Grassroots Arts Program Grants

Grassroots Arts Program Grants is sponsored by North Carolina Arts Council (administered through local arts agencies and partner organizations). Provides arts funding to all 100 counties in North Carolina through a network of local arts agencies and partner organizations to ensure access to high-quality arts experiences.

Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) Grants | NC Arts Council Reminder: Please review General Grant Information and Eligibility Requirements before proceeding. Established by the N. C.

General Assembly in 1977, the Grassroots Arts Program provides arts funding to all 100 counties through an extensive network of local arts agencies and partner organizations. Funding is distributed on a modified per capita basis to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to high-quality arts experiences and can benefit from the vital role the arts play in their communities. The N.

C. Arts Council collaborates with one arts organization per county to receive and manage the Grassroots funds. These organizations are called Grassroots County Partners.

At the state level, the Grassroots Arts Program is an invitational category. In most cases, the Grassroots County Partner is a local arts agency. However, in some instances, a different type of arts organization, such as an arts center or arts school, may be designated to serve in this role.

When there is no strong arts organization available to serve as the Grassroots County Partner, the N. C. Arts Council will collaborate with a unit of county government or a school system to manage and distribute Grassroots funds.

This arrangement is intended to be temporary, while N. C. Arts Council staff work to elevate an arts organization to serve as the Grassroots County Partner.

Note: County governments and school systems are subject to additional restrictions on the use of funds. Scope and allowable expenses Grassroots County Partners may use up to 50% of their grant funds for general operating support.

The remaining 50% is to be used for arts programming and/or subgranting, based on the following guidelines: Grassroots County Partners in counties with populations OVER 50,000: at least 50% of the grant funding must be subgranted to other organizations Grassroots County Partners in counties with populations UNDER 50,000: 50% of the grant funding must be used for self-conducted arts programs or subgrants to other organizations Note: County governments and school systems serving as temporary partners may not use any grant funds for general operating support.

The Grassroots Arts Program is subject to a comprehensive set of requirements and guidelines that can be found in the Grassroots County Partner Guidebook [DOCX] .

The most noteworthy of those requirements are: Matching requirement of one-to-one cash match Fulfilling the community representation requirement Following a standardized subgranting processes Grassroots County Partners are required to submit either a full or update Grassroots County Partner application as indicated in the application schedule . County governments and school systems are required to submit an update application.

The following questions and documents will be required for the application. Reach out to your staff contact for questions or application assistance. Check whether your organization already has a profile in our grant system.

If not, you’ll need to create one. Each applicant must also set up a separate user profile. The organization profile requires details such as the authorized signatory, Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) numbers, mission statement, and documentation of nonprofit status.

Organizations will be asked to provide operating income and expense information for the last, current, and upcoming fiscal years, as well as an itemization of local government support for the last fiscal year.

Grassroots Arts Program - Full Application Grassroots Arts Program - Update Application Grassroots Arts Program - Full Application Please enter the upcoming fiscal year Grassroots Arts Program state allocation for your county What is the projected amount of your Grassroots Arts Program allocation that will be spent for arts programming?

What is the projected amount of your Grassroots Arts Programs allocation that will be spent for operating support? Briefly describe the county you serve; include population and demographics. Describe notable economic, social, and cultural changes in your county in the past three years.

Describe how your organization contributes to the local and state economy. Include employment and visitor statistics, and any other forms of economic impact data you track Describe key artistic programs and activities your organization has planned for the upcoming fiscal year. Indicate if these programs occur annually and how they serve the geographic diversity of the county.

Describe how program choices demonstrate improvement or innovation.

If chosen, describe artists selected for programs and indicate which programs utilize Grassroots Arts Program funding Describe services you provide to arts organizations in the county and how your organization partners with them Describe services you provide to individual artists in your county and your participation in the Artist Support Grant program Describe the overall process used to subgrant Grassroots Arts Program funds to other groups.

Include information on how the availability of funds is publicized, subgrant process timeline, assistance offered to applicants, application review system, and composition of subgrant panel Describe arts in education programs you conduct and/or fund that benefit youth in your community Describe how your organization engages populations in your county who have limited opportunities to experience arts programs due to factors such as education, geography, ethnic or cultural diversity, or economic constraints.

Include outreach or artistic programs you conduct and fund for the aforementioned communities List names, titles, and responsibilities of key staff members. Provide salary range and benefit information for staff positions. Describe the board of directors' system for evaluating organizational leadership Describe your board of directors and key responsibilities, including committee participation requirements.

Describe your organization's board rotation policy and how new members are recruited/trained Briefly describe the facilities in which your organization conducts its primary operations. Indicate if you own, lease, or occupy donated space Describe your organization's financial condition. Include information about debt, deficits, endowments, surpluses, or cash reserves.

Describe how your organization exercises effective fiscal control and accountability Describe your organization's fundraising strategies. Include information on your annual fund campaign and fundraising events. Specify the percentage of annual revenue toward your operating budget garnered from these activities Local government support itemization Please provide actual values for the current fiscal year.

To track annual local government support and Investment in local arts agencies (LAA), please select the best category below for each local government support answer set: Grant or contract with local government partner that is reflected in operating budget (ex; County/city provided funding in operating/program support, or a contract with school district to provide Arts in education programming) Investments provided by local government partner that is not reflected in LAAs operating budget (ex; Employee is a county/city employee.)

Facilities or in-kind investment (ex; LAA operates out of county/city-owned building for a nominal fee; access to city/county services) Upload a list of your prior fiscal year subgrants Upload a list of your prior fiscal year programs or subgrantees that document how you met the community representation requirement Submit artist work samples that demonstrate the talent of the artist(s) involved.

Provide at least three and no more than 10 work samples (images, audio files, video files, documents). Grassroots Arts Program - Update Application Please enter the upcoming fiscal year Grassroots Arts Program state allocation for your county What is the projected amount of your Grassroots Arts Program allocation that will be spent for arts programming?

What is the projected amount of your Grassroots Arts Programs allocation that will be spent for operating support? Describe any significant changes in your organization (i.e. staff, facilities, financial, or organizational structure changes) that have occurred since your last application Provide a description of the programs you will conduct with your upcoming Grassroots Art Program funds.

Include information about the artistic content of each program (i.e. artists involved, how and why they were chosen, and rate of payment for their services) Local government support itemization Please provide actual values for the current fiscal year.

To track annual local government support and Investment in local arts agencies (LAA), please select the best category below for each local government support answer set: Grant or contract with local government partner that is reflected in operating budget (ex; County/city provided funding in operating/program support, or a contract with school district to provide Arts in education programming) Investments provided by local government partner that is not reflected in LAAs operating budget (ex; Employee is a county/city employee.)

Facilities or in-kind investment (ex; LAA operates out of county/city-owned building for a nominal fee; access to city/county services) Upload a list of your prior fiscal year subgrants Upload a list of your prior fiscal year programs or subgrantees that document how you met the community representation requirement Arts in Communities Western Regional Director janelle. wienke@dncr. nc.

gov Arts in Communities Eastern Regional Director Grant application assistance Accessibility questions or accommodation requests