Applications open for Advancement Grants 2025 in Maryland - fundsforNGOs

Advancement Grants (AG) 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 for the last three completed fiscal years.

Donor Name: Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County

State: Maryland

County: Montgomery County (MD)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 02/16/2024

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC), in partnership with the community, cultivates and supports excellence in the arts and the humanities, expands access to cultural expression, and contributes to economic vitality in the region.

Grant awards support capacity-building projects for organizations that work in a wide array of arts and humanities disciplines including performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, and folk and traditional arts, history, and philosophy.

Purpose

By awarding Advancement Grants, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks to:

Assist arts and humanities organizations in maintaining fiscal stability and long-term viability;
Support arts and humanities organizations in their long-term planning, planning for capital improvement projects, emergency preparedness planning, and/or technology improvements critical to their mission; and
Encourage the use of intentional strategies for achieving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) in the field.

Funding Information

Award amounts range from $10,000 up to $100,000. Requests over $25,000 require the applicant to submit an audit or financial review for the most recently completed fiscal year. Requests over $50,000 require the applicant to submit an audit for the most recently completed fiscal year.

Grant Period

Grants for 2025 will be awarded for activities occurring between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations eligible to apply must have met all the criteria below by the published application 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 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 (not contracted staff) 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 (not contracted staff) 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 its programs and services in Montgomery County, MD, as demonstrated by previous, current, and projected activities and programming.
Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.