Barrier-Free Arts SC Grants

• Eligibility

  1. Only current General Operating Support grantees in good standing are eligible to apply; and
  2. Only organizations that own or have authority to alter the facility they use may apply.

  3. 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 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.

  4. Commissioners and staff of the S.C. Arts Commission and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply for any individual SCAC programs, grants, fellowships, or services that provide financial support or career recognition.

• Restrictions

  None.

• Use of Funds

  Year One

  Grant funds will be utilized to send at least one staff member to the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference in Cleveland, Ohio from Aug. 18-22, 2025. Remaining grant funds will go towards compensating staff member participation in required professional development and cohort meetings throughout the fiscal year.

  Years Two and Three

  Grant funds will be utilized in direct alignment with the accessibility plan created during Year One of the cohort. Grant funds will be used to remove barriers and increase accessibility within the agency.

  Indirect Cost Limitation

  Note: No more than 10% of the total grant funds may be used for indirect costs (general overhead expenses not directly tied to the project). The remaining 90% must go toward direct costs, which are necessary to carry out the funded project.

  • Examples of direct costs: Artist fees, program supplies, travel for project activities, and venue rental.
  • Examples of indirect costs: Administrative salaries not directly working on the project, office rent, utilities, and general office supplies.

  This ensures that most of the funding directly benefits the project while allowing some flexibility for necessary overhead costs.

• Additional Requirements of This Grant

  Grantees participating in the BFASC grant program will have the following requirements in Year One:

  • Send at least one (1) representative from their organization to attend the LEAD conference in Cleveland, Ohio from Aug. 18-22, 2025.
  • Engage with a series of professional development modules (asynchronous video content) which will be distributed throughout the fiscal year. This will include watching the videos and engaging with the content shared with the cohort through a bimonthly newsletter.
  • Attend five (5) synchronous virtual meetings with the cohort:
    • Aug. 7 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
    • Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
    • Jan. 8, 2026 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
    • March 5, 2026 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
    • April 2, 2026 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Complete organizational accessibility audits provided by AbleSC and funded through SCAC.
  • Create an organizational accessibility plan by the final cohort meeting to be presented to fellow cohort members alongside leadership from SCAC and AbleSC at the April 2 cohort meeting.

  Primary Contact Requirement

  The primary contact listed in the grant application must be the main point of contact throughout the application process and, if awarded, during the grant period.

  For organizations, the primary contact must be an employee or active volunteer of the organization applying for the grant. Intermediaries, such as hired consultants or external representatives, are not permitted to serve as the primary point of contact. The primary contact will be responsible for all communications with the SCAC, including responding to inquiries, providing updates, and submitting required documentation. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in disqualification from the grant process or revocation of awarded funds.

• Priority

  Priority will be given to individuals or organizations that have projects in SCAC’s Opportunity Initiative Counties:
  

  • Allendale
  • Bamberg
  • Calhoun
  • Cherokee
  • Clarendon
  • Dillon
  • Edgefield
  • Hampton
  • Jasper
  • Laurens
  • Lee
  • Marion
  • Marlboro
  • Saluda
  • Williamsburg

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadlines

  • Part One: Letter of Intent – April 10, 2025
  • Part Two: Full Grant Application (by invitation only) – May 8, 2025

  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

  Annual grant periods are:

  • Year 1: July 1, 2025–May 15, 2026
  • Year 2: July 1, 2026–May 15, 2027
  • Year 3: July 1, 2027–May 15, 2028

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  • Year One: Up to $3,500
  • Year Two: Up to $5,000
  • Year Three: Up to $5,000

  Awards may vary from year to year and are contingent on availability of funds.

  Matching Requirements

  • Year 1: no match required
  • Years 2 and 3: 1:1 match (grantee:SCAC)

  A 1:1 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $1.00 of their own funds. For example, if the total project cost is $10,000, the applicant may request $5,000 and must provide the remaining $5,000 from other sources.

  Please note:

  • In-kind expenses are not allowed as part of the applicant’s match in this category.
  • Another SCAC grant can not be used to match these funds.

• Grant Criteria

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  BFASC applicants must demonstrate a strong preparedness to begin a three-year commitment towards increasing organizational accessibility.

  The SCAC recommends using the rubric in this section as a guide when writing your application. Your application will be scored based on the criteria within this rubric.

  Part One: FY26 Barrier-Free Arts SC Grant LOI Evaluation Rubric
  Letter of Intent (50 points total)
  Statement of intent to apply	0-2 points: The applicant does not state their intent to apply for the BFASC grant program.	3-4 points: The applicant provides a vague statement of intent to apply for the BFASC grant program.	5-7 points: The applicant provides a clear statement of intent to apply for the BFASC grant program.	8-10 points: The applicant provides a compelling statement of intent to apply for the BFASC grant program.
  Interest in applying	0-2 points: The applicant does not explain why they are interested in participating in the BFASC grant program.	3-4 points: The applicant provides some explanation of why they are interested in applying for the BFASC grant program but lacks meaningful details.	5-7 points: The applicant provides a clear explanation of why they are interested in applying for the BFASC grant program, including some insight into their desire to be more accessible as an organization.	8-10 points: The applicant provides a detailed and clear explanation of why they are interested in applying for the BFASC grant program, including details about why they want to prioritize accessibility within their organization.
  Organization's current work around accessibility	0-2 points: The applicant has not started their accessibility work.	3-4 points: The applicant is just beginning their accessibility work.	5-7 points: The applicant is established in their accessibility work.	8-10 points: The applicant is innovating/excelling in their accessibility work.
  Accessibility Coordinator	0 points: The applicant does not have a designated staff person who is responsible for accessibility for the disablity community.		5 points: The applicant has provided the name and title of the individual within their organization who is responsible for accessibility for the disability community.
  What you hope to gain	0-2 points: The applicant has not indicated what they hope to gain from participating in BFASC.	3-4 points: The applicant has provided some insight into what they hope to gain from BFASC.	5-7 points: The applicant has provided clear insights into what they hope to gain from BFASC and how their participation will increase their accessibility work as an organization.	8-10 points: The applicant has provided detailed insights as to what they hope to gain from BFASC and has shown how their participation will increase their accessibility to patrons with disabilities.
  BFASC Cohort and LEAD Conference	0 points: The applicant has not provided the names and titles of the individuals who will be participating in the BFASC cohort sessions and the LEAD conference.		5 points: The applicant has provided the names and titles of the individuals who will be attending the BFASC cohort sessions and the LEAD conference.

  Printer-friendly LOI rubric.

  Part Two: FY26 Barrier-Free Arts SC Grant Application Evaluation Rubric
  Full Application (60 points total)
  Executive Director Letter of Support	0 points: The applicant does not provide a letter of support from their ED.	1-2 points: The letter of support from the ED is vague and lacks details about their commitment to the grant program.	3 points: The letter of support from the ED states their interest in applying for BFASC and confirms their commitment to participating in the cohort.	4-5 points: The letter of support from the ED provides detailed reasoning for their interest in applying for BFASC and a strong commitment to participate in cohort sessions. They have also indicated agreement to send staff to the LEAD conference in August 2025.
  Prior Knowledge	0-2 points: The applicant has not participated in SCAC's Disability and Arts webinar series and has not participated in any other formal professional development around accessibility in arts.	3-4 points: The applicant has participated in some of SCAC's Disability and Arts webinar series OR some other formal professional development around accessibility in the arts, but their participation has been limited and inconsistent.	5-7 points: The applicant has participated in several sessions of SCAC's Disability and Arts webinar series OR several sessions of other formal professional development around accessibility in the arts, culminating in at least 2-4 hours of total PD around accessibility in the arts.	8-10 points: The applicant has participated in consistent sessions of SCAC's Disability and Arts webinar series OR consistent sessions of other formal professional development around accessibility in the arts, culminating in 5 or more hours of total PD around accessibility in the arts.
  Past Assessments	0 points: The applicant has not undergone any formal accessibility assessments or audits of their facility, program or website in the past three years.		5 points: The applicant has undergone formal accessibility assessments or audits of their facility, program or website in the past three years. They have provided details about what assessments they have undergone.
  Current Barriers	0-2 points: The applicant has not provided information about the biggest barriers to people with disabilities wanting to interact with their organization.	3-4 points: The applicant has provided some information about the biggest barriers to people with disabilities wanting to interact with their organization but lacks meaningful details.	5-7 points: The applicant has provided an adequate description of the biggest barriers to people with disablities wanting to interact with their organization, providing some detail around these barriers and why it is important to address.	8-10 points: The applicant has provided a detailed description of the biggest barriers to people with disabilities wanting to interact with their organization. They have provided meaningful details about the barriers and compelling information about why it is important to address.
  Cohort Commitment	0-2 points: The applicant has not stated what they hope to gain from the BFASC cohort nor have they indicated what they can offer to others.	3-4 points: The applicant has provided vague information about either what they hope to gain from the cohort or about what they can offer to others in the cohort, but lacks much detail.	5-7 points: The applicant has provided some information about what they hope to gain from others during the BFASC grant program. They have also provided some information about what they can offer to others in the cohort.	8-10 points: The applicant has provided specific and detailed information about what they hope to gain from others during the BFASC grant program. They have provided clear and specific contributions they can offer to others in the cohort.
  Organizational Representation	0 points: The applicant has not provided the names, titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of at least two individuals from their organization who will be participating in the BFASC professional development and cohort sessions starting in August 2025.		5 points: The applicant has provided the names, titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of at least two individuals from their organization who will be participating in the BFASC professional development and cohort sessions starting in August 2025.
  LEAD Participation	0 points: The applicant has not provided the name, title, email, and phone number of the individual who will be attending the LEAD conference.		5 points: The applicant has provided the name, title, email, and phone number of the individual who will be attending the LEAD conference.
  Final Cohort Meeting/Presentation	0 points: The applicant has not certified that their executive director will be available to attend the final BFASC cohort meeting on April 2, 2026 from 11 a.m. to noon.		5 points: The applicant has certified that their executive director will be available to attend the final BFASC cohort meeting on April 2, 2026 from 11 a.m. to noon.
  Budget	0 points: The applicant's budget is not balanced and does not provide details about how they will utilize their first year of BFASC grant funding.		5 points: The applicant's budget is balanced and states that they will utilize their BFASC grant funding for the purpose of sending at least one individual to the LEAD conference and the remaining funds to compensate staff time in attending the BFASC cohort sessions.

  Printer-friendly full application rubric.

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 for a school or organization, be sure you log on with the correct account to apply for this grant.

• Starting Your Application

  Applying for Barrier-Free Arts SC is a two-part process.

  Part One: Letter of Intent to Apply

  The BFASC grant requires a Letter of Intent to Apply (LOI).

  • The LOI will be submitted through the Grants Portal.
  • Please include the following information in your LOI:
    • Statement of intent to apply.
    • Why your organization is interested in participating in the Barrier-Free Arts SC grant program.
    • How you would rate your organization’s current work around access for people with disabilities (e.g., Haven’t Started, Emerging, Established, Excelling/Innovating).
    • Name and title of currently designated staff person that is responsible for accessibility of the disability community (if this role does not currently exist, please state that).
    • What you hope to gain from participating in the Barrier-Free Arts SC program.
    • The names and titles of the individuals (at least two) who will be participating in the Barrier-Free Arts SC professional development and cohort meeting sessions starting in August 2025.
    • The name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) who will be attending the LEAD conference in Cleveland, Ohio from Aug. 18-22, 2025.

  To submit an LOI:

  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 “FY26: Barrier Free Arts SC” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.

  Part Two: Full Grant Application

  Based on a review of the submitted letters of intent, selected applicants will be invited to develop their proposal into a full grant application. Only those invited to proceed to Part Two will be eligible for BFASC funding.

  Executive Director Letter of Support

  This letter must state:

  • Explanation of interest in the BFASC grant program.
  • Confirmation of commitment to allow two (2) staff members participate in professional development hours and attend all scheduled cohort meetings throughout the fiscal year.
  • Agreement to use grant funds to send at least one (1) staff member to the LEAD conference in Cleveland, Ohio from Aug. 18-22, 2025 (remaining grant funds will be utilized to compensate staff time in participating in the BFASC cohort sessions).

After You Apply

• Review Process

  The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guidelines and application requirements.

  Part One: Intent to Apply

  SCAC program staff and management will evaluate the LOI based on the published review criteria, and recommend whether an applicant should be invited to develop their proposed project into a full grant application.

  Part Two: Full Grant Application

  A review panel will evaluate the applications based on the published review criteria.

  SCAC program staff will develop recommended award amounts based on the published review criteria, the availability of funds, and the number of BFASC applicants. Recommendations will be presented to the board of commissioners, which makes final award decisions. Award notification is expected after the June 2025 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. Additionally, if awarded, all parties agree to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, regulations, executive orders, and provisions.

  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

  Payments are reimbursement-based. This means any expenses must be financed up front by the grantee and/or a cooperating entity.

  An accurate final report, listing only expenses allowable under the program guidelines for the certified time period, must be submitted in order to receive payment for the grant award.

  Final Report

  ALL GRANTEES are required to submit 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.

  Note: This grant runs on a three (3)-year cycle, with separate contracts issued each year. Grantees are required to file a final report at the end of each grant period. Submission of the application portion of your annual final report is required to be eligible for a grant award the following year. The reporting process prepares your organization for continued eligibility and also allows the SCAC to measure the impact of its grantmaking.