Grants available to Non-profit Arts and Humanities Organizations in Maryland - fundsforNGOs

General Operating Support II Grants (GOS II) 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 $150,000 for the last three completed consecutive 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: $500,000 to $1 million

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

Grants are also available to an arts and/or humanities division within an umbrella non-profit organization, provided that the division’s allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses were at least $150,000 for the last three completed consecutive fiscal years. 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.

Purpose

By awarding GOS II 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

Grant awards for eligible GOS II applicants are based on a percentage of the organization’s average total allowable cash revenue or expenses, whichever is lower, over the past three completed consecutive fiscal years, the panel’s score, the total number of eligible applicants, and available public dollars. Grant awards cannot exceed $600,000.

Grant Period

2025-2026 grants will be awarded for activities occurring from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants are categorized as Core and Affiliate organizations.

Core Organizations

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 $150,000
Demonstrates 501(c)(3) status as described below:
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;
Has as a full-time (35 hours or more) paid executive director, CEO, managing director, or comparable position who reports directly to the organization’s Board of Directors and has had that position filled for no fewer than six months prior to submitting the application;
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.

Affiliate Organizations

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 outside of Montgomery County, MD, however:
- Has a local Montgomery County, MD telephone number (such as 301 or 240 exchange); and
- Has staff present on the premises of a Core Organization at least 1,000 hours a year distributed over no fewer than 40 weeks during the year;
Has a balanced budget and documented allowable annual cash operating revenue and expenses of no less than $150,000 for its Montgomery County, MD programming
Demonstrates 501(c)(3) status as described below:
- 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 15% of its Board members reside and/or work in Montgomery County, MD;
Has as a full-time (35 hours or more) paid executive director, CEO, managing director, or comparable position who reports directly to the organization’s Board of Directors and has had that position filled for no fewer than six months prior to submitting the application;
Has an agreement with a Core Organization to provide a regular season of programming and/or educational services at the facility of the Core Organization.
Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.