The Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is accepting applications for its General Operating Support grants to strengthen the community with multi-year core support for arts and cultural institutions of all sizes.
Donor Name: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
State: Ohio
County:
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/01/2023
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The purpose of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s General Operating Support (GOS) grant is to strengthen the community by deepening its access to arts and culture through meaningful, multi-year core support to arts and cultural organizations based in and serving Cuyahoga County.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture strongly encourages applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)-led and serving organizations, as well as others that have been historically excluded or marginalized.
Successful GOS Applicants have:
A primary mission to create, produce, present or provide arts and/or cultural services for the public; A history of vibrant artistic and/or cultural programming; and Strong organizational capacity to carry out their work.
Funding Criteria
Successful grant applications will demonstrate Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s three funding criteria:
- Public Benefit
- An organization’s ability to meaningfully connect with its community to achieve its mission
- Artistic and Cultural Vibrancy
- An organization’s ability to create relevant and engaging work that furthers its mission.
- Organizational Capacity
- An organization’s ability to successfully plan for and manage its resources.
Funding Information
Grant Period: All funded activities and grant expenditures must occur during the two grant periods: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a General Operating Support grant, organizations must meet all the following criteria:
- Have a primary mission to produce, present or create programs or activities in areas directly concerned with arts or cultural heritage for the general public
- Have a permanent and viable base in Cuyahoga County for at least three years prior to June 1, 2023. Applicant organization must have a business address in Cuyahoga County and conduct the majority of its local programs and services in Cuyahoga County for the residents of Cuyahoga County and visitors to Cuyahoga County
- Exist as a 501(c)(3) organization for at least three years or be a successor to an arts or cultural organization that had been a 501(c) (3) organization for at least five years prior to June 1, 2023, and be verified as a 501(c)(3) by GuideStar’s Charity Check service
- Employ for a minimum of two years prior to June 1, 2023, at least one paid, professional cultural/ artistic and/or administrative staff person working a minimum of 20 hours per week (or 1,040 hours per year) at or above the state-designated minimum wage. This staff person must receive an IRS Form W-2 from the organization reporting wages and withheld taxes and must have approval from the organization’s Board of Directors to sign for financial transactions and grant-related documents
- Provide independently certified audited financial statements for FY20, FY21, and FY22 if its FY22 total expenses are $750,000 or more; or provide either independently certified audited or reviewed financial statements for FY20, FY21, and FY22 if its FY22 total expenses are less than $750,000
- Provide an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ for the most recently completed fiscal year
- Be incorporated and authorized to do business in Ohio as verified by the Ohio Secretary of State
- Meet minimum income threshold of $100,000, as determined by a financial review/audit or Form 990
- Have previously received and successfully completed at least two Project Support grants from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
For more information, visit General Operating Support.
