The Vilcek Foundation has announced the 12 US-based nonprofit organisations receiving funding in its second open-call grant cycle, distributing a total of 212,000 dollars to groups whose work uplifts immigrants or champions innovative initiatives in the arts and sciences. The announcement was made on 2 November 2026.

The 2026 grantees are the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, Radio Boise, the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, City of Asylum/Detroit, Counterpublic, Del Vaz Projects, Delaware Contemporary, The Immigrant Story, the Japanese American National Museum, the National Performance Network, Rhode Island Latino Arts and Voices Jackson Hole. The Bemis Center receives 20,000 dollars in project support for "Indigenous Voices", a new performance series. Grants of up to 20,000 dollars run from 1 September 2026 through 31 August 2027.

The foundation selected the grantees from nearly 2,000 applications from nonprofits nationwide, a 46 percent increase on the 2025 cycle. Founded by Jan and Marica Vilcek, who immigrated to the United States from the former Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, the foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions to American life and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences. Over the past quarter century it has awarded 17 million dollars in prizes and grants to immigrants and cultural leaders.

The 2026 programme also spotlights five immigrant filmmakers through screenings and special events, including a master class with Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan. Since awarding its first grants in 2001, the foundation has provided nearly 7.6 million dollars in funding and contributions to nonprofit organisations across the country, with recent grants supporting programmes led by or elevating immigrant artists, from publishing and theatre to farming and film.