Creative Sector Flex Fund

Creative Sector Flex Fund is sponsored by Cultural Alliance of York County. Provides grants to arts organizations with annual revenue between $10,000 and $200,000 in Pennsylvania.

Creative Sector Flex Fund | Cultural Alliance of York County Creative Sector Flex Fund The Creative Sector Flex Fund, launched in 2023 by Pennsylvania Creative Industries, Powered by Council on the Arts, provides grants of $5,000 to eligible applicants that provide consistent annual levels of artistic programming and/or arts services in Pennsylvania.

Eligible uses of funds are flexible, including the support of applicants’ administrative, programmatic, and project-related expenses. The Cultural Alliance of York County is the PPA Partner for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) and distributes PCA funding in York, Adams, Franklin and Fulton Counties. The Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF) launches in September 2025 for the 2025-2026 grant year.

The CSFF is designed to address the changing needs of dynamic PA arts organizations with average annual revenue between $10,000 – $200,000 by providing grants of $5,000 each to eligible organizations. Submit the Letter of Interest form to determine your eligiblity. Arts and Cultural Organizations AND non-arts organizations with strong arts programming may apply.

Funds must be matched by the organization. Grants must be used for programming/expenses in the 2026 calendar year. rEVIEW GRANT CRITERIA AND GATHER MATERIALS Read through the full grant guidelines to understand eligibility, criteria and list of required documents.

Download the CSFF Full Guidelines Create Foundant Profile & Submit Letter of Interest Login to Foundant & submit LOI using the Flex Fund Letter of Interest (LOI) as a reference. submit Full Application for Funding Once eligibility is determined, you will be invited to fill out the full application. Not in York, Adams, Franklin or Fulton County?

Click below to find out who distributes this grant in your County. 2024 Flex Fund Recipients Through funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the following 17 organizations received Creative Sector Flex Fund grants in York, Adams, Franklin, and Fulton Counties.

Nicodemus Center for Ceramic Studies Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro Buttonwood Nature Center Inc. Dillsburg Arts and Revitalization Council Downtown Chambersburg Inc Gettysburg Community Concert Association Theatre Arts for Everyone York Jewish Community Center cultural programing Lawilowan American Indian Festival Susquehanna Folk Music Society The Grotto Community Center York College Art Galleries York County Libraries Cultural Series SCORING CRITERIA (UPDATED FOR 2025) If Using a Fiscal Sponsor Flex Fund LOI Opens to determine eligibility: September 1 st , 2025 Flex Fund Full Applications Due: October 31, 2025 Flex Fund Panel Review : November, 2025 Grantees Notified: December 2025 Funds Distributed: End of December 2025 to be used in 2026 Eligible organizations for the Creative Sector Flex Fund will: • Be a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, or a unit of local government (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and municipal authorities).

Pre-K -12 public, private and parochial schools including all charter schools are NOT eligible. (K-12 schools should contact the Arts in Education Program of Pennsylvania Creative Industries for other opportunities). • Be located in Pennsylvania, except for non-profit, tax-exempt corporations acting as a fiscal sponsor on behalf of an unincorporated group or not-for-profit limited liability company (LLC) that is located in Pennsylvania.

• Be registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations, except for local governments and fiscal sponsors. • Have a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania. • Have an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to $200,000.

PPA Partners determine revenue size by a two-year average demonstrated by: o Arts organization: most recent form 990 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service o Arts program of non-arts organization or whose 990 is a postcard: applicant’s board/committee approved, arts-specific program financial statement from the most recently completed two fiscal years.

o The program financial statement must detail program revenue, including contributed and earned income and income realized from investments, as applicable, and expenses. In-kind is not included. Unincorporated groups or Pennsylvania not-for-profit limited liability companies (LLCs) must apply through a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that acts as a fiscal sponsor.

Individuals and LLCs with fewer than two organizers/members are not eligible to apply. Grant funds cannot be used for any of the following: Activities outside the activity period of the grant. • Activities that have a religious purpose.

• Cash prizes and awards. • Hospitality expenses (i.e., receptions, parties, gallery openings). • Capital expenditures, including equipment costing $500 or more.

• Performances and exhibitions not available to the public. • Direct or indirect participation in a political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. • Attempts to influence legislation.

PPA Partner advisory panels will evaluate applications based on: What are you doing as an organization that provides value to your community? • Artistic offerings and/or services that strengthen its community culturally, educationally, and/or • Artists and artistic offerings and/ or services involve and are meaningful to the community being • Relevant arts learning opportunities and creative endeavors for community members.

Participation and Engagement Value Based upon your value above, how are you engaging your audiences to increase participation? • Apart from being audience members or beneficiaries, community members are central to the design of the applicant’s work. • Plans and action-oriented practices toward increasing community participation in artistic offerings, including efforts to reach new audiences.

How does your organization appropriately manage activities and funds? • Planning processes appropriate to its organization, mission, and goals. • Capacity to carry out programs and projects as planned.

• Appropriate financial planning and oversight practices. • All grants must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis in cash. • Match can be raised after a Flex Fund grant is awarded.

• In-kind goods and services may not be used to match PCA funds. • Creative Sector Flex Funding grant funds cannot be used to match other PCA grants.

Award Acknowledgment Guidelines -Usage of the Cultural Alliance and PCA logo on printed promotional materials -Usage of the Cultural Alliance logo on digital platforms including websites -Announcement of the grant receipt before or after performances relevant to the opportunity -Any creative way the artist may be able to include a brief message about the Cultural Alliance Find the PA Council on the Arts Acknowledgement Guidelines here.

Email Rita at rita@culturalyork. org Unincorporated groups and Pennsylvania not-for-profit LLCs with more than two members conducting arts activities in Pennsylvania for an expressly not-for-profit purpose must apply to the PPA Partner through a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that serves as a fiscal sponsor. LLCs applying through a fiscal sponsor must meet the same requirements as other applicants, except for tax-exempt status.

If an LLC has a purpose that is not-for-profit, its purpose must be stated in its certificate of organization filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, a copy of which must be included in the application materials. Groups applying through a fiscal sponsor must meet the same requirements as other applicants, except for tax-exempt status and being registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations.

The fiscal sponsor is responsible for the administration of the grant award agreement (contract), including all reporting requirements, has discretion and control over the grant funds, and may charge a reasonable fee for its services. The fiscal sponsor receives the grant payment directly from the PPA Partner and is responsible for ensuring the completion of the final reports.

Fiscally sponsored groups must have a fully executed, active agreement with the fiscal sponsor, a copy of which must be submitted with the application materials.