2026 Cultural and Heritage NJ Matching Art or History Grant Program

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners established the 2026 Cultural and Heritage NJ Matching Art or History Grant Program to provide direct financial support to qualifying Ocean County nonprofit arts, history, and cultural organizations. The program targets "flagship" cultural and heritage organizations that serve Ocean County residents and have already demonstrated merit by successfully obtaining State-level funding through a competitive review process. The grant program aims to fill a funding gap caused by state regulations that prohibit certain organizations from simultaneously receiving funding through Ocean County's Local Arts Program or County History Partnership Program while also receiving direct grants from the State. • The program provides matching funds to eligible organizations, with a maximum award of $25,000 per applicant. • Applicants must have received a grant award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and/or the New Jersey Historical Commission during the previous fiscal year. • The evaluation criteria include organizational eligibility and compliance, state grant qualification, and program eligibility verification. • The program supports the preservation, promotion, or advancement of arts, culture, or history within Ocean County. • Eligible organizations must have primarily served residents or visitors of Ocean County for five or more years and have operating expenses exceeding $75,000 during the previous fiscal year.