WAB Creation and Presentation Grant

WAB Creation and Presentation Grant is sponsored by Wisconsin Arts Board. Provides support to established nonprofit arts organizations in Wisconsin that create or present significant arts programming, emphasizing community impact and artistic quality.

Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Below you'll find answers to some fre​quently ​asked questions regarding Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) grants. You can reach out to WAB via email ( artsboard@wisconsin. gov ​) or phone ( 608-266-0190 ).

What is a Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) grant? A grant is a financial award given by the WAB for a specific project or purpose linked to public benefit and does not need to be repaid. Grants are funded with taxpayer dollars through the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

What are the WAB's grant programs, and when should organizations apply? You can find our grant program page along with their deadlines here . You can also check out our programs listed below: Creation and Presentation Grants Creative Communities Grants Woodland Indian Arts Program Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program Check out our Glossary of Terms​ ​ page!

​ As of now, with the exception of the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program , individuals and creative entrepreneurs may not apply for a WAB grant. However, some WAB Regranting Program partners do use WAB funding to award grants to individual artists. Individuals may want to explore funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation .

We support individual creatives indirectly through many of our grants and through our technical assistance activities. Technical assistance activities include the support, encouragement, and skill building that our staff provides to people through phone calls, emails, virtual meetings, webinars, and in person activities like grant proposal writing workshops and board development sessions.

Is our organization/project eligible for funding? We reccommend reading through the full elibility requirements specific to each grant program.

Generally speaking;​ To be eligible for a grant, organizations must: have a record of consistent artistic activities for at least three consecutive years prior to application; have as a primary purpose the creation/production or presentation of artistic programming (performances, exhibits, events) that benefits the general interested public; demonstrate community participation in the program planning; match each dollar of Arts Board support with at least one dollar of public (non-state) or private funds; have an average of at least $10,000 in organizational revenue for each of the past three years (WAB cannot contribute more than 25% of an organization's overall budget); be incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin in order to apply for support (organizations are required to provide proof of incorporation and activity in Wisconsin before applications are reviewed or funds awarded.)

; be a certified 510(c)3 nonprofit in good standing, OR an organization that has applied for non-profit status using a fiscal receiver; have a federally required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which replaces the previously required DUNS number (to obtain a UEI, follow the instructions at SAM. gov ).

If a grant applicant can show that it has applied for a UEI prior to submitting its application — even if that UEI has not yet been received — then the application will be accepted for review.

For Colleges, Universities, and Units of Tribal or Local Government including Public Schools: WAB supports programs that fall under the auspices of these organizations, provided those programs involve the local community in planning, execution, and participation. These applicants must demonstrate that their programming reaches the general public in addition to an academic audience.

(This can be shown through financial support from sources beyond the school such as local corporations, businesses, individuals, and foundations; through its audience and participant evaluation statistics; and through board, advisory or steering committee composition that includes community members.)

Performing Arts Series, Galleries/Museums and Art Film Series that are ongoing and a part of colleges, universities, or public schools are eligible. Grants are based on the arts program's budget, not the overall university/college/school budget. Indirect costs may be shown as in-kind, but not as part of the cash budget/match.

No administrative fee for this grant may be charged to the grant or to the program's budget by the university/college/school. ​ What is a fiscal receiver?

A fiscal receiver is an incorporated, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that provides administrative and financial services for projects initiated by unincorporated, nonprofit organizations - or by incorporated, nonprofit organizations that do not have financial/administrative capability or meet the 3-year requirement.

The fiscal receiver accepts responsibility for administering paperwork and project funds throughout the Arts Board's grant process. The unincorporated group or organization completes the project activity. Does the WAB require a grant match?

Yes. Each dollar of WAB support must be matched with at least one dollar of public (non-state), private funds, or in some cases in-kind contributions. What are in-kind contributions?

In-kind contributions are goods or services contributed to the applicant organization by individuals, other agencies, or businesses that have a demonstrable cash value. These may include items such as donated or discounted space and equipment rental, printing, advertising costs, professional services and other labor, etc. In-kind contributions are valued at fair market price and must be capable of being verified upon request.

Are there any funding restrictions? Yes.

In general, WAB does not fund the following nor can the direct dollar for dollar match for WAB funds be used for these expenses: ​​Capital equipment (items costing more than $5,000 with a useful life of more than one year) or capital expenditures, e.g., renovation of existing facilities; Building/space rental for administrative purposes; Benefit/fundraiser activities; Deficits incurred from past activities; Activities for which academic credit is given; Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties, gallery openings; Activities that have already been completed by the beginning of the grant period; Activities that have a religious purpose; Activities not open to the general public.

How accessible must our organization or project be for people with disabilities? WAB is committed to ensuring ADA compliance and advocating for full access to the arts. Organizations that receive funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board must be fully accessible and inclusive to every individual including people with disabilities and older adults.

If you are unsure if your organization or facility is in compliance, please contact WAB's Accessibility Coordinator Amelia Schaetzke via email ( amelia. schaetszke@wisconsin. gov ) or phone ( 608-264-8191 ) ​ .

WAB is equally committed to making sure our services are accessible to people with disabilities, including artists with disabilities. To request accommodation at meetings, or related to WAB grants or services, please contact WAB via email ( artsboard@wisconsin. gov ​) or phone ( 608-266-0190 )​.

​ For more information, please visit our accessibility page . What accomodations are available for applicants with disabilities? ​Arts Board staff can arrange to meet applicants with disabilities virtually, in our office (which is wheelchair accessible), or in another location that may be more convenient.

Grant guidelines are also available upon request in alternative formats. Please contact WAB's Accessibility Coordinator Amelia Schaetzke via email ( amelia. schaetszke@wisconsin.

gov ) or phone ( 608-264-8191 ) ​ for more information. ​ ​ How does WAB determine what grant requests are funded? Our funding policies begin with our legislation and administrative rules .

The rules and guidance of the National Endowment for the Arts have also molded our programs. From there, we work with our board, arts groups, artists, and our constituents to create funding goals, criteria, guidelines, and the grant programs themselves. We also take into consideration the policies of other state arts agencies and adopt policy that strengthens and melds with our existing funding policies.

Our board approves the grant programs and their guidelines. Our staff members bring their own experience and expertise throughout the process, too. Evaluations by staff, panels, applicants, and grant recipients occur annually.

Occasionally, the board approves any major adjustments in the guidelines that arise from our annual evaluations. We empanel groups of people to review, discuss, and make recommendations regarding funding for applications and grant requests. Our board then meets to consider those recommendations, either approving or denying them.

Panels insulate the distribution of money from the political process, and bring a helpful level of expertise, perspective, and experience to the application review and to the feedback that the applicants receive during and after the panel meetings. These peer review panel meetings have always been open to the public, with transparency and accessibility being enhanced by our use of virtual meeting platforms.

After our organization receives a grant, what happens next? Please find specific toolkits for each grant program listed below: Creation and Presentation (C&P) Grant Recipient Toolkit Creative Communities (CC) Grant Recipient Toolkit Folk Arts Apprenticeships (FAA) Grant Recipient Toolkit​ ​ Do you have general questions? Contact WAB via email ( artsboard@wisconsin.

gov ​) or phone ( 608-266-0190 ). Do you have Creation and Presentation related questions? Contact Karen Goeschko via email ( karen.

goeschko@wisconsin. gov ) or via phone ( 608-267-2026 ). Do you have Creative Communities related questions?

For Arts Education or Folk and Traditional Arts, contact Kaitlyn Berle via email ( kaitlyn. berle@wisconsin. gov ) or via phone ( 608-266-8106 ).

For Local Arts, contact Karen Goeschko via email ( karen. goeschko@wisconsin. gov ) or via phone ( 608-267-2026 ).

Do you have SmartSimple or accessibility related questions? ​ Contact Amelia Schaetzke via email ( amelia. schaetzke@wisconsin.

gov ) or phone ( 608-264-8191 ). ​