SC Arts Commission Grants Programs
Grant Guidelines
If you are not currently receiving Long Term Operating Support, you may be eligible for Annual Operating Support. We encourage you to contact your county coordinator before applying.
All Long Term Operating Support applicants must include their DUNS
number on future applications. Applications will not be accepted
from organizations that do not have a DUNS number.
What's a DUNS number, and how do I get one?
3-year Operating Support for SC arts organizations with primary missions involving these artistic functions: Producing, Service, Presenting, Education.
Purpose
The purpose of Long Term Operating Support is to strengthen
arts organizations that bring ongoing arts experiences and
services to individuals and other organizations throughout
the state, by providing consistent, unrestricted support
for basic operations.
Arts Councils may also submit a separate application for subgranting of additional SCAC funds to local applicants. Please see Subgranting guidelines for details.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be:
- A SC organization with primary mission focused on the arts (or an organization that serves as the primary arts provider in its community).
- A unit of local government; OR
- A charitable organization currently registered with the Office of the Secretary of State that has its own federal tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service; OR
- A charitable organization currently registered with the Office of the Secretary of State applying through a tax exempt fiscal agent organization.
- Organizations requesting Long Term Operating Support must have been in operation for at least one fiscal year in order to be eligible to apply.
- Restrictions: Organizations requesting Long Term Operating Support may not apply for Annual or Quarterly Support during the three-year grant cycle (except for requests for staff professional development under Quarterly Support grants).
AND
Deadline - April 10, 2007
Applications must be submitted via the Online SC Arts Resources (OSCAR) application process
by 5:00 PM on April 10,
2007. Late applications cannot be accepted because the
online OSCAR submissions will be blocked after the deadline.
Mailed items (confirmation page, payment, IRS determination letter, and SC Charities letter) must also be postmarked by
12:00 midnight on April 10, 2007.
You are encouraged to begin the online application process well in advance of the deadline.
Grant Period
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010 (3-year cycle). Grants are awarded
on an annual basis under the 3-year cycle of approval. Separate
contracts will be issued for each fiscal year. See Final
Report section for more complete information.
Funding Range
There is no pre-set funding range.
Awards will be based on organizational budgets, application
reviews, and the availability of funds. Grant awards
may change from year to year due to availability of funds.
Match
A minimum of 3:1 cash match is required. (grantee:SCAC)
No in-kind expenses are allowed as part of applicant's match in this category.
Filing Fee
$30.00, payable by check made out to South Carolina Arts Commission OR online credit card payment
Review Process
The initial SCAC staff review of applications
focuses on eligibility, conformity to guidelines, and accuracy
and clarity of information provided. Panels, composed of arts
administrators, artists, educators, and community leaders,
most of whom are not from SC, review and rate
grant applications on the basis of specific criteria listed
in the guidelines. During sessions that are open to the public,
the panel will discuss and rate applications. Staff
then will develop funding recommendations based on these panel
ratings for the SCAC Board of Commissioners, which makes final
award decisions.
Final Report
Although the grant covers a 3-year
cycle, you are required to file a Final Report at the end
of each annual grant period. Final Reports will
be due on August 1of each year. Submission of your annual
Final Reports for year 1 and 2 of the 3-year cycle will
allow us to assess long term progress and will generate
the next year's contract. Failure to file a complete
Final Report by the due date (August 1) will result in a
reduction of 15% to your next year's Long Term Operating
Support award and repayment of funds received.
Grantees who have outstanding final reports are ineligible
to receive funding in any SCAC program until the complete
Final Report has been received and approved.
Application Process
Long Term Operating Support applicants will apply using the OSCAR application process. The initial application will
take time to complete, so please begin the application process well before the deadline.
When you first visit the OSCAR site, you will be assigned a password, which will be needed each time you access the application. You may access the application at any time and may complete the application in phases simply by logging on via the assigned password.
Please note: For minimum browser requirements refer to Tech Tips on the OSCAR site.
Application Components, Review Criteria, and Weightings
The application is divided into five sections:
Section I - Organization Information - contains a brief questionnaire about your organization. You must complete the questionnaire in order to be deemed eligible to apply for Long Term Operating Support.
The balance of the application is divided into four sections, with each section assigned an overall point value:
Section II - Artistic programs and services, as they relate to your mission (40 points)
Section III - Organizational Health (20 points)
Section IV - Public Participation (20 points)
Section V - Long Range Initiatives (20 points)
Sections should be completed in sequential order; however, you may complete the application in phases. For many questions, you will simply pick the appropriate response from a checklist. No full narrative is required.
II. Artistic programs and services, as they relate to your mission (40 points)
An organization that receives a high score on this section will:
- offer programs and services that are closely aligned with its mission,
- show breadth and quality in its programs and services, within the scope of its mission,
- have the capacity to provide these programs and services effectively,
- offer programs and services that are appropriate for the people, organizations, and communities for whom they are intended, and
- demonstrate a clear understanding of what "success" means for your organization and have practical strategies for reaching your goals and improving the quality of your programs and services.
III. Organizational Health (20 points)
An organization that receives a high score on this section will:
- have governance, management, and staffing appropriate and sufficient to support the work of its organization. This is not meant to imply that management and staff must be paid professionals. For many organizations, competent volunteers are appropriate and sufficient.
- invest in learning by its board and staff,
- have practical, appropriate methods for well-informed planning and evaluation, and
- have sufficient income to support stable programming and access to cash to cover occasional shortfalls.
IV. Public Participation (20 points)
An organization that receives a high score on this section will:
- have a clear understanding of who its participants are and are not, including an informed awareness of why people do or don't participate,
- have varied, effective methods of engaging and maintaining participants,
- offer an appropriate (for the organization and the community) range of opportunities for broad participation,
- have organizational characteristics
- of board, staff, processes, programs, facilities, etc.
- that promote and facilitate broad participation, and - honestly assess its participation issues and have practical strategies and partnerships for building participation, within the scope of the mission and the current context of the organization.
Important note:
By "participation" we mean active involvement of any sort by anyone with your organization. Participation includes attendance at events, certainly, but it also includes many other types of engagement, such as taking a class, using a website, serving as a volunteer, providing in-kind goods and services, making financial donations, serving on boards and committees, buying works of art, working as a contracted artist, etc.
V. Long Range Initiatives (20 points)
An organization that receives a high score on this section will:
- present an initiative or initiatives (new programs or new elements of existing programs) that will effectively address one or more of the seven themes of the Long Range Plan for the Arts in South Carolina, 2001-2010.
- clearly convey what is to be accomplished, why it is important to the organization, and practical strategies for achieving the intended results, monitoring progress, and evaluating results.
- have the capacity and experience to implement the initiative(s) successfully.
The Long Range Plan for the Arts in South Carolina, 2001-2010 focuses on seven major themes for arts development during the first decade of this century.
Submitting Your Application
After all five sections of your application have been completed, you will submit the application electronically. The application will not submit unless all required questions are answered. If you are unable to submit your application online, contact your County Coordinator.
It is recommended that you print and keep a hard copy of the application for your records. SCAC will charge an additional $10.00 to supply you with a copy of your application. Do not mail a hard copy to us.
Confirmation Page and Application Fee
When you submit your application, you will receive confirmation, both onscreen and via email, acknowledging that your application is submitted. The final step in the application process is printing this confirmation page and mailing the following items to the SC Arts Commission:
- a copy of the confirmation page generated by OSCAR
- a copy of your IRS determination letter (or if applying through a fiscal agent, a copy of your fiscal agent's IRS determination letter), and
- a copy of your current SC Charities letter, and
- a check for $30.00 made payable to the South Carolina Arts Commission (if you have not paid online via credit card).
Your application is not considered complete and will not be processed until the confirmation page, letters, and payment are received.
Do not submit additional support materials.
Do not submit an application narrative or cover letter.
Do not submit a printed copy of your application.
