The development of non-governmental sources of cultural funding is still in its infancy in Laos, where project funding is generally sought from other governments such as Japan and Việt Nam or from intergovernmental agencies such as UNESCO.

The Foundation for Cultural Promotion has very limited funds at its disposal and its activities are focused narrowly on the development of khene music. The only other domestic fund in existence is the Wat Phu Champassak Fund for the Safeguarding of Champassak Heritage, which is concerned specifically with the restoration and maintenance of the Wat Phu Champassak World Heritage Site.

Numerous international foundations are active in funding the Lao cultural sector, notably the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Toyota Foundation, the focus being mainly on local capacity building and development.

Corporate sponsorship is already well established in the entertainment industry, as evidenced by the numerous pop concerts held in major centres of population with funding from a variety of local corporate entities. However, as yet there is no tradition of corporate sponsorship for arts and heritage activities in Laos.