Leeway Foundation Grants
Leeway Foundation
Apply for grants ranging from $1,250 to $25,000 to support art for social change projects and practice.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- rolling, apply anytime
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $25,000
- Location
- Greater Philadelphia (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties)
About
Overview
Leeway Foundation funds women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia who create art for social change. The foundation's grantmaking programs recognize artists whose work is often marginalized because of what they create or who they are—including people of color, immigrants, queer and trans* folks, and poor and working-class people.
Programs & Awards
- Media Artist + Activist Residency (MAR): $25,000 grants for media artists collaborating with social justice organizations. Deadline: April 14, 2025.
- Transformation Award (LTA): $15,000 annual awards for artists with 5+ years of social change work. Deadline: May 15, 2025.
- Art and Change Grant (ACG): Up to $2,500 grants for art for social change projects. Deadline: August 1, 2025.
- Window of Opportunity (WOO): Up to $1,500 grants for past Leeway grantees to pursue time-sensitive opportunities. Monthly deadlines (15th of month, February–November).
- Community Care Fund (CCF): Up to $1,250 for past Leeway grantees facing emergency needs. Cycle 2 opens April 1, 2025.
- Leeway x Fleisher Visual Artist Residency: Year-long residency with $2,500 stipend for past Leeway grantees. Deadline: June 30, 2025.
- Leeway x NextFab Art + Technology Residency: Nine-month residency with $2,500 stipend for past Leeway grantees. Deadline: October 14, 2025.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be women, trans*, and/or gender nonconforming artists or cultural producers.
- Must reside in Greater Philadelphia (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia Counties).
- Art for social change work is required for most programs.
- Some programs (WOO, CCF, residencies) are restricted to past Leeway grantees.
How Leeway Reviews Applications
An independent review panel of community-based artists from diverse backgrounds in art for social change work decides who gets funded. Leeway staff does not make funding decisions. All applicants receive detailed feedback based on the panel's deliberations, though applicants may opt out.
Notification & Reporting
Grant notification letters are emailed within two weeks of the deadline. Recipients must submit a final report with receipts for all expenses, and any unused funds must be returned.
- Who this is for
- Women, trans, or gender nonconforming
- Award
- Media Artist + Activist Residency: $25,000; Transformation Award: $15,000; Art and Change Grant: up to $2,500; Window of Opportunity: up to $1,500; Community Care Fund: up to $1,250; Fleisher Visual Artist Residency: $2,500 stipend; NextFab Art + Technology Residency: $2,500 stipend
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Theme
- Art for social change work. Leeway seeks to recognize artists whose work challenges social norms and whose voices are often marginalized—including people of color, immigrants, queer and trans* folks, and people from working-class backgrounds.
- Eligibility
- Women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia (Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties) engaged in art and social change work.
- Audience
- Women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers living in Greater Philadelphia
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.