North Charlotte Today

City of Charlotte issued the following announcement on Mar. 21.

The City of Charlotte's Arts and Culture Advisory Board is accepting applications from arts and culture nonprofits and other eligible organizations for up to $20,000 in unrestricted grant support in the current fiscal year 2022.

Applications are due on Thursday, March 24, by 11:59 p.m. A simple application form is available in English (Apply for an unrestricted grant) and Spanish (Participe en el proceso de solicitud de una Subvención de fondos de libre acceso).

The Arts and Culture Advisory Board in February approved $400,000 in grants for the Infusion Fund to distribute. The Infusion Fund is a partnership of public and private donors to support local arts and culture over three years.

To help applicants navigate the process, here are a few frequently asked questions and their answers. For more in-depth information, watch the recording below of the city's virtual info session about the grants, which was held on March 18.

How did the arts and culture team determine how these funds can be used?

Unrestricted operating funds that an arts and culture group can use as needed and how it sees fit are among the most difficult funds for these groups to obtain.

To ensure multiple and diverse groups of all sizes are supported with funding, the City of Charlotte's Arts and Culture Advisory Board has approved allocating $400,000 to groups that have not yet received support from the Infusion Fund.

To do this, the advisory board is deploying these funds as unrestricted operating grants, helping to fill critical gaps for local arts and culture nonprofits and other groups. The specific allocations of funds to organizations will be determined through the application and review process.

I have a for-profit creative business. Are we eligible for this grant?

This particular grant is for nonprofits, or groups or collectives using a nonprofit fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent, as funds are distributed by the city's partner, Foundation For The Carolinas, to nonprofits organizations with 501(c)(3) status. However, the Arts and Culture Advisory Board is considering whether and how the Infusion Fund might support for-profit creative businesses in the future.

I'm an individual artist, but not affiliated with a group or collective. Am I eligible for this grant?

This particular grant is for nonprofits, or groups or collectives using a nonprofit fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent. However, at the direction of the Arts and Culture Advisory Board, the Infusion Fund is supporting individual artists in the current fiscal year through a partnership with the Arts & Science Council (ASC) to distribute project-specific funding to artists and creative individuals in the spring of 2022. Please visit ASC's website or contact ASC for more information.

How much can we request? Can my organization use this funding to cover its full annual budget this year?

Applicants may request up to $20,000, however, it is recommended that they request no more than one-third of their annual budget. For example, if their organization's annual budget is $5,000, the applicant would request $1,500, following this formula.

The primary purpose or function of my organization is not arts and culture, but we do some arts and cultural programming. Are we eligible?

Unfortunately, no. This grant is for organizations and groups whose primary mission is based in arts and culture.

Will this grant program support organizations serving the greater Charlotte region that are outside Charlotte city limits?

This particular grant is for organizations and groups based within the city of Charlotte. However, the Infusion Fund has also supported organizations beyond Charlotte, in other areas of Mecklenburg County including in the towns of Davidson, Matthews and Mint Hill. More information about these allocations is available on the Arts and Culture website.

How can my organization use the funds? Are there any restrictions on how the funds are used?

Recipients can use the money at their discretion for purposes relating to their primary function in arts and culture. Examples include, but are not limited to, renting space for rehearsal, art making, performance and/or exhibition; skills training and professional or career development; or paying artists and other personnel. Ineligible expenditures include:

• Purchase of alcoholic beverages.
• Personal use items.
• Political or public policy campaigns. Nonpartisan voter registration is permitted.

Can art departments or clubs at public schools apply?

Yes, organizations and groups whose primary mission is arts and culture are eligible to apply. However, public schools are not considered nonprofits, so a public-school applicant will need to work with a fiscal agent or sponsor. Parent Teacher Associations and/or booster clubs are often 501(c)(3)-certified, making them an eligible fiscal sponsor.

For how long must a nonprofit have been established to be eligible for grant?

There is no minimum time that a nonprofit must have been established in order to be eligible for this grant.  

If an organization is applying with a fiscal sponsor, will it be a problem if the fiscal sponsor is also applying for funding?

No, these will be treated as separate applications.

Do we need 501(c)(3) IRS letter if our fiscal agent is a Mecklenburg County facility like Park and Recreation?

Yes, governments are not considered nonprofits, so Mecklenburg County facilities like Park and Recreation will need to work with a fiscal agent or sponsor. Consider reaching out to Partners for Parks or a similar group that is 501(c)(3)-certified.

Does the fiscal sponsor's primary mission need to be in arts and culture?

No.

Can the fiscal sponsor be from outside Charlotte?

Yes.

There are no geographic restrictions for fiscal agents, as long as the applicant is based in Charlotte and the work is done in Charlotte.

I have already submitted the application, but I did not include a 501(c)(3) letter from the IRS certifying my organization. How do I send you a copy of the letter?

If you have already submitted a complete application, you can email the 501(c)(3) letter to charlotte.lamb@charlottenc.gov.

I started the application, but I am waiting on budget and demographics information. Can I save what I've entered?

No, there is no way to save your progress. Once you have the information needed, simply start fresh on a new application. All incomplete applications that have been submitted will be removed.

Original source can be found here.