OVERVIEW

We aim to distribute approximately $215,000 to an undetermined number of arts-based nonprofit organizations before Fall 2023. Grants will be made in the following amounts; up to $10,000 and will be distributed based on adherence to the Evaluation Criteria. We anticipate a high number of competitive submissions to this program. Applicants are encouraged to adhere to the Evaluation Criteria whenever possible to maximize their score. 

Arts Learning Enhancement Funding (ALE) is available to fund components of your program that focus on arts education for youth ages 3-18. ALE requests will be combined with the GOS application. There will be one question related to Arts Learning within the application that will be scored to determine the level of ALE funding. 

The funds for GOS and ALE will be combined for a total award of up to $15,000. 

GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE 

General Operating Support (GOS) grants assist arts and cultural mission driven organizations with general operating expenses and the continuation or expansion of their arts and cultural focused programming in Salt Lake City. 

Organizations funded in General Operating Support must demonstrate artistic and cultural vibrancy, value, foster cultural equity, and cultivate a positive social impact on the community.

The review of a GOS grant application includes an assessment of the advancement of artistic and cultural vibrancy, the budget, the quality of programming, community support, and number of people served. Full evaluation measures are listed in detail below.

ABOUT OUR CITY ARTS GRANTS PROGRAM

The City Arts Grants program is designed to provide financial support for arts programs and projects in Salt Lake City that merit public funding. There are three recurring City Arts Grants categories, each with eligibility standards, guidelines, and review criteria. The Salt Lake City Arts Council Board places a priority on those programs that best reflect the Arts Council’s mission, values, and strategic priorities as expressed in our Strategic Plan found here.

City Arts Grants can support only those programs and projects which take place within Salt Lake City limits. For General Support applicants, it is understood that organizations may conduct programming outside Salt Lake City boundaries. However, all awarded funding must be applied only to those activities which occur within Salt Lake City.

The City Arts Grants program is competitive and includes a rigorous application review process. A complete application must be submitted each year and a grant award in one year does not guarantee an award for the following year. The award of City Arts Grants is made at the sole discretion of the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the decision of the board is final.

Applicants may only submit one application annually to this grant category. There are no exceptions to this guideline, however, additional grant opportunities may become available and eligibility criteria and limitations will be made clear within those grant guidelines. 

Please read the Program Guidelines thoroughly as substantial changes to this program have been made.  

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for a General Support grant, the applicant must:

1. Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and/or cultural organization for at least three years, whose primary purpose is arts and/or cultural programming, arts and/or cultural support, or arts and/or cultural services;
2. Be based in Salt Lake City at the time of application submission;
3. Have administrative staff;
4. Have matching funds for the requested amount of at least 1:1. This match can be through cash, earned income, private or public support, or through a combination of these sources. In-kind support cannot be used as part of the match;
5. Apply any awarded funding to those services and activities which occur within the Salt Lake City boundaries;
6. Apply any awarded funding to those services and activities which occur within the grant cycle beginning no earlier than September 1, 2023 and ending no later than August 31, 2024;
7. Be in good standing prior to submitting a request to the Salt Lake City Arts Council.
   

FUNDING LIMITATIONS 

City Arts Grants cannot be awarded to:

1. Organizations with headquarters based outside Salt Lake City;
2. Organizations receiving a project support grant from the Salt Lake City Arts Council;
3. Projects completed prior to the grant year;
4. Programs or travel outside of Salt Lake City;
5. For-profit business, such as a corporation or LLC;
6. Deficit reduction;
7. Fundraising and benefit events;
8. Capital expenditures;
9. Programs and services for restricted members only. Programs and services must be open to the general public;
10. Organizations and projects that receive direct financial support of 50% or more of the overall project or organizational budget from Salt Lake City Corporation.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Additional eligibility and/or limitations may be added at any time with written notice to funded projects. 

APPLICATION KEY DATES

• Guidelines Released: Friday, Apr 28, 2023 
• Application Opens: Monday, May 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.  
• Application Closes*: Friday, Jun 2, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. 
  *No application submitted after this date will be accepted. Absolutely no exceptions will be made. 
• Salt Lake City Arts Council Committee Review Process: Summer 2023
• Salt Lake City Arts Council Board Meeting: Summer 2023
• Written Grant Award Status Notification: August/September 2023
• Grant Distribution: Fall 2023

All Correspondence will be conducted through email. Please be sure that your account lists current contact information and that your email address is not filtering out any emails sent from and email accounts.

EVALUATION CRITERIA 

All applications will be scored in accordance with our scoring rubric, FOUND HERE. 

General Support
The breakdown of available points is as follows;
Core Criteria: 40 Points Available
Budget: 10 Points Available
Total Weighted Points: 50 Points Available

Arts Learning Enhancement
Total Weighted Points: 5 Points Available

FINANCE AND BUDGET INFORMATION 

All applicants must submit a detailed budget using the provided budget template, FOUND HERE.

The budget should include clear detail on the income and expenses associated with this request. 

The final budget form must:

• Be uploaded to the application as an Excel document.
• INCLUDE AMOUNT REQUESTED IN THE GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED BOX.
• Must balance: Total income must equal total expenses.
  • A balanced budget demonstrates your ability to administer and implement the proposed program.
• Present matching funds for the requested amount of at least 1:1.
  • This match can come from cash, earned income, private or public support, or a combination of these sources.
  • Match cannot be met with funds from Salt Lake City Corporation (ACE grant support, etc.).
  • Match cannot be met with in-kind funds.
• Include comments and explanations in the spreadsheet. Think of this portion of the application as a complement to the narrative.
• Provide a detailed budget narrative before submission, ensuring that all expenses related to this request are expended within, and in direct benefit of, Salt Lake City proper.

The Salt Lake City Arts Council values paying artists professional wages. Organizations that pay artists for their services will be given priority.

Click Here to Access the online Application Portal

All questions or concerns regarding this grant program should be submitted in writing to . Once submitted, please allow 2 business days for a response. Additionally, all questions and answers will be released for any applicant to see, unless such release includes sensitive personal information.

All questions and answers will be updated here as necessary.

Should I include my annual budget in the budget form?

• Yes, since this is a General Support Grant we would like to see the annual budget for your organization.  Please use the budget commentary space to provide additional information for the grant review committee.

Does my organization need to have paid staff in order to apply for the General Operating Support Grant

• In order to apply for the General Operating Support Grant your organization needs to have administrative staff; they can be paid or volunteer.

Is my organization able to apply for a Project Support grant in addition to the General Operating Support Grant?

• Applicants may only submit one application annually to the City Arts Grants Program. You cannot receive both a Project Support Grant and a General Operating Support Grant. There are no exceptions to this guideline, however, additional grant opportunities may become available and eligibility criteria and limitations will be made clear within those grant guidelines. 

From May 4, 2023 to May 24, 2023, seven (7) days before, applicants are encouraged to schedule one (1) twenty five (25) minute appointment. The purpose of this meeting is to ask questions which are not answered in the Program Guidelines or Frequently Asked Questions. We are happy to help you with any additional technical or adaptive questions or concerns you may have, as well as answer specific questions you might have regarding your materials or application. We are administrators of the Program and, as such, we have to maintain a level of fairness to all applicants. 

To schedule your 30 minute appointment with a grant administrator, please click here.

SUPPORTIVE LINKS

• Registration for Grant Orientation
• General Support Scoring Rubric
• 2023-2024 General Support Budget Template
• To Schedule Office Hours
• Online Application Portal
• Salt Lake City District Map