Tacoma Creates, the arts and culture initiative, is back for another year, open-armed to local non-profits hungry for funding to support the gamut of programs from arts to science set to roll out between July 2025 and June 2026. The details, announced with fanfare on the city's news section, included words from Mayor Victoria Woodards, who touted, “The cultural sector that helps define Tacoma is so impressive and vibrant, and Tacoma Creates funding is helping this sector grow and evolve in exciting ways.”
The competitive application process, split into two main streams – Comprehensive Organizational Support and Impact funding – is not just another bureaucratic hopscotch. Mayor Woodards elucidated that the support crisscrosses a wide spectrum of organizations, fostering an array of programming to captivate and cultivate the community. Moreover, Tacoma Creates Advisory Board Chair, Katie Mattran highlighted the tangible boons tied to such investment; in a statement gathered by the city's announcement, Mattran stated, “The expansion of youth education programs, the growth in partnerships with Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public Schools, and the employment for artists and other creative workers are just a few of the benefits of Tacoma Creates funding.”
For the Comprehensive Organizational Support funding, the ask can be ambitious; eligible 501(c)(3) non-profits based in Tacoma can request up to 15 percent of their annual budget, with an upper limit of $400,000 annually. The programs under this banner are expected to be as broad as they are ongoing, touching on everything from public programming to youth education initiatives. Meanwhile, Impact-funding applicants can aim for sums ranging from $3,000 to $60,000, supporting either a singular program or a suite of them. Eligibility here extends beyond 501(c)(3) entities, potentially to business associations, neighborhood councils, and county organizations operating primarily within Tacoma.
The application for Comprehensive Organizational Support is now open, with a deadline of 11:59 PM on March 10. For Impact funding, the deadline is 11:59 PM on March 24. Applicants can find eligibility details, guidelines, and submission instructions on the Tacoma Creates website.
