Cultural Organization Support Grants

The Cultural Organization Support Grant program is an opportunity for nonprofit cultural organizations to invest in their team so they can deliver on their mission. This program provides financial resources for Mecklenburg County based arts, science, history, and heritage organizations to invest in capacity building opportunities that improve their organization’s management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising and/or achieve operating efficiencies. ASC encourages staff and board development at all levels of the organization.

What is the Program Purpose?

Cultural Organization Grants may support organizations seeking to improve their management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising and/or achieve operating efficiencies. ASC encourages staff and board development at all levels of the organization. Cultural Organization Support Grants support capacity building opportunities that improve an organization’s understanding of its own environmental culture, the history and legacy of white supremacist structures, the ways in which individuals and organizations play a role in maintaining or disrupting these structures and create concrete plans of action to embody equity in their work.

Who is eligible?

Any Mecklenburg County-based not-for-profit organization with a primary mission of arts, science, history, or heritage. Public and independent schools, colleges and universities, after-school programs, and camps are not eligible. Priority will be given to organizations with annual operating budgets under $1million. Organizations not based in Mecklenburg County are not eligible to apply.

What is eligible?

Eligible projects should be a one-time strategic opportunity to improve an organization’s management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising, provide a unique learning opportunity for staff/board, and/or achieve operating efficiencies.

The following are an example of some eligible expenses:

Consulting fees
One-time costs related to the implementation of new software
Contract fees

ASC strongly encourages projects that prioritize the organizational work of anti-racism and enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The culture, history, policies, and practices—both formal and informal—of an organization affect the way it engages with the community, its audiences, stakeholders, and patrons. Cultural Organization Grants can provide resources to support organizations engaging in this critical work of cultural equity.

What is the Support Period?

Projects should begin prior to June 1, 2023, and conclude by June 30, 2024.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss in their application how the proposed opportunity falls outside of routine annual planning/budgeting and is a one-time strategic opportunity.

How much may I request? Is there a matching requirement?

Applicants may request up to $20,000, or 50% of the total project budget, whichever is less. Applicants are expected to provide a 1-1 cash or in-kind match for the project. If providing a cash match is a burden to your ability to pursue this opportunity, please contact Adam Santalla Pierce, Director of Community and Artist Support at adam.santalla@artsandscience.org.

Note: Applications may not list salaries or benefits as eligible expenses or as part of the match requirement. Costs associated with contracted staff that will specifically support the funded project are eligible.

Are there Ineligible Expenses?

These funds are not intended to supplement ongoing operating expenses. As a result, ASC will not entertain requests to support the following:

Existing staff salaries or benefits
Ongoing programs, staff or operating costs
Multi-year requests
Capital improvements or the purchase of any item(s) that must be depreciated on financial statements
Annual product licenses, membership fees, web hosting fees, etc.

Applications to support programming the organization offers to the public will not be considered for funding.

What is the deadline?

Potential applicants can request an application beginning January 3, 2023. Contact grants@artsandscience.org and provide a brief description of your project. Applications must be requested before April 28, 2023.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. An application typically takes 4 weeks to review and approve.

How do I apply?

All applicants are required to apply through our online application system. To request access to the online application form, please email grants@artsandscience.org.

The Director of Community and Artist Support will schedule a conversation with interested applicants to ensure the project is eligible and in the spirit of the guidelines and provide the application. Applications should be submitted online. The application asks for organizational details, a budget, a description of the project, and for the applicant to identify anticipated outcomes. All applications should be submitted online.

What is the Required Reporting?

Most important to ASC is learning how your Cultural Organization Grant helped improve or change the organization. All grantees will be required to submit a final report that describes the impact and outcome of the project. Final reports must be filed through the online process within 30 days of the activity’s completion.