Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

What Arts Council of Anne Arundel County does

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC), established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and legally Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Inc. (Federal Tax ID 52-1821633), is the designated county arts council for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, headquartered at 2666 Riva Road, Suite 150, Annapolis. The organization operates as a grantmaking intermediary, redistributing public and private funds to the local arts ecosystem through Community Arts Grants (three tiers based on applicant operating budgets), Mini Grants (up to $2,500 with 1:1 match), Strategic Impact Grants (capacity-building, requiring prior-year Community Arts Grant status), and Arts in Education Grants (up to $5,000 for schools). It also administers the Arts Angels Scholarship program for youth ages 5-19 with up to $1,200 per recipient, and operates recognition (Annie Awards, since 2000), public art (murals, sculptures, utility box art wraps), exhibitions, and DEIA programming. Its technology stack is modest: a WordPress website, the Submittable application portal, and community resource directories for artists, galleries, venues, and associations. Core staff is four (President/CEO April Nyman, Grants Manager, Marketing/Events/Programs Director, Grant Writer & Communications Manager), supported by a volunteer board of 15+ members.

The council's revenue model is diversified across government appropriations (MSAC, Anne Arundel County Government, City of Annapolis), individual and corporate donations (one-time, recurring, tribute/memorial, in-kind), estate giving and planned gifts, two signature fundraising events (PAINT THE TOWN Gala and Annie Awards), and the Maryland Charity Campaign workplace-giving program. The state's arts investment is reported to generate more than $9 in local community revenue for every $1 invested, a key economic-impact claim used in advocacy. Its go-to-market combines relationship-driven grantmaking with community convening functions (events calendar, artist directory, public art installations, DEIA conference series). Customer segments span nonprofit arts organizations (primary grantees), Pre-K-12 schools, individual artists, youth scholarship applicants, government partners, and the general public as arts audiences and donors.

Distinguished commercial signals include five consecutive Platinum Seals of Transparency from Candid (2021-2025), a 26-year continuous recognition program (Annie Awards), and formalized logo-acknowledgment requirements for grantees that reinforce the Council's central role in the county arts funding chain. The organization is not technology-native; its competitive position rests on its regulatory designation, government funding relationships, and community-network stewardship rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

Legal name

Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Inc.

Website

https://acaac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts council designated by Maryland serving Anne Arundel County. It redistributes government and private funding through grants to nonprofit arts organizations, scholarships to youth artists, public art programs, and the annual Annie Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Grantmaking and Cultural Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)

Keywords

• Arts grantmaking
• Nonprofit arts council
• Community arts funding
• Public art programs
• Arts scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: The Arts Council receives significant funding from government sources including Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), Anne Arundel County Government, and the City of Annapolis. These funds are then redistributed to the community through various grant programs. State funding is noted to generate more than $9 in revenue for every $1 invested in Anne Arundel County.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts one-time and recurring donations from individuals and businesses. They offer options for one-time gifts, recurring or monthly giving programs, and in-kind donations from businesses. Donations can be made in honor of special events or as tribute gifts to memorialize loved ones.
3. Fundraising Events: ACAAC hosts signature events including the PAINT THE TOWN Gala and the Annie Awards ceremony to raise funds and recognize contributions to the arts community.
4. Estate Giving and Planned Gifts: The organization accepts charitable bequests, IRA payments (for those 73+), and other planned giving mechanisms. Federal Tax ID: 52-1821633.
5. Maryland Charity Campaign: State of Maryland employees can donate through the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC), pooling workplace donations to support the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts council that administers grants, scholarships, and recognition programs to support the local arts ecosystem. It distributes Community Arts Grants, Mini Grants, Strategic Impact Grants, and Arts in Education Grants to nonprofit arts organizations and schools, and provides Arts Angels Scholarships to youth artists ages 5-19. It also operates public art programs including murals, sculptures, and utility box art wraps, and hosts recognition and community events such as the Annie Awards and PAINT THE TOWN Gala.

Product overview

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC) operates as a nonprofit arts organization providing leadership, funding, and support for artistic expression in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The organization functions as a grants administrator distributing Community Arts Grants, Mini Grants, Strategic Impact Grants, and Arts in Education Grants to local arts organizations and schools. Additional offerings include the Arts Angels Scholarship program for youth artists, the Annie Awards recognition program, Public Art initiatives with mural and sculpture installations, and the Utility Box Art Program. The council also manages exhibitions, an events calendar, and resources connecting artists with opportunities. This is not a technology product but a nonprofit arts service organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Annie Awards: Annual awards program recognizing exceptional individuals and organizations for contributions to arts in Anne Arundel County
• Public Art Program
• Arts Angels Scholarship
• Community Arts Grant

Products and services

• Community Arts Grants
• Mini Grants
• Strategic Impact Grants
• Arts in Education Grants
• Arts Angels Scholarship
• Annie Awards
• Public Art Program
• Utility Box Art Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Every $1 invested by the State of Maryland into the arts economy generates more than $9 in local community revenue

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chesapeake Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in DEIA initiatives including the annual DEIA in the Arts Conference. Chesapeake Arts Center hosts the conference and provides venue support for DEIA programming.
• The AngelWing ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in DEIA initiatives, collaborating on virtual conversations and resources to help organizations strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices.
• Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DEIA initiatives; Dr. Pamela Brown, Executive Director, served as guest speaker on community engagement.
• Creating CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DEIA initiatives; Rob Levit, Executive Director, served as guest speaker on partnering for impact.
• Anne Arundel County Nonprofit CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner supporting ACAAC's work; Nonprofit Center logo appears on DEIA materials indicating collaborative relationship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Arts Council of Howard County: County-level arts council serving Howard County, Maryland. Closest direct comparable in terms of geographic scope, grantmaking role, community convening, and dependence on MSAC and county government funding.
• Arts Council of Fairfax County: Comparable county-level arts council in Northern Virginia, performing grantmaking, community convening, and public art coordination functions under a similar designated-council structure.
• Maryland Nonprofits: Statewide association serving Maryland's nonprofit sector including arts organizations. Comparable as a capacity-building and advocacy peer organization operating at the state level within the same nonprofit ecosystem.
• Maryland Citizens for the Arts: Statewide advocacy organization for arts funding in Maryland. Directly comparable in advocacy function and overlapping stakeholder community with ACAAC, though operating statewide rather than county-level.
• Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council: County-level arts council serving Prince George's County, Maryland. Same model — designated county council distributing grants, scholarships, and public art programs with state and county funding.
• Chesapeake Arts Center: Anne Arundel County-based arts organization that partners with ACAAC on DEIA programming and hosts ACAAC events. Comparable as a county arts organization receiving ACAAC grants and collaborating on community programming.

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit providing advocacy, research, and resources for local arts agencies. Comparable as a network and advocacy peer, but operates at national scale rather than local grantmaking.
• Maryland State Arts Council: The state-level arts agency that funds ACAAC and redistributes arts funding statewide. Directly comparable as a public-sector grantmaking body for the arts, operating one tier above ACAAC's county-level scope.
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies: Membership organization of the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Comparable in coordinating public-sector arts funding advocacy and representing designated arts council networks.

Regional players

• Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance: Regional arts advocacy and resource organization serving the greater Baltimore region. Adjacent geographically and functionally to ACAAC's convening/advocacy role, though serving a larger multi-county region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artscouncilaac
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtsCouncilAAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artscouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/artscouncilaac

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arts Council of Anne Arundel County