The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County is accepting applications for its General Operating Support I Grants. General operating support is defined as support for day-to-day operating costs to further the general mission or work of an organization rather than for a specific project.
Donor Name: Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
State: Maryland
County: Montgomery County (MD)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/03/2023
Size of the Grant:$10,000 up to $50,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
General Operating Support I Grants (GOS I) are available to non-profit arts and/or humanities organizations located in Montgomery County, MD that have had both allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of at least $50,000 up to $150,000 for the last three completed consecutive fiscal years. Organizations that have had allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of more than $150,000 are eligible if the organization is not an FY23-24 General Operating Support II (GOS II) grantee. Grant awards support organizations that work in a wide array of arts and humanities disciplines including performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, folk and traditional arts, history, and philosophy.
By awarding General Operating Support I Grants, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks to:
- Encourage organizations to maintain an active, two-way, ongoing relationship with the community in the planning, participation, and evaluation of public activities, which include intentional strategies for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA);
- Promote stability in arts and humanities organizations by providing a base of funding to support operating budgets;
- Help ensure diverse arts and humanities experiences for constituents of Montgomery County, MD;
- Stimulate local support and involvement in the arts and humanities, including volunteer participation, audience development, and financial contributions;
- Strengthen the scholarly and artistic capabilities of arts and humanities organizations; and
- Improve and/or stabilize the management infrastructure and effectiveness of arts and humanities organizations.
Funding Information
- Applicants may request and may be awarded a grant a minimum of $10,000 up to $50,000.
- Request may not exceed 35% of the applicant’s most recently completed fiscal year’s allowable cash operating revenue and expenses or $50,000, whichever is lower.
- Requests for over $25,000 require an FY22 audit or financial review.
- Submitting an audit or financial review does not guarantee an award of more than $25,000.
Project Period
Grants will be awarded for activities occurring between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations eligible to apply must have met all the criteria below by the published Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline and for the last three completed and consecutive fiscal years:
- Has its primary mission as the exhibition, presentation, production and/or performance of, and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services to artists and/or scholars and/or arts and/or humanities organizations;
- Has its primary office in Montgomery County, MD, as demonstrated by the address included in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Letter of Determination;
- Has a balanced budget and documented allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of no less than $50,000
- Demonstrates 501(c)(3) status as described below:
- Has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS; or
- Operates as a specific arts and/or humanities entity or division within a larger 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is not arts and/or humanities-based;
- Is governed by an independent, legally liable Board of Directors operating under a mission statement for the organization and an operating budget specific to the organization;
- At least 40% of its Board members reside and/or work in Montgomery County, MD;
- At least one paid employee works a minimum of 5 hours a week to support the organization’s Board, comply with the grant requirements, and maintain ongoing programming;
- Requests for over $25,000 require at least one paid employee who works a minimum of 20 hours a week to support the organization’s Board, comply with the grant requirements, and maintain ongoing programming;
- Offers at least 51% of programs and services in Montgomery County, MD, as demonstrated by previous, current, and projected activities and programming. Activities may be open to the public, with or without an admission fee, in person or virtually. In-person activities should follow current COVID-19 guidelines as required by the Montgomery County Health Department
- Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.
For more information, visit General Operating Support I Grants.
