Operating Support for Small Organizations (OSS) Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

To help strengthen eligible organizations’ ability to bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state. This program is designed to be a simple way for organizations with annual arts budgets of $75,000 or less to apply for SCAC operating support funding. Eligible applicants range from emerging to established organizations. The grant provides two (2) years of unrestricted support for basic operations related to these artistic functions:

• producing,
• service,
• presenting,
• and/or education.

• Eligibility

  To be eligible for this grant, an organization must fit all the following criteria.

  1. Have a primary mission focused on the arts
     OR
     Serve as the primary arts provider in their community
     OR
     Provide ongoing arts programming in their community (examples given in the “Use of Funds” section of these guidelines)
     • Please note: Non-arts organizations are strongly encouraged to contact Arts Industry Director La Ruchala Murphy (803.734.8762 | lmurphy@arts.sc.gov), for advisement before beginning their first OSS application.
  2. Be either
     • a unit of local government
       OR
     • a nonprofit community-based organization
       • currently registered as a charity with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office
         Note: Applicants who are exempt from this registration must upload their registration exemption approval.
       • reflecting S.C. as the primary address on all current official organizational documents
       • with federal tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service
         OR
         applying through a tax-exempt fiscal agent/receiver organization
         Note: Applicants who are applying through a fiscal agent/receiver must submit a letter outlining the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.
  3. Have completed at least one (1) fiscal year of programming
  4. Had a total arts expense budget of $75,000 or less for the last completed fiscal year
  5. Have a valid Unique Entity ID

     • In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) private schools, public school districts, government entities, and nonprofit organizations – must provide a valid UEI number* to receive an SCAC grant award.

       *Learn about the new grant requirement: Unique Entity ID (UEI)

       Note: If an applicant organization is using a fiscal agent/receiver, separate UEI numbers must be provided for both the applicant organization and the fiscal agent/receiver. Exceptions to separate UEI numbers are organizations run by a local government or a school district.

  6. Is either
     • an FY24 Group 2 OSS grantee
       OR
     • a new OSS applicant (any eligible organization that is not an FY24 operating support grantee).

  Note for new applicants: Eligible organizations with an arts expense budget of $75,000 or less may apply for either an OSS grant OR a General Operating Support (GOS) Grant.
  

  What’s the difference between a General Operating Support (GOS) Grant and an Operating Support for Small Organizations (OSS) Grant?

  OSS Grants are specifically designed for small arts organizations, with expense budgets of $75,000 or less. If your budget meets these criteria, you may apply in either operating support category (GOS or OSS), but not both.

  The main differences between OSS and GOS are:

  • OSS grants have a maximum award of $5,000 per year, with a 1:1 match. GOS grants have no maximum award, with a 3:1 match.
  • OSS grantees reapply every two years. GOS grantees reapply every three years.
  • The OSS application is shorter and less involved in comparison to the GOS application.

• Restrictions

  • FY24 OSS Group 2 grantees may not submit a new application for review; they will continue their existing funding cycle in FY25. If you have questions regarding this restriction, please reach out to the program director.

• Use of Funds

  Grantees may use these funds for any general operating expense related to their arts programming, such as staff salaries, paying the electric bill, printing programs, buying supplies, etc.

  Arts programming expenses might include (but are not limited to) concert series, visual arts workshops, a season of theatrical productions, or other activities and initiatives conducted with the primary intention of providing arts experiences to the community.

  This grant is not intended to support programming that is not arts-focused (although it may contain artistic elements).

  Allowable (Operating) Expenses

  Costs that an organization must make to perform its primary, day to day activities that generate revenue

  • Administrative costs
  • Office supplies
  • Salaries for administrative/ artistic personnel
  • Commissions
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Research and development costs
  • Rent
  • Utilities
  • Contract/ consultant services
  • Insurance premiums
  • Everyday repairs to equipment
  • Travel expenses related to normal business activities
  • Property tax
  • Accessibility Operating Expenses: Expenses accrued to improve the quality of being easily reached, entered, or used by people who have a disability.

  Non-allowable (Non-Operating) Expenses

  Costs that are unrelated to the core operations of the organization

  • Interest on borrowed money
  • One-time or unusual costs (e.g., buying/ selling real estate, fines and penalties, legal expenses)
  • Lawsuits
  • Disposal of assets
  • Losses due to natural disasters
  • Decrease in inventory value or unsold inventory
  • Any activities primarily intended for fundraising (e.g., costs of organized fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions)
  • Costs of investment counsel/ staff and similar expenses incurred solely to enhance income from investments
  • New construction/facilities construction
  • Food, beverages, alcohol, catering services

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  None

• Priority

  There are no specified priority areas for this grant category.

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  • For FY24 OSS Group 1 grantees and new applicants: February 15, 2024

  Applications may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. However, please be aware that staff members will not be available to assist you with questions or technical difficulties after SCAC closes at 5 p.m. that day.

  Grant Period

  • July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
  • OSS grants are awarded on a two-year cycle of approval, but separate contracts are issued for each annual grant period.

  Important Dates

  For FY24 OSS Group 1 grantees

  • November 16, 2023: FY25 OSS application becomes available
  • February 15, 2024: FY25 OSS application due

  For new OSS applicants

  • November 16, 2023: FY25 OSS application becomes available
  • February 15, 2024: FY25 OSS application due

  For all applicants

  • Spring 2024: FY25 application panel review
  • June/July 2024: FY25 award notification
  • December 2024: first FY25 pay request due
  • June 2025: final FY25 pay request due
  • July 2025: FY25 final report form available
  • August 2025: FY25 final report due

  Exact due dates for your grant will be indicated in your grants portal record.

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $5,000 per year.

  Grant awards will be based on:

  1. panel review of the applications
  2. size of the applicant’s arts operating budget (see “Matching Requirements” below)
  3. availability of funds, and
  4. SCAC board approval.

  Awards may vary from year to year and are contingent on appropriation of funds by the S.C. General Assembly.

  Matching Requirements

  1:1 (grantee:SCAC)

  Each dollar awarded must be matched with $1 cash. No in-kind expenses are allowed as part of the applicant’s match in this category.

  Funds from another SCAC grant may not be used as matching funds.

• Grant Criteria

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  The SCAC recommends using the FY25 OSS Grant Evaluation Rubric (below) as a guide when writing your application. Grant panelists will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

  Applications will be reviewed with the criteria of artistic excellence and artistic merit.

  The artistic excellence and artistic merit of the arts programming is determined by:

  • Value and appropriateness for the mission, artistic field, artists, audience, and/or community.
  • Ability to carry out the arts programming on factors such as the budget, resources, and the qualifications of personnel and/or partnerships.
  • Clearly defined goals and/or proposed outcomes and an appropriate plan to determine if those goals and/or outcomes are met. This includes, where relevant, measures to assess student and/or teacher learning in arts education.
  • Evidence of direct compensation to artists, art collectives, and/or art workers.
  • Evidence of authentic community engagement in planning for and participating in the arts programming.

   

  FY25 Operating Support for Small Organizations (OSS) Grant Evaluation Rubric

  Programs & Services (60%)
  	0-6	7-13	14-17	18-20
  Mission Alignment	The organization does not offer arts programs or services that are aligned with its mission.	The organization offers some arts programs and services that are aligned with its mission.	The organization offers arts programs and services that are closely aligned with its mission.	The organization offers strong arts programs and services that are closely aligned with its mission.
  	0-6	7-13	14-17	18-20
  Programs & Services Intention	The organization does not offer arts programs or services that are appropriate for the people, organizations, and communities for whom they are intended.	The organization offers some arts programs and services that are appropriate for the people, organizations, and communities for whom they are intended.	The organization offers arts programs and services that are appropriate for the people, organizations, and communities for whom they are intended.	The organization offers strong arts programs and services that are appropriate for the people, organizations, and communities for whom they are intended.
  	0-6	7-13	14-17	18-20
  Knowledge of Participants	The organization does not show an understanding of how people participate (e.g., as students, member artists, performers, audience, etc.)	The organization shows some understanding of how people participate (e.g., as students, member artists, performers, audience, etc.).	The organization shows understanding of how people participate (e.g., as students, member artists, performers, audience, etc.).	The organization shows a clear and defined understanding of how people participate (e.g., as students, member artists, performers, audience, etc.).
  Organization Health (40%)
  	0-6	7-13	14-17	18-20
  Governance	The organization does not have governance, management, or staffing sufficient to support the work of the organization.	The organization has some governance, management, and staffing sufficient to support the work of the organization.	The organization has governance, management, and staffing appropriate and sufficient to support the work of the organization.	The organization has strong governance, management, and staffing appropriate and sufficient to support the work of the organization.
  	0-6	7-13	14-17	18-20
  Financial Support	The organization does not show evidence of financial health or capacity to carry out the work of its mission.	The organization shows some evidence of financial health and capacity to carry out the work of its mission.	The organization shows evidence of financial health and capacity to responsibly carry out the work of its mission.	The organization shows strong evidence of financial health and capacity to responsibly carry out the work of its mission.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through our grants portal, which uses the Foundant platform.

New to Foundant? For frequently asked questions, registration instructions, and other helpful information, we highly recommend visiting the Grants Portal FAQ, before you begin working in the system.

• Your Grants Portal Account

  The applicant must have an active account in our Grants Portal.

  • If you have previously used Submittable to apply for other SCAC grants or programs, please note that the grants portal is a different system. Your Submittable credentials will not work; you will need a grants portal account to apply for this grant.
  • If you have used the grants portal as both an artist and as a contact for a school or organization, be sure you log on with the correct account to apply for this grant.

• Starting Your Application

  FY24 OSS GROUP 1 GRANTEES & NEW APPLICANTS

  Starting November 16, 2023:

  1. Follow the “Apply” link below. The grants portal will open in a new browser tab or window.
  2. Log on, then click the “Apply” link at the top of your Applicant Dashboard.
  3. Find “Operating Support – Small Organizations” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.

After You Apply

• Review Process

  The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guideline and application requirements. A review panel of arts professionals will evaluate the applications based on the published review criteria. An applicant’s panel comments are available to them upon request. Staff will then develop funding recommendations, based on these evaluations and the availability of funds. Recommendations will be presented to the Board of Commissioners, which makes final award decisions. Award notification is expected after the June 2024 board meeting, pending completion of the state budget process.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  If your application is funded, you (and your fiscal agent/receiver, if applicable) will enter into a contractual agreement with the South Carolina Arts Commission, and you must comply with all requirements stated in that contract. You will receive notification and instructions when your contract is available in the Grants Portal. You must submit your completed contract packet, including signatures and other documentation as instructed, by the date indicated in the system. You must also complete all other assigned follow ups by the due date.

  Please note: Any significant revisions to grant-funded activities must be approved in writing, in advance, by the SCAC. Significant revisions to grant-funded activities must be emailed to grants@arts.sc.gov to be processed for approval or denial.

  Additional details about managing an SCAC grant are available on our agency website.

  Grant Payments

  Payment will be on a reimbursement basis only. Grantees in this category may be eligible for up to two (2) interim payments and one final payment prior to receipt and approval of the grantee’s final report. An accurate pay request, listing only expenses allowable under the program guidelines within the certified time period, must be submitted in order to receive payment for the grant award. Your first grant payment request must be submitted by the date indicated in your online account.

  Payment schedule:

  • First interim payment request due by December 2024*
  • Second interim payment request due by March 2025*
  • Final payment request due by end of May 2025.

  *Interim payment requests may be submitted earlier as needed. If an organization needs more time to accumulate expenses before submitting an interim payment request, they must reach out to grants@arts.sc.gov.

  Final Report

  ALL GRANTEES are required to file a final report at the end of the grant period. The final report due date is stated in the grant contract. Failure to submit an accurate and complete final report by the due date will result in cancellation of the award and repayment of any funds received. SCAC will not fund applicants who have outstanding final reports.

  In addition, failure to file a complete OSS final report by the due date will result in a reduction of 15% to your next Operating Support award.

  OSS grants are awarded on a two-year cycle, but grantees are required to file a final report at the end of each annual grant period. Submission of your annual final report for year one of the two-year cycle will allow us to assess long-term progress and generate the next year’s contract.