GROUNDWORK GRANT
The Groundwork Grant program is open to eligible nonprofit dance organizations and fiscally sponsored projects based in the Greater Houston area with budgets under $1,000,000. Through the seventh round of the funding program, DSH distributed a total of $75,000 through general operating support awards. Awards will provide general operational support to grantees for the 2026 calendar year grant term.
The program was launched in 2019 to address the need for increased funding opportunities for local dance makers. Nonprofit dance companies and fiscally sponsored projects located in the Greater Houston region dedicated to the creation and presentation of any dance genres are encouraged to apply. The priorities for the funding are in alignment with Dance Source Houston’s mission to empower the diverse individuals and organizations working in the field of dance throughout the Greater Houston region by means of advocacy, inclusive community engagement, and support services.
Groundwork Grant Overview
Goals
- Facilitate a process that is transparent and minimizes labor on applicants and grantees;
- Provide an additional funding source to local dance organizations that currently have limited access;
- Offer flexibility through operational support that allows grantees to direct funds where they are needed most; and
- Infuse Houston’s dance sector with additional funds.
Eligibility
- Are a dance organization or fiscally sponsored project focused on the performance and/or presentation of dance;
- Are based in the Greater Houston region, defined by Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties;
- Have a documented history of creating and presenting dance in the Greater Houston region;
- Have a documented history of paying fees to local dance artists for performance-based work; and
- Can provide proof of current 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship status, as verified by the IRS Tax Exemption Organization Search; and
- Have an operating budget under $1 million.
- Are an individual artist or artist collective without a fiscal sponsor;
- Are an organization that is not focused on the creation or presentation of dance;
- Do not have a documented history of paying fees to local dance artists for performance-based work;
- Are a preprofessional company working exclusively with student dancers under the age of 18; or
- Are an educational institution.
Funding Priorities
Strong applications will display:
- A clear artistic vision and exhibition of artistic excellence, as defined by Animating Democracy’s Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change;
- A clear explanation of how the funds would impact the organization;
- A demonstration of payment to dance artists as a central value;
- Organizational and financial health, regardless of budget size,
- A range of organizational models, budget sizes, dance genres, and perspectives; and
- Representation of and service to audiences reflective of the Greater Houston region.
Selection Process
Timeline
- Application portal opens – Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- Application deadline – Monday, November 24, 2025 at 11:59pm CT
- Panelist review process – December 1, 2025 -January, 5 2026
- All applicants receive notification on the status of their application – February 15, 2026
Applicant Assistance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Have questions?
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions below. Additional questions should be directed by email to [email protected]. Do not direct questions to individual staff members’ email addresses. Please put “Groundwork Grant Question” in the subject line to ensure your email is prioritized. As appropriate, responses to questions received will be added to the FAQ page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are for profit dance businesses or individual dance artists eligible to apply?
No. To be eligible, all applicants must have current 501c3 nonprofit status, as verified by the IRS Tax Exemption Organization Search, or be fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit.
Are pre-professional youth dance companies or studios eligible to apply?
No. This program is intended to support dance organizations that have a history of employing danceworkers over the age of 18 as performers, either as W2 employees or 1099 contractors.
Do applicants need to have a current membership with Dance Source Houston to be eligible to apply?
No. There is no membership requirement to apply or receive funding. We do encourage grantees to become members so we can further amplify the work they’re doing, but it is not required.
How should we complete the equity matrix if we do not have demographic information on our key leadership, board, and staff?
We understand members of your team and board may not provide demographic information. Complete the matrix to the best of your ability and mark “Prefer not to answer / Unknown” where necessary.
What is the timeline for applications?
The application deadline is Monday, November 24, 2025, at 11:59pm CST. Staff will review applications for eligibility following the deadline. Panelists will then remotely review applications in December, followed by an in-person panel meeting to make funding decisions. All applicants will receive notification in January 2026. Grantees will attend a mandatory orientation following notification.
Who will be reviewing the applications?
First, all applications will be reviewed by DSH staff to confirm eligibility. Next, applications will be reviewed by panels comprised of members of the Greater Houston dance community. Prospective panelists who represent a broad range of artistic and cultural perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Can I submit a choreography reel for my work sample(s)?
We do not recommend choreography reels for work sample documentation. Work samples that provide continuity through the video and context through the work description give panelists the best overview of your work. You can submit a compilation video from a single work to showcase a range of moments within a piece.
Is this a project grant?
No. Groundwork Grants provide operational support for calendar year 2026. Rather than focusing on one specific project or performance, your application should reflect the entirety of your organization’s activities during that time, including but not limited to research, development, creation, and presentation.
Because of the size of my organization’s budget we do not submit a Form 990 to the IRS. What should we submit with our application?
Organizations that are not required to submit a full 990 should include whatever they submit to the IRS, either a 990EZ or 990N.
Can Dance Source Houston review a draft of my application?
Dance Source Houston is unable to review application drafts due to staff capacity. Specific application questions should be sent to [email protected].
If I have a question, how should I contact Dance Source Houston’s staff?
Please send all questions to [email protected] with “Groundwork Grant Question” in the subject line to ensure your email is prioritized. Questions should not be directed at individual staff members’ email addresses.
How quickly will I receive a response?
Emails will be returned within 3 business days and will be answered in the order they are received.
Past Groundwork Grant Recipients
2025 Groundwork Grant Recipients
6 Degrees
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Frame Dance Productions
Group Acorde
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, Inc
Indian Performing Arts Samskriti
ISHIDA Dance Company
Karen Stokes Dance
Mezclada Dance Company
Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
Rivkah French Choreography
Silambam Houston
Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater
The Pilot Dance Project
Vitacca Ballet
Wild She DanceS
2024 Groundwork Grant Recipients
Art Uniti
Ashley Horn
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Bayou City Ballet Youth Company
Frame Dance Productions
Group Acorde
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, Inc.
Indian Performing Arts Samskriti
ISHIDA Dance
Mezclada Dance Company
Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
Rivkah French Choreography
Silambam Houston
The Pilot Dance Project
Wild She Dances
Learn more about the 2024 Groundwork Grant cohort here.
2023 Groundwork Grant Recipients
6’
Ashley Horn Dance
Bayou City Ballet Company
Creative Minds Collaborative
Frame Dance
Group Acorde
Hope Stone Dance
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center
Indian Performing Arts Samskriti
ISHIDA Dance Company
Mezclada Dance Company
Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
Silambam Houston
The Moments Project
The Pilot Dance Project
Vitacca Ballet
Learn more about the 2023 Groundwork Grant cohort here.
2022 Groundwork Grant Recipients
Ashley Horn Dance
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Bones and Memory Dance
Frame Dance
Garage Arts Project
Group Acorde
Hope Stone Dance
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center
Kristina Koutsoudas
Mezclada Dance Company
Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
Silambam Houston
Social Movement Contemporary Dance
The Pilot Dance Project
Vitacca Ballet
Learn more about the 2022 Groundwork Grant cohort here.
2021 Groundwork Grant Recipients
6’
Ashley Horn
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Creative Minds Collaborative
Dance Ad Deum
Frame Dance Productions
Group Acorde
Hope Stone Dance
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Metropolitan Dance Company
Indian Performing Arts Samskriti
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
The Pilot Dance Project
PDC Dance Works
Silambam Houston
Social Movement Contemporary Dance
Learn more about the 2021 Groundwork Grant cohort here.
2020 Groundwork Grant Recipients
6’
Ashley Horn
Dance at the J
Frame Dance Productions
Karen Stokes Dance
NobleMotion Dance
Open Dance Project
The Pilot Dance Project
Silambam Houston
Social Movement Contemporary Dance
Texas Salsa Congress
Urban Souls Dance Company