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ACE Application Process

Application Process – Full Operating Grant

For Funding Period: October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Current Important Dates

  • Thursday, May 28, 2026 – General Operating Grant Eligibility Checklist Opens
  • Monday, June 29, 2026  – (5:30 p.m. CT) General Operating Grant Eligibility Checklist Due
  • Monday, July 24, 2026 – ACE Full General Operating Grant Portal Opens
  • Monday, August 24, 2026 – (5:30 p.m. CT) Full General Operating Apps Due
  • Thursday, September 3, 2026 – (11 a.m. CT) Grant Panel Review and Scoring. REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: Attendance at this meeting is required to be considered for funding (Bowden Building, 120 Church St. TIME: TBD)
  • Tuesday, September 8, 2026 – (12:00 Noon CT) ACE Board Grant Funding Approval Vote

Learn More: ACE Full Operating Grant

**Grant Review Panel Note for Operating Grant Program** 

Attendance at the grant review panel meeting by a representative of each applicant organization is required for the Full Operating Grants.

Application Process – Mini-Grant Program

Tentative Timeline

  • Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – (11 a.m. CT) Virtual Interest Meeting
  • Monday, April 27, 2026 – (12 p.m. CT) LOI opens
  • Monday, May 18, 2026 – (12 p.m. CT) LOI closes
  • Monday, June 1, 2026 – (12 p.m. CT) Full applications opens
  • Monday, June 29, 2026 – (12 p.m. CT) Full applications closes
  • Monday, July 13, 2026 – (11 a.m. CT) Scoring REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: Attendance at this meeting is required to be considered for funding (Bowden Building, 120 Church St. TIME: TBD)
  • Tuesday, July 14, 2026 – Board Approval Vote
  • Beginning of August – Awards issued

Learn More: ACE Mini-Grant Program

ACE Contact Information

Office Location/Delivery/Mailing Address
Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc.
905 East Hatton Street
Pensacola, FL 32503

Therese McKenzie
Board President – therese@mckenzielawfirm.com

Bianca Bain Villegas
Grant Co-Chair – Opgrants@acepensacola.org

Accessibility

If you are unable to access any material or experience any difficulties with accessing the guidelines, forms, or application via email or US Mail, we encourage you to contact Therese McKenzie at therese@mckenzielawfirm.com and Bianca Bain Villegas at Opgrants@acepensacola.org so we can address your concerns.

Overview

The purpose of Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. is to receive Federal, State of Florida, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, corporate, foundation, and personal funds to disperse through an equitable granting process to arts, culture, and entertainment organizations throughout Escambia County, Florida that have been in existence for at least 24 months and that are IRC Section 501(c)(3) organizations.

The General Operating Support Grant program is for the areas of art, culture, and entertainment organizations to receive stabilizing operating support. These grants provide a source of funding that promotes the viability and vitality of our cultural community.

Recipients of these grants participate in an annual evaluation process with ACE’s Standards & Allocations Committee. This comprehensive review provides accountability and recommendations for strengthening organizations. Three major areas of each organization are assessed: community involvement, governance and leadership, and financial planning and management.

The dual goals of ACE’s General Operating Support Grants Program are to provide a stable source of unrestricted operating support to the area’s major arts, cultural, and entertainment organizations AND to assure donors that ACE holds grantees accountable to high managerial and fiscal standards in order to provide a diverse array of high quality cultural and entertaining experiences for citizens of Escambia County Florida.

Eligibility Criteria & Process

Entrance into the General Operating Support Grants Program is a two-step process and is open to any arts, cultural, and entertainment 501(c)(3) organization in the Escambia County area. ACE defines art, cultural, and entertainment organization as one whose primary focus is the production, presentation, instruction, and/or direct support of performing, visual, literary, or media arts, heritage, and entertainment for the enrichment of the residents and visitors within the county support area.

First, an organization must be determined eligible under the published criteria and approved on a case-by-case basis by the Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. Board of Directors. Second, the organization will apply for funding through the process described in the following guidelines.

The eligibility criteria for entry into the General Operating Support Grants Program, as approved by the Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. Board of Directors, are available upon request.

NOTE: An organization is limited to one General Operating Support Grant application per grant year. Friend organizations, e.g., Guilds, etc., are eligible to apply only in lieu of the parent organization.

We encourage you to apply the eligibility standards to your organization if you are interested in General Operating Support-level funding. We welcome any questions you may have about this process. You can reach Therese McKenzie at therese@mckenzielawfirm.com and Bianca Bain Villegas at Opgrants@acepensacola.org.

Requirements of Grantees

Please check back later for more details.