March 2: Application opens

March 4 @ noon: Virtual Information Session, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

March 3-April 13: Virtual Office Hours, Tuesdays @ noon REGISTRATION REQUIRED

April 13: Application deadline

May 18: Funding decisions communicated with applicants

• The FedEx Arts Program is open to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater Memphis area with an arts-based mission and focus, a minimum three-year history of presenting quality arts projects, and an active Board of Directors.

• Applications by fiscal agents are not permitted. 

• FedEx does not typically fund organizations that have not received a grant through ARTSmemphis since July 2022.  Arts Build Communities is recommended for first-time applicants. 

• Organizations currently receiving multi-year funding or funding outside of the FedEx Arts Program, are not eligible to apply.

• This grant is not open to individual artists.

• Funded programs must be accessible to the entire community regardless of age, creed, disability, gender, marital status, race, religion, sexual orientation or country of origin.

• Note: Capital campaigns are not supported through the FedEx Arts Program. If you are interested in securing support for a capital campaign, please visit fedexcares.com to learn more about nonprofit funding.

The FedEx Arts Program is an arts funding program, administered by ARTSmemphis and funded by FedEx. This program strengthens the Memphis community through the commitment of FedEx to connect people and possibilities through ARTSmemphis’ grantmaking experience and knowledge. 

General

• You are encouraged to register for office hours (link in timeline) and/or contact Nur Abdalla in advance of the deadline with any questions.

• All grant applications must be submitted using the online grant application platform.

• Data and information provided by organizations during grant application processes is utilized by ARTSmemphis to advocate and secure funding for the local arts sector, including this grant program and will be shared with the grant funder, FedEx.

• Grant award decisions are competitive, and awards are based on an organization’s documentation of progress and success against the stated criteria.

• Submission of an application for funding does not guarantee that funding will be awarded. Award of funding one year does not guarantee funding the following year. If not awarded funding, this does not exclude organizations from the opportunity to apply for funding in following years.

• In fairness to others, no deadline extensions are granted, and we will not accept incomplete applications. An application may be deemed incomplete and ineligible if information is not provided in the appropriate format by the deadline.

Specific

• Requests may be for general operating support, or for program or project support.

• There is not a suggested minimum or maximum request amount but grants typically range from $5,000 to $30,000.

• It is expected that other support applies to your proposed project, so it is not advisable to request a high percentage of the project budget.

• Grant awards will be announced in May, so proposed projects should not begin before June 1, 2026. If you are requesting operating support, the request may be for the fiscal year that includes summer/fall 2026, winter/spring 2027.

Criteria for Evaluation

• Engages the Memphis Community

• Financial Stability

• Sustainable Partnerships & Collaboration

• Prior Year Accomplishments

• FedEx Recognition

• Charitable Priorities Alignment: Project proposed aligns with at least one of FedEx’s Charitable Priorities:

  • ACCESS

    • Creating economic opportunity through workforce development that helps more Memphians secure and thrive in well-paying jobs in the sector.

    • Improving youth development (especially opportunity youth and at-risk youth) by encouraging skills needed for success in the 21st century workforce (communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking).

  • COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY

    • Providing arts experiences/programs for children and families especially in low to moderate income neighborhoods.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Share volunteer opportunities for FedEx employees to engage with applicant organization, particularly during the day on weekdays

AngelStreet Memphis | Operating Support

Ballet Memphis | Season 29 Operating Support

Carpenter Art Garden | Operating Support

Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group | Operating Support

Circuit Playhouse, Inc. | Season 57 Sponsorship

Collage Dance | 16th Season: Sweet Sixteen

Company d | Wonders in the Night

Contemporary Arts Memphis | Programming and Teen Art Lab

Creative Aging | Operating Support

Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Art to Grow

Hattiloo Theatre | Operating Support

Iris Collective | Iris Artist Fellowship Program

Memphis Jazz Workshop | Guest Artists and MasterClass Instructors

Metal Museum | Operating Support

Music Export Memphis | Ambassador Access

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Performing and Teaching Artists Apprenticeship Program 2025-26

New Day Children's Theatre | Operating Support

Opera Memphis | FedEx Presents: The Playground King

Orpheum Theatre Group | Perfecting Gifts Summer Camp

Overton Park Shell | Free Concert Series at the Overton Park Shell

Perfecting Gifts, Inc. | Perfecting Gifts Summer Camp

Princeton James Project | Summer Kooler Camp 2025

PRIZM Ensemble | PRIZM 2025 Summer Camp

WYXR 91.7FM | WYXR’s Internship Program

Young Actors Guild | Young Actors Guild Summer Performing Arts Camp

AngelStreet Memphis | Operating Support

Ballet Memphis | Youth Ballet Memphis Wizard of Oz Revitalization

Carpenter Art Garden | Operating Support

Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group | Operating Support

Circuit Playhouse, Inc. | Circuit Operating Support

Collage Dance | 15th Anniversary Season: Reframing the Narrative

Company d | Wonders in the Night

Creative Aging | Operating Support

Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Operating Support

Hattiloo Theatre | Operating Support

Indie Memphis | Operating Support

Iris Collective | Iris Artist Fellowship Program

Memphis Jazz Workshop | Operating Support

Metal Museum | Forging the Future

Music Export Memphis | Ambassador Access

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Performing and Teaching Artists Apprenticeship Program 2024-25

New Day Children's Theatre | Operating Support

Opera Memphis | 30 Days of Opera

Orpheum Theatre Group | Professional Healing Counselors for Mending Hearts Camp

Overton Park Shell | Free Concert Series at the Overton Park Shell

Perfecting Gifts, Inc. | Perfecting Gifts Summer Camp

Princeton James Project | Operating Support

PRIZM Ensemble | PRIZM 2024 Summer Camp

WYXR 91.7FM | WYXR’s Internship Program

Young Actors Guild | Young Actors Guild Summer Performing Arts Camp

AngelStreet Memphis | Operating Support

Ballet Memphis | Youth Ballet Memphis Wizard of Oz Revitalization

Carpenter Art Garden | Operating Support

Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group | Operating Support

Circuit Playhouse, Inc. | Circuit Operating Support

Collage Dance | 15th Anniversary Season: Reframing the Narrative

Company d | Wonders in the Night

Creative Aging | Operating Support

Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Operating Support

Hattiloo Theatre | Operating Support

Indie Memphis | Operating Support

Iris Collective | Iris Artist Fellowship Program

Memphis Jazz Workshop | Operating Support

Metal Museum | Forging the Future

Music Export Memphis | Ambassador Access

New Ballet Ensemble & School | Performing and Teaching Artists Apprenticeship Program 2024-25

New Day Children's Theatre | Operating Support

Opera Memphis | 30 Days of Opera

Orpheum Theatre Group | Professional Healing Counselors for Mending Hearts Camp

Overton Park Shell | Free Concert Series at the Overton Park Shell

Perfecting Gifts, Inc. | Perfecting Gifts Summer Camp

Princeton James Project | Operating Support

PRIZM Ensemble | PRIZM 2024 Summer Camp

WYXR 91.7FM | WYXR’s Internship Program

Young Actors Guild | Young Actors Guild Summer Performing Arts Camp