The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative provides visual arts institutions with the funding and guidance required to undertake ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives that directly address carbon reduction and energy efficiency.
Donor Name: Frankenthaler Climate Initiative
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is a pioneering grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation in collaboration with RMI and Environment & Culture Partners. Since its inception in 2021, the FCI has distinguished itself as the foremost private national initiative in the United States dedicated to combating climate change specifically within the visual arts sector.
The scope of its support is broad, encompassing everything from modest, rapid-response projects to comprehensive efficiency audits and feasibility studies, and extending to financial contributions for significant infrastructural renovations and strategic planning for new buildings and major initiatives.
Building on the core values of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the initiative aligns a commitment to environmental stewardship with a belief in the vital importance of the visual arts and arts education. Through strategic funding and partnerships focused on tangible infrastructure, the FCI aims to catalyze a sector-wide shift toward zero carbon operations, promoting a future where the visual arts thrive—while contributing to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious world.
Grant Categories
The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative funds energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects in the following categories:
- Catalyst Grants ($15,000 maximum) support stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround and are perfect for small spaces or first actions at any site or institution—and can include an additional award of up to 5 hours of in-project coaching. Projects must be completed by October 31, 2024 (within six months of award) because they are “shovel ready,” requiring no more planning or assessment, or a financial match.
- Scoping Grants ($25,000 maximum) help institutions to understand energy mitigation and sustainability-related opportunities at their facilities. By supporting assessments, including those led by independent and appropriate consultants, Scoping grants benefit institutions that are beginning to reduce their emissions footprint. Projects must be completed by October 31, 2025 (within 18 months of award).
- Technical Assistance Grants ($50,000 maximum) support projects where initial inquiries are complete, and where an identified efficiency project requires procurement and financing support.This may include providing designs and specifications, or connections to energy services companies who provide project support. These grants also support more complex studies or analysis required for pursuing major implementation projects. Projects must be completed by October 31, 2025 (within 18 months of award).
- Implementation Grants ($100,000 maximum) support ambitious, innovative, and transformative projects that directly address institutional climate impact. Implementation Grants are highly competitive and involve multiple stakeholders and collaborators. As seed funding for fully specified projects, Implementation Grants often lead to matches for larger capital and strategic campaigns. Projects must be completed by July 30, 2026 (within 24 months of award).
What FCI Funds?
The FCI’s primary focus includes a range of strategies intended to promote clean energy generation, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices. Through baseline reporting, benchmarking, and ongoing tracking through the EPA’s Energy Star® Portfolio Manager®, FCI projects employ recognized industry standards, reduce environmental impact, and lower operational costs.
Examples of successful projects include:
- clean energy generation and reducing carbon emissions (solar panel Installation, transitioning away from fossil fuel-based heating);
- energy efficiency improvements and building envelope upgrades (installing LED lighting systems, replacing windows, adding insulation);
- innovative building redesigns that lower energy demand (redesigning spaces to minimize energy requirements, incorporating efficient design principles);
- feasibility assessments and energy efficiency audits to identify opportunities for improvement; and
- sustainability measures related to collections management.
Examples of Eligible Projects
Your project must generate clean, low carbon energy, and/or make your institution more energy efficient.
The FCI’s primary focus includes a range of strategies intended to promote clean energy generation, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices in the visual arts sector. They fund building improvement projects, feasibility studies, and ambitious, transformative changes to structures, systems, organizational practices, and the built environment. Through baseline reporting and ongoing tracking using EnergyStar® PortfolioManager® and other recognized standards, FCI projects reduce environmental impact, carbon emissions, and lower operational costs. Projects include but are not limited to:
- clean energy generation (solar panel Installation, transitioning away from fossil fuel-based heating);
- energy efficiency improvements and building envelope upgrades (installing LED lighting systems, replacing windows, adding insulation, upgrading HVAC, installing a new Building Management System);
- innovative building designs (and redesigns) that lower energy demand (designing or modifying spaces to minimize energy requirements, incorporating efficient design principles);
- feasibility assessments and energy efficiency audits to identify opportunities for improvement or adjustment to existing institutional practices; and
- sustainability measures related to collections management.
Eligible Organizations
Eligible Organizations are nonprofit entities based in the United States and Territories and regard the visual arts as the primary focus of their mission and activities.
- Museums, Nonprofit Galleries, Archives, and Institutions whose primary mission and focus involves visual art
- art museums; collecting and non-collecting institutions focused on visual art
- nonprofit art galleries
- archives whose primary area of collection or preservation involves art or art-related fields
- Arts Education, Higher Education, and the Study of Art
- Independent Art Schools
- art schools, departments, or divisions within an accredited college, university, or other non-profit institution of higher education whose focus entails art or the study of art
- museums or galleries within a college or university
- centers for the study of visual art (independent or housed within nonprofit entities)
- artist residency programs
- art education centers
- Community and cultural organizations whose mission and focus includes an emphasis on visual art
- Cultural centers and museums that display the arts of their community
- Community art centers
- Artist-Endowed Foundations
- Arts Events, including biennials, multi-institutional collaborations, temporary exhibitions, large-scale public art exhibitions, and traveling exhibition structures who can monitor and track their energy consumption/energy generation. (New to 2024)
For more information, visit Frankenthaler Climate Initiative.
