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Program Description
The Community Arts grant program provides funds of up to $5,000
in project support for metro groups wishing to offer quality arts activities
in any discipline to communities within the seven-county metropolitan
area. The program utilizes a “block grant” system to distribute
funds. Each of the counties in MRAC's service area – Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington –
receives a block of funds designated for arts activities occurring within that county.
Community Arts is intended for community based and volunteer groups;
smaller, established arts groups; and newly formed groups or first-time
initiatives. Grant requests may include costs for artists and other
personnel, postage, supplies, equipment, printing, travel and other
expenses necessary to carry out the project.
Program Requirements
Requirements listed here are intended to give a sense of the program.
See program guidelines for a full description of requirements and eligibility rules.
Project budget
For every four MRAC dollars requested, you must match or raise one dollar from a source other than MRAC. Match sources may include general operating funds, past surpluses, other grants, and earned income or revenue you plan to raise specifically for this project. In-kind goods and services can not be included in the budget for your Community Arts grant application.
Nonprofit status
You must be able to furnish proof of your organization's IRS tax-exempt
status or furnish a letter of agreement with your fiscal sponsor
and proof of your fiscal sponsor's IRS tax-exempt status. For a
definition of fiscal sponsor, see program guidelines, page 8.
Eligibility
To ensure eligibility, all applicants are strongly encouraged
to discuss proposal ideas with MRAC staff before beginning an
MRAC application. All eligibility requirements are fully outlined
in the guidelines. For general eligibility, see the eligibility
page.
Who is eligible for a Community Arts grant?
- Nonprofit arts groups with annualized operating expenses less than $400,000.
- Informal and/or unincorporated arts-focused groups and one-time arts projects with expenses less than $400,000. The applicant group must have a board of directors or advisory committee that provides input on the project and oversight of the grant funds.
- Nonprofit, non-arts organizations and community education units with annualized arts programming expenses less than $400,000.
- An organization that does not have nonprofit status may apply using a fiscal sponsor. For more information on finding and working with a fiscal sponsor, call MRAC.
For a description of what the Community Arts grant does not fund, see the guidelines and the eligibility page.
Deadlines
Community Arts grants have two deadlines per MRAC fiscal year,
July 1 - June 30. See "Important Dates" at the top of this page.
Before You Apply – Technical Assistance
Application workshops
Free application workshops are held about a month prior to the Community Arts
deadline. These workshops will be posted on this page as they
are scheduled. For further information, see the grant application workshops
page.
New applicants are encouraged
to attend an MRAC application workshop and to visit the MRAC office
to review previous years’ successful grant applications.
Applicants who do so have been shown to improve the quality of
their applications.
Past applicants, whether or not
your previous project was funded, are urged to attend an MRAC
application workshop and review the panel discussion of your previous
application. This will help you address concerns raised by earlier
review panels and improve your chances of getting a grant.
MRAC staff is available to answer your questions. Go
to the staff page to determine
your program director.
Application Materials
Click the links above to download the grant guidelines and form(s) in PDF format.
You must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or the commercial Adobe Acrobat
installed on your computer to view these files. Click
here to download Acrobat Reader. If you have trouble downloading or reading
these forms, call the MRAC office at 651-645-0402 and ask us to send you the
application materials by U.S. mail.
Read the instructions carefully before filling out the grant application.
You may fill out the grant application electronically by filling in the
fields and printing.
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