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SC Arts Commission Grants Programs

 

Purpose

Quarterly Project Support is provided for a wide variety of quality arts projects and programs and/or for professional development opportunities to assist artistic and managerial staff.

Description

The Arts Commission will not review or fund quarterly project grant applications from a county that has a subgranting arts council. In such counties, applicants must apply to the subgranting agency for quarterly project grants, rather than to the Arts Commission. (Call your local arts council or your SC Arts Commission County Coordinator to determine the appropriate funding category). If, however, the applicant is a statewide organization (defined as "an organization which provides services to an arts, cultural, or cultural special needs constituency throughout the state"), the applicant may apply directly to the Arts Commission if the proposed project is statewide in scope and is not specific to one community. Otherwise, statewide organizations should apply to the subgrant site in their county. (Please call the Arts Commission to determine whether or not your organization qualifies as a statewide organization.)

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must be

1. A unit of government, OR
2. A S.C. charitable organization with current registration from the Office of the Secretary of State of South Carolina that either
   • has its own federal tax-exempt status with the IRS, OR
   • applies through a fiscal agent. SCAC requires that a fiscal agent and the applicant organization enter into a formal agreement that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties. A letter must be submitted with the application.

A S.C. organization is one that reflects S.C. as its primary address on all current official organizational documents.

 

Restrictions

1. Organizations that are otherwise eligible, but are receiving Operating Support, may not apply for Quarterly Project Support within the same fiscal year except for staff development opportunities.
2. Applicants may submit only one application per quarterly deadline.
3. Applicants may receive only two Quarterly Project grant awards per fiscal year.
4. Applications submitted for a previously funded project must be for a substantially different component of the project with separate project budgets.

Deadlines & Grant Periods

May 15 for projects beginning July through September
August 15 for projects beginning October through December
November 15 for projects beginning January through March
February 15 for projects beginning April through June

Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the SC Arts Commission offices before 5:00 PM, no later than the stated date, or, when the deadline occurs on a weekend or holiday, no later than the next business day.

All projects must end by June 30 of the awarded fiscal year.

Funding Eligibility

Up to $1,000 per award.

Match

2:1 (applicant:SCAC); at least 50% of the applicant's match must be cash.

 

Filing Fee

None

 

Grant Payments

Payment will be on a reimbursement basis only and will be released upon receipt and approval of a Final Report.

 

Final Report

All grantees are required to file a Final Report (PDF)
(How To Use PDFs) at the end of the grant period. The Final Report Due Date is printed on your contract. Failure to file the 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. Submit only original final report forms with original signatures. Do not submit copies or fax your final report form.

 

Funding Credit

The Quarterly Grants program is funded in part by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC. In addition to giving credit to the SC Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, credit must also be given this source in all advertising, news releases, printed materials, and promotion and publicity. Samples of promotional material should be submitted with your final report. Details about the Coastal Community Foundation of SC are available on their Web site at www.CCFgives.org.

Review Process

Please contact your county coordinator for guidance on completing the application form.

The initial staff review of applications focuses on eligibility, accuracy and detail of budget, inclusion of a well-written narrative, completeness of packet, compliance with grant requirements, and confirmation of required support materials. Individual panelists (Arts Commission program staff and management) review and rate grant applications on the basis of specific criteria listed in the guidelines. Funding recommendations based on individual review, funding histories, and information requested from SCAC regional and discipline coordinators are determined by panel consensus. Final funding decisions are approved by the Executive Director.

 

Review Indicators

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

 

Artistry and Feasibility Review Criteria - 50 points
The applicant demonstrates the ability to maintain high professional standards.
Indicators:

• Résumés of professional artistic personnel involved
• Evidence that the project design is feasible and well-planned
• Reviews and other printed support materials
• Audio/visual materials (when applicable)

 

Public Impact Review Criteria - 30 points
The project benefits the community at large and/or SC artists.
Indicators:

• Demonstrated need for the project
• Program design adheres to and furthers mission of organization
• Demonstrated concern for cultural diversity as evidenced by constituency served, audience, programming and board/volunteer participation
• Cooperative relationships with other organizations and/or artists

 

Project Management Review Criteria - 20 points
The applicant has the ability to implement the project.
Indicators:

• Evidence of competent staff or volunteers to direct the project
• Evidence that more than adequate financial resources are available to complete the project well, as indicated in budget submitted.
• Well-planned marketing efforts

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. Incomplete applications will not 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, and no less than 12 point. Do not submit copies or fax your application. Do not use 3-ring binders, folders, or bind the application materials in any way other than with binder clips or paper clips.

 

Forms are in portable document format (PDF). How To Use PDFs

 

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

 

1. Grant Application for Organizations form. The application form must be signed by the applicant organization's authorized official.
   
   
2. Detailed Budget form.
   Itemize all expenses and sources of revenue for your project. Do not substitute another budget form.
   
   
3. Narrative. The Narrative should not exceed 2 numbered pages, and must address the topics below. Each item in the Narrative should be identified by the appropriate letter and topic heading. Pay particular attention to Review Indicators listed above. The panelists will use these as guides for their review and rating of your application.
   
   
   1. Artistry and Feasibility
      What is the goal of this project? Describe what you plan to do, when the project will occur, where the project will take place, and how the activities will happen. Provide information on key personnel and collaborating organizations and use of SC artists (if applicable), including project manager/director, primary artists, ensembles, artistic resources. Indicate how and why these people were selected. This section is valued at 50 points of your overall score.
      
      
   2. Public Impact
      State your organization's mission and the constituency you serve, and explain why you have decided to do this project. Why is this project important? How do you know that the community wants and supports the project? Identify external support from the local cultural community. Identify target audiences, special populations to be served. This section is valued at 30 points of your overall score.
      
      
   3. Project Management
      Describe marketing, media, and other promotional activities. How will you reach and involve underserved populations? Clearly identify other sources of financial support including in-kind goods and services to be provided throughout the project. This section is valued at 20 points of your overall score.
      
      
4. Staff List. Include a list of all current & proposed project positions with brief descriptions. Include names (indicate with asterisks those who are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and Hispanic), titles, and salary ranges.
   
   
5. Résumés. Include brief résumés for principal artistic and administrative project personnel. Individual résumés should not exceed 3 pages – additional pages will not be copied.
   
   
6. Board of Directors List. Submit a copy of applicant's current board of directors list. Include board members' occupations/professional affiliations indicating with asterisks those who are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and Hispanic.
   
   
7. IRS Tax-Exempt Letter. Submit a copy of
   • the applicant's IRS tax-exempt letter
     
     OR, if applying through a fiscal agent,
   • the fiscal agent's IRS tax-exempt letter
     AND
   • a letter of agreement, signed by both the applicant and the fiscal agent that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.
     
     
8. Required Support Material.
   See Submitting Support Materials for details.

 

Use this optional application checklist (PDF) to ensure a complete Quarterly Project Support for Organizations grant application package. (How To Use PDFs)

 

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Mail to:
Quarterly Grants Program
SC Arts Commission
1800 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201

 

NOTE: The SC Arts Commission will no longer require a copy of an applicant's current SC Charities registration letter. Instead, applicant information will be provided to the SC Office of the Secretary of State. In accordance with the SC Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, charitable organizations must maintain current registration with the SC Office of the Secretary of State. Failure to register and renew the registration annually may result in severe fines by the SC Office of the Secretary of State.

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