Sunday is arts & culture day on The Grant Brief.

All three of these fund individual artists, not organizations. That's worth flagging because most arts grants flow to nonprofits. If you work with emerging artists or run a fiscally sponsored program, these are worth passing along directly.

What we know: The John Stites Jazz Artist Organization has made 44 grants totaling about $719,000 since 2023, with a median grant around $7,500. Over half of recipients are in Michigan, though there's no geographic restriction on applicants. The foundation's broader giving leans heavily toward arts and culture organizations, with the Gilmore Festival receiving $370,000 of that total (roughly 51% of lifetime dollars). The individual artist awards are a distinct, smaller pool. Realistic fit: emerging jazz musicians with at least two years of college-level music study (or equivalent training) and a concrete plan for advanced study or performance development. The program is built around career advancement for innovative emerging artists.

What we know: The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation has made 81 grants totaling about $545,000 since 2023. Most recipients are in Maine (38%) and New York (25%). The median grant across all programs is $2,400, but this specific award is a single $50,000 prize, so the median doesn't apply here. Past winners include Kayla Farrish ($50,000) and Marie K. Watt ($40,000). The application window opens June 1, with a 300-submission cap so the window may close before July 1. Eligibility excludes applicants on any temporary US visa (F-1, H-1B, J-1, O-1, artist visas) — only US citizens and lawful permanent residents qualify. Realistic fit: practicing visual artists with a strong portfolio and the ability to present work in Rockland, Maine.

What we know: The CFDA Foundation made 45 grants totaling $2.3 million in its most recent filing year, with a median of about $33,000. Over 82% of all grants go to New York recipients. Top grantees include The New School (17 grants, $450,000) and individual fashion businesses like L'Enchanteur ($310,000) and Glory Apparel ($279,000). This is a fashion industry funder, not a traditional arts foundation. The published page doesn't list formal eligibility requirements, so confirm details via the application form before investing time. Realistic fit: working jewelry designers with an existing body of work and bandwidth for a multi-week finalist process that culminates in a capsule collection.

None of these three are for nonprofit programs or organizational budgets. They're for individual makers. If you're a grant writer at an arts nonprofit, the move here is to share these directly with artists in your network rather than apply on their behalf.