Grant Writing Strategy

Below are suggested benchmarks for five key grant categories:

  • Arts & Culture,

  • Community Development,

  • Parks & Environmental,

  • Capacity Building

  • Infrastructure

These are based on North Texas foundation trends, typical award sizes, and competitive grant environments.

1. Arts & Culture Grants (Goal: $25K–$250K)

Arts and culture funding in North Texas typically represents 10% to 15% of total foundation giving. Competitive foundation grants for arts and culture tend to fall in the $25K–$100K range for program support and $100K–$250K for capital projects or multi-year initiatives.
Foundations like The Meadows Foundation, The Dallas Foundation, and Communities Foundation of Texas have funded comparable arts and cultural initiatives at these levels.
Suggested Benchmarks:
  • General Operating Support: $25K–$75K
  • Program Expansion: $50K–$100K
  • Capital Investment (Art Installations, Venues): $100K–$250K
  • Collaborative/Partnered Arts Programs: $25K–$75K
Target success rate: 20% to 40% depending on the size and complexity of the grant.

2. Community Development Grants (Goal: $50K–$500K)

Community development grants often fall in the $50K–$250K range for program support and $250K–$500K for multi-year initiatives or infrastructure projects.
Large funders like Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas focus on place-based community development strategies. Mixed-use revitalization, business development, and public space improvement often receive higher awards.
Suggested Benchmarks:
  • Business & Economic Development: $50K–$150K
  • Cultural Corridor Development: $100K–$250K
  • Infrastructure/Urban Improvement: $250K–$500K
  • Public Space Activation (Events, Pop-Ups): $25K–$100K
Target success rate: 15% to 30% depending on scope and scale.

3. Parks & Environmental Grants (Goal: $25K–$150K)

Parks-related grants are smaller in scope unless tied to community development. Grantmakers like The Boone Family Foundation and The George and Fay Young Foundation have funded parks and environmental initiatives in North Texas.
$25K–$50K is a common range for beautification or small-scale infrastructure grants. Higher amounts ($100K+) are possible for projects tied to health, recreation, or revitalization.
Suggested Benchmarks:
  • Park Enhancements (Benches, Trails, Landscaping): $25K–$50K
  • Large-Scale Capital Projects (Amphitheater, Pavilion, Green Space): $100K–$150K
  • Environmental Programming (Education, Clean-Ups): $10K–$25K
Target success rate: 30% to 50% for smaller grants, 10% to 20% for larger capital grants.

4. Capacity Building Grants (Goal: $10K–$75K)

Capacity building (staffing, strategic planning, board development) is considered lower-risk funding, so foundations are more likely to approve requests. Grants between $10K and $50K are typical for first-time applicants. Larger awards ($50K–$75K) are possible for multi-year capacity-building efforts.
Suggested Benchmarks:
  • Strategic Planning: $10K–$25K
  • Staffing/Operations: $25K–$50K
  • Multi-Year Capacity Building: $50K–$75K
Target success rate: 30% to 50% for smaller requests, 10% to 20% for larger, multi-year grants.

5. Infrastructure/Capital Projects (Goal: $100K–$500K)

Infrastructure grants are more competitive and harder to secure. Grants for capital improvements (e.g., buildings, equipment) typically range from $100K to $500K.
Local funders like the Communities Foundation of Texas and The Dallas Foundation have awarded larger sums for high-impact cultural and community infrastructure.
Suggested Benchmarks:
  • Capital Campaign (Buildings, Venues, Equipment): $250K–$500K
  • Infrastructure Repairs/Improvements: $100K–$250K
  • Multi-Year Capital Campaign: $250K–$500K
Target success rate: 5% to 20%, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Strategic Targets

For Armstrong Park Cultural District, a balanced grant-seeking strategy would target a mix of:
  • Small to mid-sized grants ($10K–$50K) for capacity building and program support
  • Mid-range grants ($50K–$250K) for programming, events, and local economic development
  • High-impact capital grants ($100K–$500K) to support large-scale infrastructure improvements and cultural corridor development