The 2025 Arts Education and Program Grants provide funding opportunities to support arts initiatives in Jersey City, focusing on projects that expand the impact of the arts, revitalize shared spaces, build community connections, and create economic opportunities for artists. The grant supports two main categories: Arts Education Grants and Program Grants, each with a maximum request amount of $17,500. These grants are designed to ensure a broad public benefit, fostering arts accessibility and engagement for the residents of Jersey City.

The primary objective of these grants is to support nonprofit arts organizations, arts businesses registered in New Jersey, and individual artists residing in Jersey City. The funding is intended to encourage arts programs that are open to the public and provide clear and measurable benefits to the local community. Universities, colleges, and other schools may apply for funding only if their proposed programs are accessible to the public, ensuring that any student in Jersey City has the opportunity to participate.

The funding can be used to cover up to 50% of the total cost of an eligible program, meaning that applicants must demonstrate the ability to fund at least half of their program costs. Additionally, a 1:1 matching requirement is in place, allowing applicants to use either cash or in-kind contributions to meet this requirement. Administrative salaries for funded programs must not exceed 20% of the total grant request. Organizations are only allowed to apply for one category per funding cycle.

Eligible applicants must have been in existence for at least one full fiscal year before applying. Programs must be held within the funding period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The grant emphasizes inclusivity, requiring applicants to demonstrate a plan for Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI), as well as compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA plan accounts for 20% of an applicant’s final evaluation score.

Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including artistic value, the program’s direct public benefit, alignment with funding priorities, a well-developed organizational budget, a clear plan for evaluating outcomes, and adherence to DEAI and ADA requirements. The grants are competitive, and organizations must demonstrate that their programs provide a significant public benefit within Jersey City.

Certain expenses and programs are ineligible for funding, including food and hospitality costs, travel beyond 50 miles of Jersey City, loan collateral, parades, legal services, political action committees, fundraising events, and sponsorships. Programs that do not serve Jersey City residents, extracurricular activities that are not open to the public, and religious programs that do not support broad-based arts initiatives are also excluded from eligibility.