Are You Ready to Apply? Grants Open for the Next 90 Days

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | VOLUME 54| December 9, 2025

Today’s Feature: Mama Africa’s Marketplace

Mama Africa’s Marketplace, a beloved cultural and economic hub in Chicago’s South Shore community, is facing the possibility of permanent closure by January 23rd, 2026. In response, founder Ifarinu, a longtime community advocate and cultural steward, is mobilizing community leaders, organizations, and supporters to preserve what many describe as far more than a business — but rather, a living institution rooted in culture, spirituality, safety, and cooperative economics.

Founded in March 2021, Mama Africa’s Marketplace was created to serve as a bridge between African heritage and the African diaspora, providing access to African-made products while fostering cultural pride, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity. Since opening its doors, the Marketplace has employed over 60+ youth, supported more than 50 Black-owned vendors, and provided a safe, affirming space for individuals who are often disenfranchised or excluded from traditional economic systems.

“This is not just about saving a storefront,” said Ifarinu. “Mama Africa’s Marketplace is about protecting a space where culture is honored, youth are employed, Black entrepreneurs are supported, and the community feels safe, seen, and spiritually grounded.”

To support, community members are encouraged to donate, shop, and share - follow them at @mama_africas_marketplace on Instagram for updates, read their full story via their gofundme campaign, and share widely!

Funder: City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Grant Program: Individual Artists Program
Award/Opportunity: See Guidelines
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Artists or Organizations)

The Individual Artists Program (IAP) aims to assist Chicago's practicing artists in creating work that develops their craft and elevates their careers, while adding to the cultural vitality of the city of Chicago. IAP grants support artists across all artistic disciplines including Film & Media Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Performing Arts (Theater/Dance), and Visual Arts/Design.
Proposals are due by 12 p.m. on Thursday, January 15th, 2026.
See full guidelines, information session recordings, and remaining drop-in session dates at chicagoculturalgrants.org

STRATEGY & TIPS

Grant Tip of the Week: Funders Fund Readiness, Not Just Ideas

Strong ideas are important, but funders are just as focused on organizational readiness. Before submitting a grant application, make sure you can clearly demonstrate:

A defined mission and program goals
Financial systems that track and report funds accurately
The capacity (staff, partners, or consultants) to implement the project
Data or evaluation methods to measure impact

💡 Pro tip: If an application asks “How will you manage and sustain this project?” and the answer feels shaky, pause and strengthen your infrastructure first. A well-prepared organization is far more competitive than one with a great idea but weak systems.

At Bustling Spaces, we believe that a successful grant application requires a multi-faceted approach that combines precision, creativity, and strategic planning.

NEXT 30 DAYS

Funder: City of Chicago DCASE - DuSable Park Public Art: Honoring Native Voices
Maximum Grant Size: $500,000 (total project budget)
Application Closes: January 10, 2026 (Qualifications Submission)
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Artist/Team)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust - Pre-Development Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: January 12, 2026 (Project Scope Submission)
Funding Area: Capital Projects (Organizations)

Funder: Parent Artist Advocacy League - Parent & Artist Caregiver Grant
Maximum Grant Size: $1,000 (for caregiving support)
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: All Disciplines (Parents/Caregiver Artist)

Funder: Mid-America Arts Alliance - Creative Forces Grant for Arts Projects for Military-involved communities
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Organizations)

Funder: Les Paul Foundation - Grants for Music and Innovation
Maximum Grant Size: varies, see FAQs
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music Education/STEAM (Organizations)

Funder: School for Advanced Research - Native Artist Fellowship
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Individual Artist - Native-American)

Funder: Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation - Individual Support Grant for Mature Artists
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Painting/Sculpting/Printmaking (Individual Artist)

Funder: BMI Foundation - Classical Music Composer Award
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Classical, Individual Artist under age 28)

Funder: BMI Foundation - John Lennon Award
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Contemporary, Individual Artist ages 17-24)

Funder: BMI Foundation - Dolly Parton Songwriters Award
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Folk/Country, Individual Artist ages 17-24)

Funder: Arts Midwest / NEA - NEA Big Read
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 15, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Literature-centered Programming (Organizations)

Funder: Elastic Arts Foundation - Gallery Curatorial Residency
Maximum Grant Size: $1,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Curation / Visual Art (Individual Curator)

Funder: Experimental Sound Studio - Outer Ear Sessions
Grant/Award: Free recording studio sessions (see guidelines for details)
Application Closes: January 18, 2026
Funding Area: Music/Sonic Art (Individual Artist)

Funder: Chicago Filmmakers - Production Assistant Training Program
Grant/Award: 80 hours tuition-free production assistant training
Application Closes: January 18, 2026
Funding Area: Film / Production (Individual Artist)

Funder: Mutual Mentorship for Musicians - Fall Equinox 2026 Cohort 9.
Grant/Award: $3,500 + 10-month compositional mentorship cohort
Application Closes: January 20, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Individual Composer)

Funder: Arts Midwest / NEA - NEA Big Read
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Full Application)
Funding Area: Literature-centered Programming (Organizations)

Funder: Arts Midwest- Shakespeare in American Communities: Schools Program
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Shakespeare related performances & education for middle/high school (501c3)

Funder: Arts Midwest - Shakespeare in American Communities: Juvenile Justice Program
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Shakespeare related performances & education for juvenile justice facilities (501c3)

Funder: Arts Midwest - Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeship Program
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Apprenticeships (theater) (501c3)

Funder: Chamber Music America - New Jazz Works
Minimum Grant Size: $9,000
Application Closes: January 29, 2026
Funding Area: Music - Jazz (Individuals / Ensembles)

Funder: Levitt Foundation - 2026 Festival Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: January 30, 2026
Funding Area: Music Festivals (Organizations)

Funder: Luminarts Cultural Foundation - Luminarts Fellowships
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 1, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Classical Music, & Jazz Improvisation (Individual Artist)

Funder: Chicago Dancemakers Forum - Dance Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: February 2, 2026
Funding Area: Dance (Individual Artist)

NEXT 60 DAYS

Funder: Crossroads Fund - Seed Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 10, 2026
Funding Area: Social change (Organization /Collective)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Community Development Grant (Small)
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organizations)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Community Development Grant (Medium)
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organizations)

Funder: National Trust for Historic Preservation - African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000
Application Closes: February 14, 2026
Funding Area: Historic Preservation (Organizations)

Funder: Salt Lick Incubator - Artist Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Singer/Songwriter)

Funder: Terra Foundation - Convening Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: February 16, 2026 (Letter of Inquiry)
Funding Area: Visual Arts focus (Organization)

Funder: Illinois Arts Council - Creative Learning Grants for Schools
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: February 18, 2026
Funding Area: Art Education (School)

Funder: Mid Atlantic Arts - US Artists International Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $11,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: February 25, 2026
Funding Area: Music: international tours (individuals / ensembles)

Rolling Grants

Funder: Arts Work Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $40,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Capacity Building/Planning (Organization)

Funder: Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund - Racial Justice Community Organizing Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Racial Justice (Organizations / Collectives)

Funder: Ben & Jerry's Foundation - National Grassroots Organizing Program
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000 (2-year Grants)
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Grassroots organizing (Organizations)

Funder: Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+): Emergency Relief Grant
Grant/Award: $3,000 Emergency Relief Grants
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Emergency relief for Craft Artists (Individual)

Funder: New Music USA--Reel Change: Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Music (Artist)

Funder: Epiphany Center for the Arts - Call for Exhibitions
Maximum Grant Size: Exhibition platform / space (see guidelines for details)
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Artist)

To view additional rolling grants please visit this link!

Mama Africa’s marketplace was birthed by Ifarinu Egunrinde, who was inspired by the rich history of the marketplace in Africa, and found herself enamored by the vibrancy of the land. In the marketplace, she saw a place to share, showcase, trade your gifts and talents, where you can be filled and fed spiritually while also supporting yourself and your family financially. “The marketplace is the heartbeat of the people,” she says.

Mama Africa’s Marketplace is more than a store—it is a lifeline for Chicago’s South Shore. For five years, it has served as a "third space" for healing, culture, and economic liberation. Today, that home is under immediate threat.

Through Mama Africa’s Marketplace, Ifarinu has intentionally created a space that:

Increases access to African-made products
Builds cultural pride and connection across the African diaspora
Supports cooperative economics
Provides pathways for Black youth, girls, and women to develop artisanal and creative trades
Serves as a safe, spiritual, and cultural gathering place for community education, healing, and celebration

Creates a platform for entrepreneurship, healing, and cultural preservation.

Find out how to support and preserve this vital space here: Urgent: Save Mama Africa's Marketplace,

Tell City Council to keep arts funding strong in Chicago’s 2026 budget! Contact your alderperson and urge them to support cultural grants and programs in this year's budget. Contact Your Alderman

Take a closer look at what’s in (and what’s not) for arts and culture in Chicago’s FY26 budget. Read Arts Alliance full analysis for key takeaways and context. Read Arts Alliance’s Analysis

Looking for convenient access to our Newsletter? In addition to receiving biweekly updates, you can also locate the latest newsletter on our website under Programs > Newsletter Catalogue .

Looking for Space on the Southside?

South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces

Check out our interactive map of the congregations that are participating in the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces program. Here’s the link to the map.

Additional Funding Opportunities & Informational Resources:
Explore more funding avenues! Discover additional resources promoting diverse grants, residencies and other opportunities for artists, arts organizations, and creative businesses. Unleash new possibilities and fuel your artistic journey!

The world of public funding can be overwhelming for creatives. That's why the Arts Alliance Help Desk is here. From running list of public funding opportunities to expert staff who can help you find support for your arts practice or navigate a tricky grant application, the AAI Help Desk is there to make sure nonprofits, individual artists, creative business and beyond can thrive. Visit them at https://artsalliance.org/support!
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Opportunities Newsletter
Creative Capital Artist Resources
Arts Alliance Illinois Newsletter & Loans 101 Webinar Workshop
3Arts - Additional Resources
Illinois Humanities - Additional Resources
Allies for Community Business - both Loans & Grants
ILA Creative Studio's BLACC App
Chibrations App
Newcity Today Newsletter