General Operating Support I Grants (GOS I) are available to non-profit arts and/or humanities organizations 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: 02/02/2024
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 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.
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.
Purpose
By awarding GOS 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
Award amounts range from $10,000 up to $50,000. The grant request may not exceed 35% of the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year’s allowable cash operating revenue, expenses, or $50,000, whichever is lower. Requests over $25,000 require the applicant to submit an audit or financial review 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
- 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:
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- 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 (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; o 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 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.
Budget Eligibility Requirements
An eligible applicant has had allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of no less than $50,000 for the last three completed fiscal years.
Non-allowable cash operating revenue includes, but is not limited to:
- Unrealized gains or losses
- Investment revenues (interest and dividends)
- In-kind donations
- Revenue raised for capital
- Funds intended for re-granting
Non-allowable cash operating expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Investment Fees
- Interest Expenses
- Re-granting
- Capital improvement expenses/other related costs
- Depreciation
- Loan principal payments
- In-kind donations
- Bad debt
For more information, visit AHCMC.
