The Statewide Arts Service Organizations (SASOs) grant program, administered by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), provides four-year operating support to qualifying organizations that deliver statewide professional services to Ohio's arts, arts education, and cultural communities. This program replaces competitive operating and project grants, recognizing the essential role of SASOs in enhancing the state's arts sector. Grant awards are determined by a formula that evaluates an organization’s allowable operating income over the most recent three fiscal years, and all grants require a one-to-one cash match.

Eligibility requirements stipulate that applicants must be nonprofit organizations offering technical assistance, professional development, and resources to Ohio's arts and cultural communities. They must demonstrate a statewide presence through geographically diverse boards and service provision and must have a defined membership or constituency that includes individuals and organizations. Additional requirements include maintaining a dedicated paid staff, addressing constituent needs through service design and evaluation, and having received at least two OAC grants in the last four fiscal years evaluated through a panel process.

The SASO program allows funding to cover administrative expenses, member services, program planning, education, and evaluation. Grantees are expected to collaborate with the OAC by engaging in specific partnership activities, such as delivering professional development sessions, nominating grant review panelists, and leading collaborative initiatives. Grantees must submit off-year updates to maintain their funding, which include summaries of upcoming programming and updated financial data through the SMU/DataArts Funder Report.

Applications are evaluated by a panel of out-of-state arts professionals based on criteria such as program quality, community engagement, resource management, and success measurement. The process includes public panel meetings where applications are discussed, scored, and ranked. Funding recommendations are subject to final approval by the OAC Board.

The next application deadline for SASO funding is February 1, 2027, at 5 p.m. Off-year updates are due annually by April 1 in non-application years. Final reports for each grant year must be submitted within 30 days after the project end date to ensure compliance and prevent future funding ineligibility.

Applicants must use the ARTIE system for submissions and updates. OAC staff are available to assist applicants with eligibility confirmation, grant management, and compliance with program requirements. Detailed guidance is provided through appendices and additional resources available on the OAC website.