In order to support Nashville’s arts ecosystem, Metro Arts is accepting applications to provide operating support to arts organizations for the FY24 grant cycle.
Donor Name: Metro Arts
State: Tennessee
County:
City: Nashville
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/20/2023
Size of the Grant: $200,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Grants Program supports organizations engaged in work that addresses one or more of the community outcomes they seek to achieve:
- + Stronger Creative Workforce
- + Vibrant, Creative Neighborhoods
- + Deeper Cultural Participation
In order to support Nashville’s arts organizations in their continued recovery following challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, Metro Arts has decided to focus funds on operating support for the FY24 grant cycle.
Grant Categories
Operating Support for Micro Institutions
- Organizations with an arts-focused mission + average revenue less than $25,000 annually
- 1+ year as a nonprofit
- Awards up to 75% of average revenue, with minimum awards of $2,000
Operating Support for Small Institutions
- Organizations with an arts-focused mission + average revenue of $25,000 to $100,000 annually
- 1 year as a nonprofit
- Awards up to 50% of average revenue, with minimum awards of $3,000
Operating Support for Medium Institutions
- Organizations with an arts-focused mission + average revenue between $100,000 and $500,000 annually
- 1 year as a nonprofit
- Awards up to 25% of average revenue
Operating Support for Mid-Size Institutions
- Organizations with an arts-focused mission + average revenue between $500,000 and $3,000,000 annually
- 1 year as a nonprofit
- Awards up to 17% of average revenue, with maximum awards of $120,000
Operating Support for Large Institutions
- Organizations with an arts-focused mission + average revenue greater than $3,000,000 annually
- 1 year as a nonprofit
- Awards up to 1.8% of average revenue, with maximum awards of $200,000
Funding Information
- Eligible Micro organizations will be awarded a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of 75% of $25,000 (or $18,750).
- Eligible Small organizations will be awarded a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of 50% of $100,000 (or $50,000).
- Eligible Medium organizations will be awarded a minimum of Maximum of 25% of $500,000 (or $125,000).
- Eligible Mid-Size organizations will be awarded a Maximum of 17% of $3,000,000 (or $120,000).
- Eligible Large organizations will be awarded a maximum of 1.8% of their operating budget with a maximum of $200,000.
Depending on funding availability, grant awards may be adjusted if Metro Arts funding changes.
Project Period
All eligible FY24 grant activities must take place between July 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024 unless otherwise noted.
Eligible Expenses
Metro Arts grant funding can only be used to pay for certain types of costs. Make sure your request includes expenses that can be covered by Metro Arts funds.
Grant funds CAN be used for
- Salaries
- Artist
- Program/Project Supplies
- Performance Space/Facility Rental
- Marketing and Promotion
- Consulting Fees
- Equipment Rental and/or Purchase
- Fundraising Activities
Grant funds CANNOT be used for
- Capital Improvements or Equipment Purchase
- Reduction of Debts
- Activities & Programs with Religious Practices or Intent
- Political Lobbying Activities
- Purchase of Real Property
Eligibility Criteria
Operating Support grants support the general operations of arts-focused nonprofit organizations based in Metro Nashville-Davidson County. An arts-focused organization is one whose primary mission is to directly support the performance, exhibition, or instruction of art. The word ‘art’ here refers to a number of artistic genres including dance, folk + traditional arts, literary arts, media arts, music, performance art, theater, and visual arts.
To receive an operating support grant from Metro Arts, the applicant must:
- Produce, present or directly support artistic programs, projects or works
- Have a primary mission to directly support the performance, exhibition, or instruction of art
- Be chartered in the state of Tennessee and tax-exempt under the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3)
- Have an IRS Letter of Determination with an effective date of exemption of January 23, 2022 or earlier for Operating Grants
- Have a business address located in Metro Nashville & Davidson County and operate most of its programs in Metro Nashville
- Have evidence of non-discrimination employment and personnel practices in place
- Applicants must adopt an equity statement withing the next 2 fiscal years.
There are certain types of organizations that cannot receive operating grants from Metro Arts. They are:
- Non-arts organizations
- Arts organizations who focus on capacity building, technical assistance, or advocacy and do not offer direct artistic programming
- Organizations who receive operational budget amendments (“line items”) from Metro, except for those that are provided by the Metropolitan Charter
- “Friends of…” organizations whose primary purpose is to support government agencies or initiatives
- Colleges or universities
- Public broadcasting stations
- Arts organizations that operate as a legal subsidiary of a non-arts nonprofit organization
Metro Arts will review additional grant eligibility issues not listed here on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, visit Operating Grants.
