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SC Arts Commission Grants Programs

Purpose

The SC Arts Commission (SCAC) understands that a successful and thriving arts environment requires leaders with entrepreneurial savvy, strong administration skills, fluency with emerging technologies, and commitment to participation, education, and public advocacy for the arts.  Because of this, we have established a Leadership and Organizational Development Initiative to support arts leaders' (professional administrators and board members) acquisition of skills and practical tools which hone their ability to lead, develop, and sustain the overall health and vitality of South Carolina's arts organizations. This initiative builds upon the SCAC strategic plan and the South Carolina Long Range Plan for the Arts, each of which have the objective of developing strong leaders and healthy organizations.

Leadership and Organizational Development

The goals of the leadership and organizational development initiative are to:

1. improve the ability of arts leaders to acquire the needed skills to successfully lead their arts organizations.
2. help organizations achieve greater levels of productivity for improved public value and sustainability.

Eligible Activities

Leadership and Organizational Development funding is targeted to professional arts administrators and board members of arts organizations.  Grantees will identify a set of critical individual or operational capacity-building issues toward which the funds will be used. For the purpose of this initiative, "capacity-building" is defined as activities that either strengthen individual ability to lead or improve organizational functioning and sustainability.

Leadership Development:

• Costs for individuals to receive professional development.
• Costs involved in coordinating and/or conducting professionally facilitated learning for individuals or groups across position or discipline.

Organizational Development:

• Costs for professional consultant/consulting firms providing services in  areas such as fundraising, financial management, marketing, executive transition, public relations, board development, strategic planning, program development, technology, etc.
• Costs involved with coordinating and/or conducting professionally facilitated learning for individuals or groups across position or discipline.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicant must:

• be a nonprofit, charitable arts organization that is currently registered with the Office of the Secretary of State of South Carolina, and that either has its own federal tax-exempt status with the IRS or applies through a fiscal agent. If a fiscal agent is used, SCAC requires that the fiscal agent and the applicant organization enter into a formal agreement that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties. This letter must be submitted with the application;
• have the production or presentation of arts events or service to the arts as its primary organizational mission; OR be the primary provider of general, multidisciplinary arts programs and/or services within a particular community or region;
• have completed at least one full fiscal year in operation prior to application;
• not be a unit of SC State government.

Restrictions

• Individual artists are not eligible to apply to this program.
• Applicants may submit only one application per project per year.
• This category is not intended to fund annual or recurring projects. However, organizations/individuals previously funded under this category and intending to apply for funds to support the same or a similar project MUST demonstrate how receiving additional funds will substantially improve organizational functioning and sustainability or strengthen an individual’s ability to lead the organization.

Deadlines and Grant Periods

Applications must be received at least six weeks before the start of the project or activity. Projects must be completed by June 30.

Applications received after May 15 must be for projects beginning after July 1.

Funding Ranges

Up to $2,000 can be requested.

 

Match  

1:1 (applicant:SCAC); 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.

Filing Fee  

None

Grant Payments

Payment will be on an expense reimbursement basis only. Grantees may submit a maximum of two interim payments, totaling no more than 80% of the grant award. Final grant payment will be released upon receipt and approval of grantee's final report.

Review Process

The initial staff review of applications focuses on eligibility,  accuracy and detail of budget, clarity of narrative, completeness of packet, compliance with grant requirements, and confirmation of required support materials. A panel composed of SCAC program staff and management will review and rate grant applications on the basis of specific criteria listed in the guidelines. Funding recommendations will be determined by panel consensus. Final funding decisions will then be presented to the Executive Director for approval.

Final Report

All grantees are required to file a Final Report (PDF) (How To Use PDFs) at the end of the grant period. Failure to file the Final Report by the due date may result in cancellation of the award and repayment of funds received. SCAC will not fund applicants who have outstanding Final Reports.

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How to Apply

Before applying, you are strongly advised to discuss the project with your county coordinator to determine whether your project meets the guidelines.

Please review the following steps carefully in preparing your application materials. Failure to include the required application materials may result in disqualification of your application. Only complete applications will be accepted.

Required Application Materials

Each page/item of materials must be labeled with the name of the applicant organization and be submitted in a format suitable for copying. Typeface must be legible, no less than 12 point.

Do not use 3-ring binders, folders, or bind the application materials in any way other than with binder clips or paper clips.

The application package must include one complete collated set of the following items:

1. Three forms

Submit originals only, completed and signed. Forms are in portable document format (PDF). (How To Use PDFs)

1. Grant Application for Organizations
2. Organization Profile Statistical information for the Service Area Profile section is available at www.census.gov.  Select SC under State & County Quick Facts, then select your county.
3. Detailed Budget for your project. Itemize all expenses and sources of revenue.

2.  Narrative

Answer the questions below according to the category under which you are applying; either Leadership Development or Organizational Development.

Review Indicators

Pay attention to Review Indicators as the reviewers will use them in assessing your application.

• The rationale for the proposed work is clearly defined and articulated.
• Anticipated goals are clear, specific, measurable and appropriate to the proposed work.
• A complete, detailed budget is included and is adequate to accomplish the proposed work.
• Partnership, collaboration, and/or board buy-in is evident as appropriate to the proposed work.
• A plan exists for sustaining or implementing the work as appropriate.

A. Leadership Development

Narrative should not exceed two pages.  Typeface must be legible and no less than 12 point. Answers should be addressed sequentially and by number.

NOTE:  If applying as a group, thoroughly discuss this project with members of the group to identify the grant lead/administrator and to form a collective response to the questions.

1. Describe the learning activity, location, and information on the facilitator. Include one-page bio/resume of the facilitator (not included in page count).
2. What specific skill do you need to acquire and how will acquiring that skill positively impact your organization?
3. What is the measurable leadership goal you would like to set for improvement? How will achieving this goal strengthen or otherwise benefit your leadership of your organization? How will the goal or benefit be sustained?
4. If applying as a peer group, provide the name, contact information, organization, and position of participants.

 

OR

 

B. Organizational Development

Narrative should not exceed two pages; typeface should be no less than 12 point. Answers should be addressed sequentially and by number.

 

Note: If applying as a group, thoroughly discuss this project with members of the group to identify the grant lead/administrator and to form a collective response to the questions.

1. Describe your capacity building activity and the indicators that demonstrate assistance is needed.
2. Explain how the activity will address the needs of your organization.
3. Identify who the participants will be: specify staff and/or board member(s) and how the activity is relevant to them.
4. State your measurable goal of what will improve within the organization, how it will be evaluated, and sustained. Who will be responsible for this?
5. Identify the consultant or facilitator and session conducted, as applicable (include one page bio/resume - not included in page count).

3.  Letter of support

Submit a signed, one page letter of support from your organization's board stating 1. How the board as a whole will support this work and 2. How the board will support the implementation or change that should occur as a result of participating in this work. (If applying as a peer group, only the grant lead/administrator should submit this letter.)

4.  SC Charities letter

Include a copy of applicant's current  SC Registration as Charitable Organizations letter.  The letter must be renewed annually with the SC Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the SC Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.

5.  IRS tax-exempt letter

• A copy of applicant's IRS tax-exempt letter
• OR, IF APPLYING THROUGH A FISCAL AGENT:

1. A copy of fiscal agent's IRS tax-exempt letter
2. A copy of a letter of agreement, signed by both the applicant and the fiscal agent, that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.

Submit completed applications to:

Leadership and Organizational Development Grants Program
SC Arts Commission
1800 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201

NOTE:  Incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Submit only original application forms with original signatures. Do not submit copies or fax your application.

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Additional Assistance

In conjunction with your county coordinator, the program director for Leadership and Organizational Development provides information, guidance to resources, possible ways of addressing a specific or general issue, networking to others who have experienced similar things, provision of data and information, best practices, and other help for managing the arts. Topics include such areas as forming and managing a nonprofit arts organization, organizing and presenting art events, or finding, earning, and raising money to support the arts.

Most of the assistance is simply a phone call or email conversation with the program director. On-site meetings with your staff, board, volunteers or other groups are also available but must be arranged through your county coordinator. Working with the program director doesn't take the place of professional topic specific consultants, and the program director generally will not provide long-term or repeat services to the same organization. Additionally, commission staff can assist with in a wide-range of topics including:

• using SC Arts Commission programs, services and resources.
• locating or planning to improve facilities for cultural activities.
• publicizing and promoting community arts events.
• carrying out a public art process.
• complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility and other federal mandates.

 

Additional Resources

South Arts - Technical Assistance Program

Technical assistance grants are available for non-profit presenting organizations in the nine-state region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) served by South Arts (formerly the Southern Arts Federation). The program encourages presenting organizations to contract a consultant for work in short and long term planning, board development, staff professional development, program assessment, marketing and promotion, and grantsmanship. For more information go to www.southarts.org or contact the organization by calling 404-874-7244.

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