Guide to Grants: Overview Page 5

Overview: Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must meet the requirements described in order to apply for and receive funding.

Organizations Eligible to Apply
An applicant must be incorporated as an Arizona non-profit organization or school with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; or be a unit of government. For Project Grants, Arts Learning Project Grants and General Operating Support Grants (GOS Level I), an unincorporated Arizona organization may apply through a fiscal sponsor, providing that the fiscal sponsor is an Arizona 501(c)(3) or governmental organization. The application identify the fiscal sponsor, and a letter from the fiscal sponsor agreeing to serve as such must be submitted with your supplementary materials, 501(c)(3) letter and the signature of an authorized representative of the fiscal sponsor. Acting as a fiscal sponsor does not jeopardize the sponsor's own grant applications. Both the applicant and the fiscal sponsor should clearly understand the legal implications of this type of relationship – for further information call 602/229-8220.

We Do Not Fund

Organizations and schools which received Arts Commission funding in fiscal year 2004-2005, but failed to file a final report postmarked by November 15, 2005
Projects sponsored by for-profit organizations
Projects involving construction of facilities
Debt reduction
Food and beverages for receptions and hospitality functions
Fund-raising projects
Scholarships and awards
Producing organizations to tour or present themselves
Equipment/capital expenditures
Regranting
Indirect costs
Lobbying expenses
College or university-sponsored projects not open to the community outside the university setting
In project grants, staff of the applicant organization
Production expenses for performing arts and presenting events
For Project, Arts Learning and Arts Link to Tourism and the Economy Grants, any costs other than those delineated in the applicable Eligible Fees table

Maximum Applications
The Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted by an organization, as follows:

Non-profit organizations = 3
Government departments and agencies = 2
University/college departments = 1
Individual schools = 1
School district departments or units = 1

Arizona ArtShare Working Capital Reserves Program Grants do not count toward the maximum number of applications.

Amount of Grant Award and Match Requirement
Because limited funding is available, grant awards are, in most cases, less than the full eligible amount. For 2005-2006, the Commission awarded $2,983,892 in grants through this process. The amount of funding available for 2006-2007 is dependent on the level of funding from the State and the National Endowment for the Arts. Each grant program has particular guidelines for determining the eligible fees and matching requirements. Considerations in determining the grant award include:

The minimum grant award is $750. Your budget must include at least $1,500 in "eligible fees."
Most grants are matched on at least a one-to-one cash basis by applicants.
In-kind contributions may not be used to match grants.
In general, no organization may receive more than 10-percent of its overall budget from the Arts Commission.

To assist you in calculating the amount of your possible grant, refer to the Funding Scales and/or Eligible Fees Information provided for the following grant categories: Project Grants, Arts Learning Project Grants, ALTE, GOS

Continuing Support
Each year all grant applications are evaluated according to the published criteria. An award granted one year does not indicate that panels in subsequent years will continue to recommend support. The Commission has affirmed that an organization or school should be supported as long as it is deemed worthy of support by the panelists and the Commission. The Arts Commission has affirmed its support of service organizations.

Community Education Elements
One of the Commission's three goals is "Arizonans experience lifelong opportunities to participate, create and learn through the arts." Organizations and schools are encouraged to incorporate learning activities and opportunities for youth and adults (i.e. workshops, "meet the artist" events, etc.) and create a public dialogue about the cultures and art forms presented. Arts Learning elements should address the Arizona arts standards (available at www.ade.az.state.us ) Commission staff can work with you to help you find the connections between your existing program(s) and the arts standards. For more ideas on how your organization may offer arts learning opportunities, contact Alison Marshall at (602) 229-8223 or amarshall@azarts.gov or Mandy Buscas at (602) 229-8225 or mbuscas@azarts.gov.

Public Value and Public Participation
“Every time someone participates in the arts, value is created.”
- Mark Moore, Ph.D., Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

It may be safe to assume that certain general values – healthy and vital communities, opportunities and success for young people, safe neighborhoods, fairness and equity in receiving government services – are commonly held, and that many of these public values can be delivered, in part, through opportunities to participate in the arts. The Commission supports opportunities for Arizonans to participate in the arts – as viewers, as those who create art, and as supporters through time, money and policymaking. By supporting a broad range of opportunities – in many different artforms, communities and modes of participation – public value is created. Public Value is a principle or ideal, service or product, intrinsically valuable or desirable to the citizens of Arizona, and therefore worthy of state support. It is not a static or well-defined thing, but involves multiple and changing values, beliefs and results that are held by a group or community at a particular moment, in its current environment.

As you prepare your project or programming, please keep in mind these thoughts about public value. It is not expected that every project or organization the Commission funds will serve the entire public, nor must every funded project deliver broad and general public value. Some projects are narrow, deep and specific; some don’t focus on a public event, but make possible the creation of work that adds to the artistic canon. These are no more or less competitive than those that serve a large number of people.

Need
We have adopted a policy stating that "financial need" is not a criterion in determining funding. We encourage both large and small arts organizations to plan for the future by developing working-capital or other reserves. Thus, an applicant that has a surplus working capital or other reserve will not be penalized in the grant review process.

Supplemental Materials
Audio-visual samples are the place to demonstrate your project/organization's artistic quality and are relevant to the project. Do not submit a promotional tape or samples that are different than what your performances/exhibitions are normally like. You may also note your organization website. Each panel is encouraged to view supplemental information; however, at the beginning of the deliberations, panels will accept fair and appropriate ways to view the materials. We do not guarantee that all materials will be reviewed. All supplemental materials should be clearly labeled with the applicant organization name, the artist's name, the title of the selection (tapes must be cued and a slide key must accompany slides). Audio/visual/published materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped (not metered) envelope or mailer. (These materials may also be picked up from the Commission office no later than July 15, 2006.)

Updated 02/27/06