Organization Support Grants

As the arts sector rebuilds from the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Arts Council remains committed to the stabilization of arts organizations by providing flexible grant funding. Organization Support Grants are designed to help non-profit arts organizations take the steps toward stabilization and reopening. The flexible funding can be used for core operations such as personnel and facility costs, or it can be used for programming. Our goal is to distribute much-needed flexible funding support to help arts organizations rebound from the pandemic crisis.

ELIGIBILITY AND SCOPE

• Non-profit arts organizations* that have received direct grant funding from the N.C. Arts Council any time during the past five fiscal years are eligible to apply.  (The five-year period includes FY 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21.)
• Organizations that receive funding through the following N.C. Arts Council grant categories are not eligible to apply for an Organization Support Grant:  State Arts Resources, Statewide Service Organizations, Grassroots (DCP or PCP), and TAPS.

Note:  *Organizations that do cultural programming but have a broader mission beyond the arts are not eligible to apply to this category but may be eligible for Arts Equity Project Grants. Public-facing arts organizations that are housed within a larger entity such as a university or municipality are eligible to apply.

Grant amounts will range from $2,000 to $15,000, depending upon organizational budget size and the total number of applications received in the category. It is anticipated that grant awards for independent 501©3 organizations will be approximately 10% of the applicant’s most recent actual organizational expenses, up to $15,000. University-based arts organizations will be eligible to receive up to $7,500.

Organization Support Grants do not require a match. The project period for funds runs through June 30, 2022. Final reports will be due on July 31, 2022.

How to Apply

Applications will be available in the online Go Smart portal on March 15, 2021 with a submission deadline of Monday, May 3, 2021. The following questions and documents will be required for the application:

Profile questions:  In addition to contact information, you will be asked to submit your organization’s mission statement, an organizational history, and both an EIN and DUNS number.

Narrative questions and uploads:

1. Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your organization. Provide specific details about impacts on staff, operations, and core programs. Estimate the overall direct economic impact of these changes.
2. How will your organization use the flexible grant funds to help to rebound from the pandemic?  Provide specific details regarding expenditures such as staff positions, contractors, facility costs, communications strategies, programs, etc.
3. Upload a signed copy of your organization’s most recent tax filing (most commonly a form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N). For arts organizations housed within a university or municipality, submit the year-end financials for FY2019-2020 (2020). These forms are meant to provide documentation of your organization’s most recent annual expenses.

Arts Council staff will review applications for eligibility and completeness. Based on the total number of applications and available funding, grant recommendations will be submitted for approval to the North Carolina Arts Council board and the Secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Award announcements will be made in early August.