Tier I or Zoological Funding

Tier I or Zoological Funding is sponsored by Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP). Provides funding to large cultural organizations and zoological facilities to enhance economic development and community engagement.

Tier I or Zoological Funding - Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) | Salt Lake County Share Your Experience: ZAP Post-Application Survey is Now OPEN! Tier I or Zoological Funding The ZAP program provides funding for twenty-two (22) large cultural organizations under Tier I, and three (3) zoological organizations. Tier I: This funding is available to organizations with three-year qualifying expenditures averaging $390,000.

Organizations that receive Zoo, Arts & Parks funding in Tier I enhance economic development for the entire state, have professional staff, and often serve as ambassadors to Utah. Their activities are available to all Salt Lake County residents and visitors. Zoological: This funding should be used to build organizational capacity, fund zoological facilities, to create stability and to provide adequate predictable support.

Organizations that qualify for Zoological funding have headquarters and a significant presence in Salt Lake County and serves and audience of 75,000 or more persons annually. Download the ZAP Grant Manual to learn more about the grant cycle, eligibility criteria, application processes, review categories, contracting, and payment. Recording - Grant Information Webinar Couldn't make the webinar?

No worries! Check out the recording here. Schedule a 30-minute 1:1 grant technical assistance meeting during our Virtual Office Hours.

IMPORTANT: Grant Cycle Dates Grant Manual & Eligibility Form Time Monday, March 2, 2026 All applications, regardless of funding category, must pass the eligibility check PRIOR to receiving access to the application starting in April.

Location Online - Approved applicants ONLY Time Wednesday, April 1, 2026 We STRONGLY encourage submitting your eligibility check in March, as eligibility confirmation by ZAP staff will need to occur before you receive access to the application. Time Friday, May 29, 2026 All application materials (including any required financial documents) are due.

Grant Manual Appendix Documents 2027 Tier I & Zoological Application Narrative Questions 2027 Tier I Qualifying Operating Expenditures Worksheet 2027 Zoological Qualifying Operating Expenditures Worksheet 2027 Tier I & Zoological Application Tables Template Tier I & Zoological Applicant Site Visit Checklist Tier I + Zoological Application Timeline & Process NOTE: The 2027 ZAP Grant Manual will be made available for download on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Please note the key grant cycle dates above. In its entirety, the ZAP Tier I + Zoological grant process takes approximately 9 (9) months to complete from application opening to signed contracts.

There are six phases in the process which includes: Submitting an Application Contract and Payment Process Beginning this year: All applications, regardless of funding category, must pass the eligibility check PRIOR to receiving access to the application. We STRONGLY encourage submitting your eligibility check in March, as eligibility confirmation by ZAP staff will need to occur before you receive access to the application.

The ZAP team has created a step-by-step process for applicants to better understand the full grant cycle from eligibility criteria, application processes and review criteria, to contracting and payment cycles. All links and documents relevant to the application process can be found in the Grant Manual, which will be available for download starting March 2, 2026.

The manual includes an extensive list of process and help language as well as the necessary links and documents in order to complete all stages of the application process.