The Arts and Cultural Alliance has launched the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts (TDC/A) grant making program.
Donor Name: Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County
State: Florida
County: Sarasota County (FL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/24/2023
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Tourist Development Cultural/Arts (TDC/A) program is a fee-for-services program that offers competitive funding to arts and cultural organizations for the production and marketing of performances, exhibitions and events that attract tourists to Sarasota County. Funding for the TDC/A program comes from the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collected on room rentals for a term of six months or less in Sarasota County. Administration of the TDC/A program is subject to Section 119.07 and Section 286.011, Florida Statutes and related case law, commonly known as the “Florida Sunshine Laws.”
Each year the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County sponsors a grant-making cycle to recommend contract awards to qualifying arts and cultural organizations of Sarasota County. The ACA convenes a Grant Policy Committee (GPC) to guide the program, ratifies the GPC’s recommendations, issues a request for proposals, assembles a panel to review applications, and then makes recommendations to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) which in turn sends its recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for final approval.
Program Purpose
- Offer exciting arts/cultural programming
- Attract tourists to Sarasota County
- Maintain Sarasota’s place as a cultural center
Grant Policies
Each year the ACA holds public meetings on grant guidelines, policies and procedures. Recommendations for policy changes are discussed. The ACA Board and the Tourist Development Council then review these policy changes.
- The Tourist Development Cultural/Arts program supports projects, not organizations that directly support Sarasota County tourism. Projects are evaluated on Tourist Appeal, Artistic/Cultural Purpose and Administrative Competence.
- New projects will not necessarily be given preference over established projects.
- Any collaboration between two organizations described in a grant application must be supported by letters from the Director or President of the collaborating organizations.
- Lobbying of panelists is not allowed.
- Support groups and guilds may not apply on their own behalf.
- An employee or independent contractor of an organization requesting funds may not serve on the Grant Panel.
- Adjudicators and awards for visual art shows are allowable expenses.
- Because some organizations may have difficulty raising funds, 25% of matching funds may be in-kind.
- Standardized documentation of in-kind contributions will be required.
- Accountability is a factor considered by the Grant Panel. The panel reviews results from the previous year’s applicants. The final reports from the previous year will be supplied to the ACA by the Sarasota County liaison for review by panelists.
- Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the meetings of the ACA and Visit Sarasota County and other meetings related to cultural tourism initiatives to learn more about the tourism industry.
- Panelist names are available so that applicant organizations can include them in general mailings. Special mailings to panelists are not allowed.
- Panel members will be convened in October/November and assigned attendance at specific applicant events to assure that every applicant has been visited.
- To encourage panelists to experience the artistic product of each of the applicants and to provide the written evaluations required by the Board of County Commissioners, the ACA will collect accurate grantee contact information so that panelists may obtain tickets to funded events.
Grant Period
- October 1, 2023 –September 30, 2024
Eligibility Criteria
Grants are available to organizations with recognized ability to produce, present and promote cultural and arts activities that appeal to tourists. Applicants must meet these specific requirements:
- The applicant organization must have been registered as a Florida non-profit for at least one full year of operation prior to application deadline.
- The applicant organization must have shown at least one year of stable arts/cultural programming prior to application deadline.
- Applicant must be exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
- Revenue Code. Support groups and guilds may not apply on their own behalf.
- Applicant’s activities must be Sarasota County-based.
- Project must take place within the County’s fiscal year, October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
- Applicant’s project must be accessible to the public and to persons with disabilities.
- Applicant must submit a list of the Board of Directors with addresses and occupation or affiliation.
- Applicant must match the amount requested on a dollar-for-dollar basis, showing revenue specifically contributed for program (25% of this match may be in-kind). All in kind revenue/expense must be properly documented and included with the application or such revenues/expenses will not be accepted.
- Applicant must register and submit applications electronically, Paper applications will not be accepted.
- Applicant must demonstrate that the project has an artistic/cultural purpose.
- Applications solely for marketing programs will not be eligible.
- Applicant must have a Diversity Policy.
- Applicant must provide IRS Form 990, 990EZ, or 990N for most recent tax year, or proof of IRS extension, and the following information according to the size of the grant amount requested:
- Up to $25,000 requires a compilation report, including disclosures required by the applicable financial reporting guidelines or a review with notes by a CPA. If the CPA is part of the organization, that must be disclosed in the financial report, in accordance with professional standards.
- $25,001 to $50,000 requires a review with notes or audit with notes by a CPA. If the CPA is part of the organization, that must be disclosed in the financial report, in accordance with professional standards.
- $50,001 & over requires an audit with notes by a CPA. If the CPA is part of the organization, that must be disclosed in the financial report, in accordance with professional standards.
- Organizations that offer bi-annual events shall use the Operating Expenses from the previous event year to determine the allowable requested amount. However, rules for submission of most recent tax year still apply.
For more information, visit ACA.
