Civic Partners, our funding program for organizations, awards two-year funding commitments to Seattle arts, heritage and cultural organizations and arts service organizations with a minimum three-year history of serving Seattle residents and visitors. Civic Partners include senior institutions serving the entire region, established organizations serving a more specialized cultural or community niche, and many small or emerging organizations. Funding is awarded to the entire organization, not single projects.

Funding supports organizations' core programs and operations, aids in planning and attracting other supporters, and helps underwrite public access to a variety of quality arts and cultural opportunities. The Civic Partners program aims to help sustain established organizations over time with predictable funding, while also recognizing and fostering emerging organizations.

In 2007 the budgets of our Civic Partners totaled more than $213 million, with a median budget of $297,600. Together, they served an audience of more than 6 million people. 2007 was the first year of the 2007–2008 cycle. We awarded $1.23 million to 117 organizations to support 3,632 performances, events and exhibit days.