The City’s Initiative (CI) grant program provides funding to individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and fiscally sponsored projects in Houston to support strategic and creative opportunities that engage both residents and visitors while enhancing the city's cultural identity and tourism. The grant is intended to fund innovative and unique projects that are not part of the applicant's regular programming or annual schedule of events.

The CI grant operates in three rounds annually, with separate application windows and project timelines. The first round's application period runs from March 24 to April 22, 2025, for projects taking place from August 2025 to August 2026. The second round opens from May 26 to June 24, 2025, with funded projects running from October 2025 to October 2026. The third and final round accepts applications from August 29 to September 27, 2025, for projects spanning January 2026 to December 2026.

Grant funds must be used exclusively for project-related expenses, including artist fees and marketing costs. Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $10,000. Requests exceeding $10,000 require a preliminary meeting and are only considered for projects that meet specific eligibility criteria within a designated funding area in the corresponding round.

Applicants must ensure that their proposed activities align with the grant's mission to contribute to Houston's cultural and tourism landscape. The grant does not support projects that are part of the applicant’s recurring programs or annual schedule.

For additional information or inquiries about eligibility and funding scope, applicants are encouraged to contact the grant administrators before submitting their proposals.