Professional Development Opportunity Grant (United States)

The Professional Development Opportunity Grant assists artists and arts organizations in implementing best practices by embracing growth, learning, and discovery for economic sustainability.

Funding Information

• Organizations, with grants up to $2,000.
• If awarded funds, grantees agree to spend or obligate all funds by: August 15, 2025 (for applications submitted between July 2024 and December 2024); or December 31, 2025 (for applications submitted between January 2025 and April 2025). Obligation means that awarded funds are expended, encumbered, or otherwise legally committed to be used, such that returning the unspent funds would cause the grantee legal harm.

Use of Funds

• Professional Development Opportunity Grant funds may be used for expenses directly associated with the
• proposed eligible professional development activities, including but not limited to:
  • Artist payment/stipends
  • Consultant fees
  • Honoraria or contractual services
  • Administrative expenses
  • Transport
  • Artistic materials and supplies
  • Space/venue/equipment rental
• Examples of eligible Professional Development opportunities supported through the grant program include: Participation in a
  • Class or Workshop
  • Conference
  • Seminar or artist retreat
  • Hiring a consultant to learn a specific skill or topic

Eligibility Criteria

• Arts organizations or arts programs must be one of the following:
  • Nonprofit organization (i.e., an organization with an IRS-designated 501(c)3 status)
    • Organizations must be incorporated in Maryland or have significant physical presence in Maryland.
  • Nonprofit, Maryland-based fiscal sponsor organization applying on behalf of a Maryland-based group, project, or artist(s) with whom it has a Model A fiscal sponsorship agreement in place (i.e., comprehensive sponsorship, in which the assets, liabilities, and exempt activities collectively referred to as “the project,” are housed within the fiscal sponsor)
  • Unit of government (e.g., town, city, county, state, etc., with the capacity to undertake an arts program)
  • College or university (i.e., an established higher education institution in Maryland)
  • School (i.e., a public or private school serving students in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12)
• Additional Eligibility Requirements for Arts Organizations:
  • An arts organization/arts program may only receive funding for one application per fiscal year
  • The organization/program must produce or present arts programs, services or projects that are relevant to its community and are available to the public
  • The organization must be in operation as an arts organization or arts program for at least one full fiscal year at the time of application and be able to submit a financial statement for their most recently completed fiscal year at the time of application
  • The proposed professional development activity may not have been funded by MSAC previously
• Independent artists must be:
  • An artist or collaborative group not directly affiliated with a larger arts organization or program
    • In the case of collaborative groups, having a membership comprising at least 50 percent Maryland residents
    • In the case that an artist(s) is fiscally sponsored, the sponsored artist(s) must be a Maryland resident
  • Maryland residents (i.e., owning or renting residential property in Maryland six months prior to the application’s submission and throughout the funded project or program) who are 18 or older; those experiencing homelessness are encouraged to reach out to MSAC staff for details on how to apply
  • Producing or presenting projects or programs that are accessible to the public
  • The lead artist whose original work is included in the proposed activities
  • Not enrolled in any matriculated high school, undergraduate or graduate degree program at the time of application and throughout the grant activities outlined in the application
• Additional Eligibility Requirements for Independent Artists:
  • Only one application per named collaborative group will be considered for funding per fiscal year
  • An independent artist may only receive funding for one application per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)
  • The proposed professional development activity may not have been funded by MSAC previously
• Selected Professional Development opportunities must have a public, established practice of working with artists and/or arts organizations (for at least one year) OR be approved by the MSAC Program Directors.
  • Private instruction or lessons are examples of Professional Development opportunities that need to be approved by MSAC Program Directors before applying.

For more information, visit MSAC.