Terms and Definitions

ATAX

Cash support derived from either county or city accommodations tax revenue.

accumulated deficit

Net loss carried forward from year to year.  Also known as retained losses, accumulated losses

accumulated surplus

Surplus profits retained as a reserve for an organization and accumulated from year to year.  Also known as retained earnings, accumulated earnings, accumulated income

administrative personnel expense

Total cash payments for employee salaries, wages, and benefits for the executive and supervisory administrative staff, such as program directors, business managers, and press agents; clerical staff such as secretaries, bookkeepers; and supportive personnel such as maintenance employees, security staff, ushers and box office personnel.

admissions

Revenue derived from the sale of admission, tickets, subscriptions, memberships, etc., for events for an organization or project.

applicant

The legal name of the applicant as it appears on legal documents

applicant cash (a.k.a. out of pocket)

Funds from applicant’s present or anticipated cash resources that applicant plans to allocate to the project or general fund. Documentation in the form of accounting records, receipts and invoices for such allocations must augment fiscal records and are subject to audit.

applicant match (a.k.a. matching requirement)

Amount of proposal expenses that applicant plans to fund from non-SCAC sources. This amount must equal at least the Required Match ratio listed in the guidelines for the application category selected.

application category

SCAC grant category of funding.

artistic personnel expense

Total cash payments for employee salaries, wages, and benefits for artistic directors, directors, conductors, curators, dance masters, composers, choreographers, designers, filmmakers, writers and other artists, etc.

capital campaign

Money that is raised to acquire or improve a physical asset. The most common use of a capital campaign is for the purchase, construction, or renovation of a building (commonly referred to as “bricks and mortar”).

capital expenditures

Expenses for purchase of buildings or real estate, renovations or improvements involving structural change, payments for roads, driveways, or parking lots, permanent and generally immobile equipment such as grid systems or central air conditioning, etc. Capital expenditures may be used only as part of cash match.

cash reserve

Cash retained by a business that is beyond its immediate needs.  May be in the form of cash or short-term assets such as treasury bills and certificates of deposits.

certification

Application must be signed by the authorized official of organization, and of the Fiscal Unit/Agent if applicable, or the individual artist applicant in order to certify veracity of application.

contracted services revenue

Income earned by providing contractual services to clients or other organizations.

corporate

Cash support derived from contributions by businesses, corporations, and corporate foundations.

creative time

The cash value of the applicant artist’s creative or technical/production time. Follow the steps on the application form to compute allowable creative time.  Refer to specific program guidelines as most programs do not allow creative time contributions.

endowment

A fund that is made up of gifts that are subject to a requirement that the principal be maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for an organization.

facilities reserve

Funds set aside or retained by a business to assist in the funding of facilities-related projects. May also be in the form of a building fund.

fiscal unit/agent

If an applicant organization does not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS, a fiscal unit or agent with such status must be used. A written letter of agreement, signed by both the applicant and fiscal agent, outlining the relationship and responsibilities must be included as part of the application materials.

foundation

Cash support derived from grants given by private foundations.

government support/grants

Appropriations given for project or operations of an organization by governmental agencies, or the proportionate share of such moneys, allocated to the project or organization.

in-kind

Items or services for which a fee would normally be paid, provided to the applicant at no cash cost. To be considered in-kind, donated goods/services must be necessary to the organization or project, i.e., these goods/services would be purchased if not donated. Professional services must be donated by a professional working in that profession and valued on the provider’s professional rate.  Refer to specific program guidelines as some programs do not allow in-kind contributions.

marketing

All cash expenses for marketing/publicity/promotion. Do not include payments which belong under “personnel” or “outside fees & services.” Include costs of advertising, printing and mailing of brochures, flyers, posters, and food, drink, and space rental when directly connected to marketing. For fundraising expenses, see “remaining operating expenses”.

operational support

Pertaining to the general operations of an organization and not a specific project.

organization profile

Form which requests information about an organization’s mission, constituency, staff/board, and facilities. An applicant’s profile may be updated as needed.

out of pocket

See “applicant cash” (above).

outside fees & services

Total cash payments for the services of individuals who are not normally considered employees of the applicant, but are consultants or employees of other organizations. This includes artistic fees for artists serving in non-employee/non-staff capacities.

primary project discipline

The primary artistic discipline (dance, visual, literary, etc.) of the project or program for which you are requesting funding. This may be different from the applicant’s primary artistic discipline.

private support

General description of funding allocated from private sector sources such as corporations, foundations and individuals.

project activity type

The type of activity for which you are requesting grant support.

project support

Funding for a specific, time- or scope-limited arts activity.

project title

A one-line description of your proposed activity. The project title helps distinguish one application from another, especially when you have applied for multiple grants over time.

proposal information

All the specific information of the project or operational support request including a concise, yet thorough outline of the application narrative.

remaining operating expenses

Includes all cash expenses not listed in other categories and specifically identified with the project. examples include scripts and scores, lumber and nails, electricity, telephone and telegraph, storage, postage, interest charges, sets and props, equipment rental, insurance fees, fundraising expenses, etc.

request

Amount of SCAC funding for which applicant is applying.

space rental

Total cash payments for rental of office space, rehearsal space, theatre, gallery, etc.

supplies and materials

Total cash payments for items necessary for completion of the project, such as paper, canvas, paint, clay, lumber and nails, photographic supplies, scripts and scores, etc. Itemize these expenses according to the grant guidelines.

support materials

Materials that support your grant proposal, such as work samples or letters of recommendation, to be included with your application. Information on what to submit and in what format is detailed in the guidelines for grants that require or suggest submitting support materials. General guidance is also offered on our Support Materials page.

technical/production personnel expense

Total cash payments for employee salaries, wages, and benefits for technical management and staff, such as technical director; wardrobe, lighting and sound crew; stage manager, stagehands; video/film technicians; exhibit preparers and installers.

travel

Include fares, hotel and other lodging expenses, food, taxis, gratuities, per diem payments, toll charges, mileage, allowances on personal vehicles, car rentals, etc. For transportation not connected with the travel of personnel, such as trucking, shipping, or hauling expenses, include in “remaining operating expenses”.