities, increase public engagement, and build management infrastructure. Furthermore, it supports initiatives that stimulate local involvement in the arts and humanities through audience development, volunteer participation, and financial contributions.

The grant offers funding between $1,000 and $15,000 per applicant. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status are eligible for up to $5,000, while those with nonprofit status can request higher amounts. However, multiple applications from the same applicant for this grant category in a single fiscal year will not be accepted. The funding is exclusively for project-related expenses incurred within Montgomery County, and the grant does not support general operating costs, capital improvements, fundraising activities, debt retirement, scholarships, or projects that primarily benefit the applicant's members.

Eligible applicants include arts and humanities organizations or groups with at least 12 consecutive months of operational history and a verifiable mailing address in Montgomery County, Maryland. Organizations must primarily focus on arts and humanities disciplines and operate as nonprofit entities, whether formally recognized as a 501(c)(3) or not. Government-funded institutions that receive base budget funding exceeding AHCMC’s maximum grant award are ineligible. Funded activities must take place within Montgomery County and must be accessible to the public, either in-person or virtually.

The application process involves submitting a completed application through the AHCMC online grants portal by March 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Required materials include a narrative form, support documents, financial statements, and work samples. Applications are reviewed by a panel of experts who evaluate them based on programming quality, project feasibility, community impact, and administrative oversight. Grant awards will be announced in late June 2025.

Post-award requirements include signing a grant agreement, submitting a final report by July 31, 2026, and ensuring that all funded activities adhere to the grant guidelines. Failure to comply with the reporting or project implementation requirements may result in the forfeiture of funds or ineligibility for future funding. AHCMC encourages applicants to seek grant preparation assistance through webinars or direct consultations with the grants team.