To strengthen the financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure of the arts in the Western United States by providing programs, services, research, technology solutions, grants, and convenings that advance and preserve creativity in the region.
A defining feature of Western States Arts Federation’s grantmaking is its use of subawards to move substantial dollars through regional arts networks. The largest recent grant in the data was $288,858 to Western Arts Alliance in Portland, Oregon, followed by $273,998 in 2024 and $108,147 in 2023 to the same organization. That repeated relationship points to a funding model built around arts infrastructure rather than isolated project support. The federation’s stated purpose is to strengthen the financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure of the arts in the Western United States through programs, services, research, technology solutions, grants, and convenings. Recent recipients also show that the funder works across multiple kinds of arts intermediaries and community-based organizations, including Arts Northwest in Port Angeles, Washington, and Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center El Centro Su Teatr in Denver, Colorado. The pattern suggests a regional arts funder that supports organizations doing distribution, coordination, and field-building work as well as artistic activity. Its programs and recent grants align around capacity, access, and regional connectivity across the western arts ecosystem.
Western States Arts Federation gives across several connected arts infrastructure areas. In touring and presentation support, it awarded $47,000 to Arts Northwest in Port Angeles, Washington, through a subaward. In community-based arts and cultural preservation, the Living Traditions: Folk Art and Beyond Grant supports projects focused on folk arts and traditions practiced, valued, and shared within culturally specific communities. Capacity-building also appears in the Consortia Professional Development Grant Program, which provides $5,000–$10,000 for consortia and networks in the Western United States. Accessibility is another explicit theme: the Access accommodations program provides $0–$500 to support accessibility-related assistance for participants and applicants, including artists and arts workers taking part in WestAF programs and professional development.
Typical grant sizes are modest for the field: the 25th percentile is $7,000, the median is $8,500, and the 75th percentile is $12,500. The recent grants list shows both repeated support and one-off subawards: Western Arts Alliance appears in three different years, while many other recipients appear once. The foundation operates as a regional arts intermediary, and the program lineup includes unsoliciated grant programs as well as invitation-only fellowship and touring support. Several programs are explicitly designed for access, professional development, and network support rather than unrestricted institutional operating support.
$993K
$9.7M
$9.6M
$11.6M
Most grants fall between $7K and $13K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$13K
About 7% of grants go to recipients in CA.
AMY HOLLRAH
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Western States Arts Federation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 227 | $3.8M | 99.6% |
| 2 | Northern Mariana Islands | 1 | $10K |
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Grantmaking is regional and concentrated in the western U.S., with California as the top state by grant count. The recent grants list includes multiple recipients in San Francisco, plus Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Rosa, and San Jose, showing a strong California presence. Other frequent recipient cities include Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with 227 grants there and one grant to CQ.
Its programs and recent grants center on arts infrastructure: touring, folk arts and cultural preservation, consortia professional development, accessibility accommodations, leadership fellowships, and support for arts networks and intermediaries. The stated aim is to strengthen financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure for the arts in the Western United States.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small and clustered: the 25th percentile is $7,000, the median is $8,500, and the 75th percentile is $12,500. Two named program ranges also fit that pattern, including $5,000–$10,000 for consortia professional development and $2,000–$3,000 for TourWest.
Yes. Western Arts Alliance appears in three different years in the recent grants list, with awards of $288,858 in 2025, $273,998 in 2024, and $108,147 in 2023. That repeated pattern suggests ongoing relationships with some regional arts intermediaries.
Yes. The Access accommodations program provides $0–$500 to support accessibility-related assistance for participants and applicants, including artists and arts workers taking part in WestAF programs, events, and professional development.
The giving scope is regional and centered on the Western United States. California has the highest grant count, and the recipient list also includes cities such as Portland, Denver, Seattle, Phoenix, and Honolulu. Most grants go to U.S. recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
0.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WESTERN ARTS ALLIANCE | PORTLAND, OR | $288,858 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ARTS NORTHWEST | PORT ANGELES, WA | $47,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| NATIONAL PACIFIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | EDMUNDS, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ARTS COMMISSION OF GREATER TOLEDO | TOLEDO, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| YVONNE ETAGHENE | YUMA, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| MUNDI PROJECT | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $12,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | CAROL STREAM, IL | $12,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| YOUNG MUSICIANS INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $11,900 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| AUDITORIUM CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES | MOSCOW, ID | $11,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| MOUNTAIN TIME ARTS | SEATTLE, WA | $11,100 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| CITY OF LAS VEGAS - DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $11,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| JAZZ IN ARIZONA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $11,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| PINEDALE FINE ARTS COUNCIL | PINEDALE, WY | $11,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| GILA VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL | SONOMA, CA | $10,250 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| CITY OF FORT COLLINS LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERF ARTS | FORT COLLINS, CO | $10,250 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ISLA MONTESSORI SCHOOL | SAIPAN, MP | $10,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| MANGO | SAIPAN, MP | $10,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| DANCERS WORKSHOP | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| MARY ZHANG | ARIMO, ID | $10,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| GOLD CANYON ARTS COUNCIL | GOLD CANYON, AZ | $9,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| LANCASTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION | LANCASTER, CA | $9,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| COMMUNITY CONCERTS OF TREASURE VALLEY | MESA, AZ | $9,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| BLUE SAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | PAONIA, CO | $9,240 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| DEL NORTE ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL AWARENESS | CRESCENT CITY, CA | $9,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| GLOBAL LOUNGE INCORPORATED | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $8,910 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| WASHINGTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | OLYMPIA, WA | $8,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| BUNNELL STREET ARTS CENTER | HOMER, AK | $8,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| THE LENSIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SANTA FE, NM | $8,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| FAIRBANKS CONCERT ASSOCIATION | FAIRBANKS, AK | $8,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| FESTIVAL DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS ASSN INC | MOSCOW, ID | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| SANTA FE CONCERT ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| INDIAN FINE ARTS ACADEMY SAN DIEGO | RANCHO SANTA FE, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS ESCONDIDO FOUNDATION | ESCONDIDO, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL (SFIAF) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEESLELAND STANFORD JR UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ANCHORAGE CONCERT ASSOCIATION - TW | ANCHORAGE, AK | $8,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| PU'UHONUA SOCIETY | HONOLULU, HI | $8,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| JESSYCA VIANEY VALDEZ PEREZ | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $8,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| GORDON SASAKI | PORT HUENEME, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| FAWN DOUGLAS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $8,000 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| BAROQUE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $7,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| SANTA FE FRIENDS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL | ALTO, NM | $7,750 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| BOULDER ARTS COUNCIL | BOULDER, UT | $7,650 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| WILCOX THEATER AND ARTS INC | WILCOX, AZ | $7,650 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| WHIDBEY ISLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS | FLUSHING, NY | $7,650 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ARTOWN | RENO, NV | $7,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| ARIZONA EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY INC | TUCSON, AZ | $7,500 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| TOWER THEATRE FOUNDATION | BEND, OR | $7,400 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
| TONY DIEGO | PAYSON, AZ | $7,300 | 2025 | SUBAWARDS |
WESTERN ARTS ALLIANCE
$288,858SUBAWARDS
ARTS NORTHWEST
$47,000SUBAWARDS
NATIONAL PACIFIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$30,000SUBAWARDS
ARTS COMMISSION OF GREATER TOLEDO
$15,000SUBAWARDS
YVONNE ETAGHENE
$15,000SUBAWARDS
MUNDI PROJECT
$12,500SUBAWARDS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
SUBAWARDS
YOUNG MUSICIANS INC
$11,900SUBAWARDS
AUDITORIUM CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
$11,750SUBAWARDS
MOUNTAIN TIME ARTS
$11,100SUBAWARDS
CITY OF LAS VEGAS - DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFA
$11,000SUBAWARDS
JAZZ IN ARIZONA
$11,000SUBAWARDS
PINEDALE FINE ARTS COUNCIL
$11,000SUBAWARDS
GILA VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL
$10,250SUBAWARDS
CITY OF FORT COLLINS LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERF ARTS
$10,250SUBAWARDS
ISLA MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$10,000SUBAWARDS
MANGO
$10,000SUBAWARDS
DANCERS WORKSHOP
$10,000SUBAWARDS
MARY ZHANG
$10,000SUBAWARDS
GOLD CANYON ARTS COUNCIL
$9,500SUBAWARDS
LANCASTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION
$9,500SUBAWARDS
COMMUNITY CONCERTS OF TREASURE VALLEY
$9,500SUBAWARDS
BLUE SAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$9,240SUBAWARDS
DEL NORTE ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL AWARENESS
$9,000SUBAWARDS
GLOBAL LOUNGE INCORPORATED
$8,910SUBAWARDS
WASHINGTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$8,750SUBAWARDS
BUNNELL STREET ARTS CENTER
$8,750SUBAWARDS
THE LENSIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$8,750SUBAWARDS
FAIRBANKS CONCERT ASSOCIATION
$8,750SUBAWARDS
FESTIVAL DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS ASSN INC
$8,500SUBAWARDS
SANTA FE CONCERT ASSOCIATION
$8,500SUBAWARDS
INDIAN FINE ARTS ACADEMY SAN DIEGO
$8,500SUBAWARDS
CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS ESCONDIDO FOUNDATION
$8,500SUBAWARDS
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL (SFIAF)
$8,500SUBAWARDS
BOARD OF TRUSTEESLELAND STANFORD JR UNIVERSITY
$8,500SUBAWARDS
ANCHORAGE CONCERT ASSOCIATION - TW
$8,500SUBAWARDS
PU'UHONUA SOCIETY
$8,000SUBAWARDS
JESSYCA VIANEY VALDEZ PEREZ
$8,000SUBAWARDS
GORDON SASAKI
$8,000SUBAWARDS
FAWN DOUGLAS
$8,000SUBAWARDS
BAROQUE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF COLORADO
$7,750SUBAWARDS
SANTA FE FRIENDS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC
$7,750SUBAWARDS
STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL
$7,750SUBAWARDS
BOULDER ARTS COUNCIL
$7,650SUBAWARDS
WILCOX THEATER AND ARTS INC
$7,650SUBAWARDS
WHIDBEY ISLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$7,650SUBAWARDS
ARTOWN
$7,500SUBAWARDS
ARIZONA EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY INC
$7,500SUBAWARDS
TOWER THEATRE FOUNDATION
$7,400SUBAWARDS
TONY DIEGO
$7,300SUBAWARDS
Current and upcoming funding from Western States Arts Federation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit arts and community organizations in the Creative West region presenting touring performers and literary artists; 1:1 cash match required.
Deadline: Application window listed as 06/01/2026 to 06/30/2026.
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