Grants staff told the commission on Aug. 18 that demand for commission grants increased for the FY26 summer panel cycle, with 1,038 applicants and 61 review panels so far. Carrie Calibra, filling in for her colleague on vacation, said the figure represents a roughly 5.5% increase over FY25, when staff recorded about 984 applicants and 45 panels.

Calibra said the grants team hosted 26 application workshops this summer, introduced in‑person Wednesday office hours at the agency’s 200 I Street office, and proactively reached out to past grantees to guide applicants through program and guideline updates. The department added roughly 16 more panels this cycle to accommodate the increased submissions, and staff noted the extra panels and applicant support add significant workload during the summer months.

Executive staff and commissioners noted the increased workload and thanked grant managers. Carrie Calibra and other staff said they plan to continue orientations and support sessions and are finalizing paneling for major grant lines, including Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program, arts education grants, field-trip experiences grants, and upcoming capital projects grants. The commission also reported it is implementing a new grant management system (GMS) in partnership with the Office of Contracting and Procurement to streamline processes.