Enterprise Grant Program
A national initiative for cultural, civic, and economic renewal — funding the artists, educators, founders, academies, and cultural enterprises capable of renewing American cultural life from the ground up.
Revival Generation 2.0 is a competitive, non-dilutive enterprise grant initiative providing funding from $100,000 to $1,000,000 — paired with structured mentorship, strategic guidance, institutional visibility, legal and financial counsel, and access to a national network of advisors and partners.
The program builds on The Revival Generation documentary, produced in partnership with the Christian Broadcasting Network. It extends that mission into the marketplace: funding the artists, educators, founders, academies, festivals, and cultural enterprises capable of renewing American cultural life from the ground up.
As a federally chartered institution, grant decisions are made on secular, merit-based, mission-aligned criteria. Faith-based applicants are explicitly welcome and protected from exclusion.
All grants are non-dilutive and disbursed in milestone-determined tranches tied to implementation progress, reporting requirements, and compliance with the executed grant agreement.
For early-stage to emerging enterprises with traction, seriousness of purpose, and a credible growth plan. Ideal for organizations just beginning to build institutional infrastructure.
For organizations with demonstrated traction, existing programs, operating experience, and a 12–24 month growth plan. Strong track record and clear implementation strategy required.
For mature or high-potential organizations with significant institutional capacity, demonstrated achievement, and the ability to generate regional or national cultural impact. Up to $1,000,000.
Artistic and cultural work must be held to high standards. Merit, discipline, and seriousness of purpose are prerequisites for funding consideration.
The Western and American artistic inheritance — classical music, opera, theater, dance, literary tradition, and heritage craft — is a civilizational legacy worth preserving, transmitting, and renewing.
Grantees must demonstrate credible paths toward sustainability. The program funds institutions capable of standing on their own, not permanent dependency on grant support.
The Judeo-Christian moral tradition has been foundational to American ordered liberty and civic life. Programs rooted in these values are welcome and explicitly protected.
The program operates within its full constitutional authority — neither retreating from mission out of legal timidity nor overreaching in ways that create legitimate challenge.
All grant decisions are made through documented, reproducible processes with clear criteria, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and public-benefit reporting requirements.
For-profit, nonprofit, hybrid, and fiscally sponsored entities are all eligible. No applicant will be favored or disfavored on the basis of religious affiliation, political affiliation, race, or ethnicity.
Opera, classical music, theater, dance, choral, orchestral, chamber music, and other serious performance traditions.
Academies, conservatory-style programs, voice and music academies, dance training programs, and youth arts institutes.
Festivals, summer programs, concert series, and cultural events combining artistic seriousness with community impact.
Organizations preserving, transmitting, or renewing important artistic, musical, theatrical, craft, or performance traditions.
Design, production, media, publishing, recording, educational content, stagecraft, instrument-making, and cultural production.
Platforms and tools supporting arts education, audience development, cultural preservation, and access to high-quality artistic content.
Businesses rooted in craftsmanship, artistic production, design excellence, and traditional skills connected to performing arts or cultural education.
Veteran-led enterprises may receive special consideration when demonstrating mission alignment, leadership discipline, and credible public-benefit framework.
A score of approximately 32 out of 50 is generally required to advance. High scores do not guarantee funding — advancement also depends on available funding, program priorities, and the strength of the applicant pool.
| Criterion | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
Artistic, Cultural, or Educational Merit |
0–12 |
Seriousness, quality, originality, discipline, and cultural value. For performing arts and education: artistic standards, training methodology, repertoire, and faculty leadership. |
Mission Alignment |
0–10 |
Connection to the Kennedy Center's role as national center for the performing arts and the program's goals of cultural renewal, excellence, merit, heritage, self-reliance, and public purpose. |
Business Feasibility & Financial Discipline |
0–8 |
Business model, budget realism, revenue strategy, financial documentation, operational planning, and demonstrated ability to use funds responsibly. |
Leadership & Team Capacity |
0–8 |
Founder, leadership team, board, faculty, advisors, staff, or partners demonstrating seriousness, competence, integrity, and the ability to implement effectively. |
Public Benefit & Community Impact |
0–6 |
Measurable cultural, educational, civic, or community benefit: students trained, artists employed, audiences reached, traditions preserved. |
Scalability, Sustainability & Long-Term Value |
0–4 |
Whether the applicant can sustain, expand, replicate, or deepen its work beyond the initial grant period without ongoing dependency. |
Clarity of Ask & Use of Funds |
0–2 |
Whether the requested amount is clear, justified, disciplined, and tied to measurable milestones and outcomes. |
Total |
50 |
Advancement threshold: ~32 out of 50. Grant decisions are made by final committee review comprising Kennedy Center leadership and external advisors. |
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit a single PDF to Management@trumpkennedycenter.llc with subject line: Revival Generation Application – [Organization Name]
Compile one PDF including: executive summary, organization background and mission, founder and leadership overview, governance structure, 12–24 month goals, artistic or program offering, traction evidence, impact statement, exact grant amount and tier requested, detailed use of funds, financial summary, growth plan, implementation timeline, milestone and reporting plan, risk factors, and optional supporting materials (media, press, recordings, letters of support).
Applications are reviewed for completeness, eligibility, and basic alignment. Qualified applications are then assessed for strategic fit, mission seriousness, leadership capacity, cultural or artistic value, public benefit, and funding readiness.
Selected applicants are invited for a founder interview focused on vision, execution capacity, and use of funds. A technical review covers financial, operational, legal, and compliance dimensions. Artistic and cultural review assesses merit, rigor, audience value, and mission alignment.
A final committee comprising Kennedy Center leadership and external advisors reviews the strongest applications. Finalists may be invited to Washington, D.C. for presentations, interviews, mentorship, networking, and final deliberation.
Awarded grantees execute a formal agreement before any disbursement. Funds are released in milestone-based tranches with reporting requirements at 90 days, 6 months, 12 months, and beyond. Grantees receive mentorship, advisory access, and showcase opportunities throughout the program period.
Your organization will not simply receive a grant. If selected, it will become part of a national effort to revive enterprise, culture, education, and community from the ground up. Rolling admissions — apply now.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a federally chartered institution established by Congress under Public Law 88-260 (1964), as amended. All programs are subject to applicable federal law, including the First Amendment, No-Fear Act, and applicable OMB guidance.
No applicant will be favored or disfavored on account of religious affiliation, political affiliation, race, ethnicity, or viewpoint unrelated to program objectives. Religious applicants are explicitly protected from exclusion under Trinity Lutheran, Espinoza v. Montana, and Carson v. Makin.