Grants to California Art Nonprofits for Arts Projects that Address Contemporary Issues

Impact Projects

Agency

State

GrantWatch ID#

169136

Funding Source

California Arts Council (CAC)

Geographic Focus

USA: California

Important Dates

Deadline: 06/06/23 11:59 PM

Grant Description

Grants of up to $25,000 to California nonprofit arts organizations for arts projects that address contemporary issues facing state residents. Funding is intended to support collaborative projects of local artists and residents that employ creativity in order to combat social problems and other disparities experienced by disadvantaged communities. Priority will be given to local artists and forms of arts and cultural expression that are unique to, or historically rooted in, the specific communities to be served.

The Impact Projects grant program intends to support collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues experienced by historically and systemically under-resourced communities in California at this time, including, but not limited to, social, political, and economic inequalities.

Impact Projects grants support arts organizations for collaborations between local artist(s) and community members to develop and express their own creative and artistic goals and address a community-defined need. Collaborative projects will utilize various creative practices to impact social issues affecting their communities, including but not limited to systemic marginalization, incarceration/justice systems, access to education, poverty/economic disparity, health disparities, accessibility for people with disabilities, housing insecurity, violence, food insecurity, cultural/social justice, intergenerational learning, veterans’ issues, and environmental sustainability.

All aspects of the project should be free to community participants and free and/or affordable and accessible to audiences.

For Project Requirements, see https://arts.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023_Guidelines_ImpactProjects.pdf#page=2.

Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must comply with the requirements below. All applications must include the listed items at the time of submission in order to be considered for funding.
- California-based - Documentation of having a principal place of business in California.
- Arts programming - Applicants must have a minimum two-year history of consistent engagement in arts programming and/or services prior to the application deadline.
- 501(c)(3) organization as applicant or fiscal sponsor - Non-governmental (municipal, county, or tribal) applicant organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
- Fiscal sponsors - An applicant organization without nonprofit status must use a California-based fiscal sponsor with a federal 501(c)(3) designation to apply for funding.
- Certificate of good standing - Nonprofit organizations and fiscal sponsors (if applicable) must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application.

Previous applicants to project-based programs such as Reentry Through the Arts and Veterans in the Arts, etc. are encouraged to apply through this program.

Ineligible

Individuals to be compensated by this grant may not be full-time students in a degree program directly related to any type of compensation/credit for this project.

For unallowable expenses, see: https://arts.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WhatWeDoNotFund.pdf

Pre-Proposal Conference

Office Hours
Virtual office sessions are available to provide technical assistance for the Impact Projects grant program. Arts Program Specialist Natalie Peeples will discuss your organization-specific grant application questions. Advanced registration is required to participate in the Zoom meeting. Hours are offered as follows:

Tuesday, May 23, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. – Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudu6tpjIoHtHCcoFrWGZqrCzybKuGkGL1

Wednesday, May 31, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tcuCtrzooH9PocOS6u7Cgo_Wulm2JfRr2

Pre-Application Information

Timeline:
- Application Opens April 25, 2023
- Application Deadline June 6, 2023 11:59 PM
- Panel Review Approx. June – July 2023
- Funding Decision Approx. August 2023
- Funding Notification Approx. August 2023
- Grant Activity Period October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024
- Estimated Arrival of Funds December 2023 – January 2024
- Final Report Deadline October 31, 2024

Distribution of awards will take place approximately between December 2023 and January 2024.

For organizations with total revenue above $250,000, the sum of requests for CAC grants during the same year of funding cannot exceed 50% of the total revenue from the most recently completed fiscal year, with the exception of applications for Administering Organization grants.

Application Resources: https://arts.ca.gov/grants/resources/

Grant FAQs: https://arts.ca.gov/grants/faq/

Grant Resources: https://arts.ca.gov/grants/resources/

Watch this video that introduces the Impact Projects grant application elements and how to apply through the CAC’s online portal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jEQCgocRXE

Number of Grants

375

Estimated Size of Grant

Up to $25,000

Term of Contract

Grant Activity Period: October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024

Contact Information

Online application portal: https://calartscouncil.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp

Staff Contact:
Natalie Peeples
(she/her/hers)
Arts Program Specialist
impactgrant@arts.ca.gov

CAC
2750 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 322-6555 / (800) 201-6201
https://arts.ca.gov/contact/#

Grants to California Art Nonprofits for Arts Projects that Address Contemporary Issues

Impact Projects

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