Nonprofit arts organizations across the country are reeling. In a stunning move, hundreds of previously awarded or pending grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were abruptly terminated on Friday, May 2, 2025. These notices hit inboxes just hours after the Trump administration unveiled a new federal budget proposal calling for the elimination of the NEA entirely . “As predicted, the Trump Administration has now officially taken aim at the National Endowment of the Arts by rescinding funds that were already awarded or recommended,” IndieWire reported, noting that advocates like the Film Festival Alliance had been bracing for this since Trump took office .
Why is this happening? The administration has made its political motivations clear. The termination letters stated that the NEA will not focus on projects that “reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President,” and cutting those that fall outside the administration’s priorities . Those priorities include things like celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence and uplifting socalled “traditional” heritage institutions such as the Nation’s HBCUs, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and houses of worship serving communities—not diversity, equity, or contemporary innovation . In fact, new NEA grant guidelines had already begun excluding projects that emphasize diversity or gender expression – a controversial rule partially walked back only after four arts groups sued . This all marks a dramatic ideological shift in arts funding.
The impact on arts organizations has been devastating. The NEA had been expected to provide about $3.7 million in grants to 148 theaters this year; now many of those grants have been revoked with no warning . Community programs, educational initiatives, and productions are left in limbo. For example, New York’s Classical Theatre of Harlem was slated to receive a $60,000 NEA grant for a free summer production – funding that vanished overnight. Across the arts sector, there is anger and fear. “The nonprofit sector is under siege by our own government, and arts organizations are especially vulnerable,” wrote one arts leader, calling for “solidarity and resistance” . These cuts strike at the heart of creative communities that have worked hard to secure support. And for what? To funnel resources into politically favored projects – even a proposed “National Garden of American Heroes,” a federal statue park that the NEA and NEH are now asked to help fund with $34 million . All this while the NEA’s entire budget ($207 million) is microscopic compared to other expenditures (defense spending is about $1 trillion in the same proposal) . It’s hard not to see this as a targeted ideological maneuver rather than a cost-saving necessity.
What Now?
In the face of this turmoil, arts organizations are not powerless. Far from it – now is the time to band together and fight back. If your NEA grant was terminated, you can take action to advocate for your funding, your mission, and the broader principle that the arts belong to everyone. Below is a four-step action plan for affected organizations, grounded in expert guidance and urgent recommendations from arts advocacy leaders. This plan is passionate and urgent by necessity – but by acting swiftly and strategically, you can join a nationwide movement to push back and possibly even restore what was lost.
1. Appeal the Termination Immediately
First and foremost: do not accept the cancellation without a fight. The NEA’s notice itself indicates that a grant recipient can appeal the decision within seven calendar days . That is a very tight deadline – so act quickly. Even if your termination email claims the decision “can’t be appealed,” advocacy experts insist that you should still file an appeal in writing. In fact, the Americans for the Arts Action Fund calls this step critical because filing an appeal preserves your standing and ensures your organization is counted in any future coordinated action . It also sends a clear signal to federal agencies and lawmakers about the scale and seriousness of this disruption . Every appeal becomes data and leverage for the arts sector as a whole.
To appeal an NEA termination, you will need to make your case in writing to the NEA (the NEA has been directing appeals to an email, e.g. grants@arts.gov). In your appeal, provide documentation and arguments showing how your project actually fits the NEA’s stated priorities . This might feel absurd, but frame your work in terms of the administration’s own list of preferred themes. For instance, does your project benefit health and well-being in the community? Does it support veterans, education, or American heritage in some way? Highlight those aspects. The goal is to challenge the termination on its own terms. Arts advocates, such as The Film Festival Alliance, have even circulated sample appeal templates to help organizations craft effective responses. Take advantage of these resources – you don’t have to invent the wheel on your own. Even if the odds of reversal seem slim, submit the appeal by the deadline. Every appeal is a chance of reinstating funds and you want your organization on that list to make sure you’re counted in the fight.
2. Document Your Case in Advocacy Trackers
After appealing your case, take a moment to log your case with the advocacy networks that are tracking these grant cancellations. It’s crucial that the full extent of the damage is documented. Arts advocates, such as the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) and Americans for the Arts are compiling lists and data on lost organizational funding so they can inform congressional leaders about the impact these cancelled grants will have on the community. They urge any organization hit by NEA grant cancellations to report their case and file an appeal by the deadline (in some grant categories as soon as May 9) . The purpose of gathering all these stories is to arm advocates with hard evidence and personal testimonies. When Congress and the public see hundreds of concrete examples – programs canceled, jobs lost, local match funding in jeopardy – it paints a powerful picture that this policy choice is hurting real people in real communities.
So, make sure your organization’s story is in that picture. Add your information to any collaborative spreadsheets, surveys, or databases being used by advocacy coalitions. Share the details: the name of your program, the grant amount lost, what those funds were supporting, and what it means for your constituents now that the money is gone. This isn’t about complaining into the void – it’s about equipping our allies with the ammunition they need to lobby on our behalf. When arts advocates go to Capitol Hill or the media, they can say, “Look at these 200 organizations in 50 states that just had federal grants rescinded – here are the facts.” That unified data set gives weight to our collective advocacy. “Even if you’re unsure about the outcome, taking action ensures your organization is counted,” as Americans for the Arts reminds us. It ensures that what happened to you isn’t swept under the rug. So don’t remain a statistic in silence – become a statistic that speaks loudly in aggregate. Document everything and share it through advocacy channels. We can’t fight what we can’t see, and your participation helps make this crisis visible.
3. Contact Your Members of Congress – Loudly and Frequently
While advocacy organizations will carry our message to Washington, nothing is more persuasive to an elected official than hearing directly from their constituents. Now is the time to call, email, and write letters to your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Tell them exactly what this NEA grant cancellation means for your organization and your community. Be specific: How many people will lose work or services? What planned performances, exhibitions, or workshops are at risk? Who in their district is affected – students, veterans, local businesses? Personalize the impact. “Reach out to your US Senators and Representatives to let them know what public funding for the arts looks like in your community, how federal support for the arts has helped you, and why continued investment in the NEA matters,” They need to hear that these grants aren’t abstract line items; they are plays, concerts, classes, and community projects that make a difference at home.
When you contact Congress, make it clear what you are asking for: that they restore the grant funding that was promised and oppose the proposed elimination of the NEA . Remind them that Congress holds the power of the purse – the President’s budget proposal is just that, a proposal. Our representatives in Congress can choose to reinstate these funds in the appropriations process In past years, Congress rejected Trump’s attempts to defund the NEA on a bipartisan basis . They can do so again, but only if they feel public pressure to intervene. If you’re among the lucky ones whose grant wasn’t cut, you should still speak up: affirm how NEA support benefits your district and urge your lawmakers to defend arts funding for all.
For those new to contacting Congress, numerous resources can help. Americans for the Arts and its Arts Action Fund provide template advocacy letters and talking points you can use. You can send emails through their online Arts Action Center or make a phone call to the offices of your Senators and Representatives. (Staffers do tally calls on issues – even a dozen calls in a week on a niche issue like arts funding can get an office’s attention.) If you’re not sure who your Congress members are or how to reach them, you can find that easily via Congress’s website or advocacy tools . And don’t forget to leverage any connections you might have: is one of your board members acquainted with a legislator or their aide? Is there a local official who can help champion your cause to federal officials? Now is the time to call in those favors and activate your allies.
The bottom line is, we need to make a big noise on Capitol Hill about these terminations. Legislators must feel that cutting arts grants is unpopular and causes pain back home. Every voice helps build that narrative. Be passionate. You’re not just asking for money; you’re standing up for the principle that the arts and creative expression deserve federal support, even when political winds shift. Your representatives have saved the NEA before due to public outcry; we need to spark that outcry again.
4. Rally with Arts Advocacy Networks and Allies
You are not alone in this fight. Across the country, a vast network of arts advocacy organizations has sprung into action to support affected groups and push back against these cuts. Connect with your state and local arts advocacy groups and tap into national coalitions. States like Texas, Oklahoma, California, and North Carolina have advocacy agencies that quickly announced they are working with national partners and other states on a coordinated response to the NEA cuts and budget proposal – reach out to them; sign up for their alerts or town halls. They often have ready-made talking points and can plug you into broader campaigns. The six Regional Arts Organizations (like Mid-America Arts Alliance, New England Foundation for the Arts, etc.) are also mobilizing as a collective to defend federal cultural funding . These groups have decades of experience lobbying for the arts – use them as a resource and a rallying point.
At the national level, organizations like Americans for the Arts and its Action Fund are leading the charge. They’ve launched a “Save the NEA” campaign online where you can sign petitions and send messages to Congress. They are also hosting webinars and sharing breaking news through their networks to keep everyone updated on the latest developments .
Within specific disciplines, there are also allies: Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has been vocal in gathering info from theaters; the Film Festival Alliance spearheaded guidance for film-related nonprofits; museum associations are rallying for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) which is facing similar cuts . Whatever your art form, there is likely a community of peers organizing a response. Seek them out. Join conference calls, Zoom meetups, or listserv discussions about the crisis. These forums can provide support – it helps to vent and brainstorm with others who are in the same boat
Also, consider engaging your board members and donors in advocacy. Your supporters are as outraged as you are. Give them guidance on how to help: provide a template email they can send to officials, or invite them to join you at a meeting with a legislator. Community voices (parents of your students, veterans in your theater project, etc.) can be incredibly powerful advocates. An advocacy network isn’t just formal organizations – it’s people united by a cause. So rally your own community as part of this larger fight.
Lastly, don’t overlook the value of media allies. Local journalists or national outlets may be interested in your story. Work with advocacy groups to coordinate messaging, but do speak out. Op-eds, social media campaigns, and public statements build pressure. The more sunlight we shine on these terminations, the harder it will be for policymakers to justify them.
Remember, the arts advocacy ecosystem exists for moments like this. They are there for you. Standing together is how we turn a cascade of individual cancellations into a unified movement for restoration and change. So reach out and lean in. There is real strength in numbers – and right now, all of us in the arts must band together in solidarity.
Protecting Your Mission for the Long Haul
Facing an immediate funding crisis is overwhelming, but there is a silver lining: this is a wake-up call to proactively fortify your organization against the shifting winds of politics. Today, NEA grants may be under attack; tomorrow, it could be state arts funding or donor support swayed by political shifts. In this environment, arts leaders must be prepared to adapt strategically.
We encourage you to start by assessing your organization’s funding vulnerability using the Equity Sings’ risk assessment tool. This assessment is designed to help nonprofit arts leaders gauge where they might be at risk under current political and legal trends. Are you overly reliant on government funding that could be ideologically targeted? Could any DEI-focused programming now be out of compliance with new laws or orders? The Equity Sings risk assessment will surface hidden compliance and funding risks in your policies and practices so you can address them before they become crises. Could any of your programming be out of compliance with new laws or orders? This tool acts as a stress-test for your funding and compliance, surfacing risks. Identifying these weak points will allow you to diversify funding, reframe language in grant proposals, or adjust how inclusive programming is communicated to stakeholders.
Sometimes, self-assessment isn’t enough—you need expert guidance. That’s where a program like the B.O.L.D. Method™ coaching intensive comes in. Offered through Equity Sings, the B.O.L.D. Method is a 6-week coaching and consulting program specifically created for performing arts leaders dealing with DEI bans and political scrutiny without having to abandon your core values or artistic vision. Through the B.O.L.D. Method, you get access to one-on-one expertise and a suite of practical tools to ensure your organization can survive – and even thrive.
What does that look like in practice? First, B.O.L.D. will help with compliance: conducting an in-depth audit of your operations to spot any areas where you might be out of line with new guidelines. Then, we work with you to optimize your policies and programs – adjusting as needed so that you remain legally compliant while still advancing your inclusion goals.
Next, the program emphasizes messaging and communications. This is absolutely crucial in our current environment. B.O.L.D. provides tailored language for grant proposals and public messaging that can safeguard your funding opportunities This might include replacing certain hot-button terms with more neutral language without diluting the meaning, or highlighting aspects of your programming that align with funders’ stated priorities. You also receive an Internal Messaging Toolkit – talking points and scripts for your board, donors, and stakeholders. That means when someone asks “Are you allowed to do this programming under the new law?” or “Why did your grant get canceled?”, you and your team will have clear, confident answers that reassure and rally support.
Finally, B.O.L.D. doesn’t stop at defense; it helps you go on offense with a funding strategy. Together, we’ll work on a plan to diversify and strengthen your funding streams so you’re less exposed to any one source. You’ll even get a curated list of potential funders aligned with your equity values and the current legal landscape. By the end of the intensive, you walk away with a concrete roadmap to keep your organization financially resilient and mission-driven, no matter what political challenges come. You don’t have to abandon your values—or your funding.
If the past weeks have shown anything, it’s that we in the arts need to be both brave and smart. Brave in speaking out and fighting back – and smart in fortifying ourselves and finding creative work-arounds to keep our important work going. The NEA grant terminations are a gut-punch, but they are also galvanizing arts leaders to think differently, build coalitions, and double down on why our work matters. The arts do belong to all people and we will not let short-sighted political maneuvers take that away. This is a defining moment. Let’s meet it with urgency and hope.
