As a member-driven national network, Alternate ROOTS supports artists and cultural workers who make work in, with, by, for, and about their communities, and whose cultural work strives for justice.
Alternate RootsInc centers artist-community partnerships that imagine and practice racial justice, and its recent giving shows that mission in action. The largest listed 2025 contribution went to Spirithouse in Durham, North Carolina, at $1,743,000, far above the rest of the year’s awards. That scale is paired with smaller direct support programs for ROOTS members and project-based work across the U.S. South, indicating a mix of large strategic commitments and modest awards for individual practice and community work. The foundation’s profile is shaped by arts and culture, community-engaged art, and fiscal sponsorship, with a stated emphasis on artists and cultural workers whose practice is rooted in their communities. Recent support also reached Tiny is Powerful in North Charleston and Women Engaged in Atlanta, showing that its funding touches both arts and civic or community-facing efforts. Alternate RootsInc operates as a member-driven national network, and its grants are tied to cultural work that strives for justice rather than to a single art form or venue.
In artist-community partnership work, Alternate RootsInc awarded $89,000 to Tiny is Powerful in North Charleston, South Carolina, and $5,500 to Black and Brown Biennale in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first award aligns with its interest in partnerships and racial justice, while the second reflects support for community-based cultural work in a public-facing setting. In civic or community organizing contexts, the foundation gave $60,800 to Women Engaged in Atlanta, Georgia, which fits its focus on art and social change. The presence of grants for organizations in Durham, New Orleans, and Atlanta shows that the foundation supports artists and cultural workers operating in different community settings across the U.S. South. Its active programs also point to professional development, project development, and fiscal sponsorship as recurring tools in how it funds.
Typical grant size sits at $18,990 at the 25th percentile, $40,350 at the median, and $74,900 at the 75th percentile. The 2025 list also includes a very large outlier at $1,743,000, alongside much smaller awards under $20,000. Several program lines are explicitly multi-year or ongoing, including Partners for Change and an 18-month Partners in Action program, while Artistic Assistance offers direct support that ROOTS members can seek unsolicited. The foundation also uses fiscal sponsorship, which suggests it funds both through grants and through nonprofit infrastructure support.
$2.4M
$6.8M
$2.9M
$6.1M
Most grants fall between $19K and $75K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$75K
Michelle N Ramos
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Giving is regional, with 29% of grants to recipients in Georgia and the highest grant count in North Carolina. Recent recipients include Durham and Rougemont in North Carolina, Atlanta in Georgia, North Charleston in South Carolina, and New Orleans in Louisiana. All of the listed recent grants went to U.S. recipients, and the recipient country distribution shows 7 grants in the United States. The footprint is concentrated in the U.S. South, matching the foundation’s program geography.
The foundation supports arts and culture, artist professional development, community-engaged art, fiscal sponsorship, and racial and economic justice. Its active programs point to artist-community partnerships, art and organizing, project development, and direct support for ROOTS members who are artists and culture bearers in the U.S. South.
Typical awards are $18,990 at the 25th percentile, $40,350 at the median, and $74,900 at the 75th percentile. The listed 2025 grants range from $5,500 to $1,743,000, showing a wide spread between smaller project support and a very large contribution.
Yes. Artistic Assistance — Professional Development and Artistic Assistance — Project Development both accept unsolicited requests from ROOTS members. The Fiscal Sponsorship Program is also listed as accepting unsolicited applications for projects and organizations seeking 501(c)(3) sponsorship.
North Carolina is the top state by grant count. Georgia still represents a substantial share of giving, with 29% of grants to recipients in the HQ state, but the most frequent recipient location is North Carolina.
Recent listed recipients include Spirithouse in Durham, North Carolina; Tiny is Powerful in North Charleston, South Carolina; Women Engaged in Atlanta, Georgia; LoudNOQyt in New Orleans, Louisiana; IDEA Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia; Respite in the round in Rougemont, North Carolina; and Black and Brown Biennale in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Alternate Rootsinc that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Project or organization should be a small arts/culture initiative (individual project, collaboration, or new organization). All fiscal sponsorship arrangements subject to Alternate ROOTS’ program terms and fee structure.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPIRITHOUSE | DURHAM, NC | $2,220,447 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WOMEN ENGAGED | ATLANTA, GA | $60,780 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| TINY IS POWERFUL | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $57,932 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| IDEA CAPITAL | ATLANTA, GA | $19,513 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CLEAR CREEK CREATIVE | BIG HILL, KY | $14,394 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| Spirithouse | Durham, NC | $1,743,000 | 2025 | Contribution |
| Tiny is Powerful | North Charleston, SC | $89,000 | 2025 | Contribution |
| Women Engaged | Atlanta, GA | $60,800 | 2025 | Contribution |
| LoudNOQyt | New Orleans, LA | $40,350 | 2025 | Contribution |
| IDEA Capitol | Atlanta, GA | $22,000 | 2025 | Contribution |
| Respite in the round | Rougemont, NC | $15,980 | 2025 | Contribution |
| Black and Brown Biennale | New Orleans, LA | $5,500 | 2025 | Contribution |
TINY IS POWERFUL
$57,932SUPPORT
IDEA CAPITAL
$19,513SUPPORT
CLEAR CREEK CREATIVE
$14,394SUPPORT
Contribution
Tiny is Powerful
$89,000Contribution
LoudNOQyt
$40,350Contribution
IDEA Capitol
$22,000Contribution
Respite in the round
$15,980Contribution
Black and Brown Biennale
$5,500Contribution
