Administering Organization – Folk and Traditional Arts Grant

Administering Organization – Folk and Traditional Arts Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $1,000,000
Last Updated: March 29, 2025

Summary

The California Arts Council's Folk and Traditional Arts grant program aims to empower local artists and organizations by funding Administering Organizations (AOs) capable of statewide and regional outreach. With a maximum funding of $1,000,000 per year for two years, the program emphasizes the importance of folk and traditional arts in fostering community engagement and cultural vitality. AOs will be tasked with grant administration, technical assistance, and capacity building, ensuring that diverse artistic expressions are supported throughout California.

Overview

Background & Purpose The Folk and Traditional Arts (FTA) grant program intends to redirect resources at the local level by proposing to fund one or more Administering Organizations (AO) with demonstrated capacity for statewide and regional reach that will regrant funds, provide technical assistance, and/or build capacity with artists and arts organizations in support of folk and traditional arts expressions. The AO will work directly with artists who practice traditional art forms. The forms of traditional expression can include but are not limited to: crafts, music, dance, ritual, and technical skills. This program centralizes local artists and their artistic processes as vehicles for community vitality. This funding opportunity recognizes that artists are integral to healthy communities, and that the arts are a societal cornerstone that brings people together, builds community, and fosters social progress. Project Requirements The CAC will award funds to an AO that will develop and administer FTA grants statewide. The AO will be responsible for the planning and implementation of FTA programs, including but not limited to: development of program components and timeline; providing technical assistance; capacity building at the local level; implementing statewide and community-specific engagement strategies and trusted culture bearers; regular reporting to and collaborating with the CAC on expanded outreach to ensure diverse statewide representation of applicants; and management of the application processes for artists and arts organizations through implementation, screening applications, award management, and regular reporting to the CAC. Eligible Request Amounts The AO grant will fund up to $1,000,000 per year for two years for the following purposes: Program design and implementation costs of up to 30% can be used for program design and implementation, including up to 10% to support administrative costs and 20% for staff salaries for artists and culture bearers to implement required program activities (see “Administering Organization Requirements,” above).The CAC is proposing to serve one AO for this program. However, if it is determined that multiple applicants will meet the requirement of implementing statewide and engagement strategies to priority communities and trusted culture bearers, the CAC will consider distributing awards to multiple AOs.Funding is contingent upon availability of funds and passage of the state budget for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Funds will be paid out at $1,000,000 during the first program year and $1,000,000 during the second program year, contingent on passage of the state budget for each year.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility RequirementsApplicant organizations and their partnering personnel and/or organizations (if applicable) will be assessed on the strength with which they demonstrate the following:Organizational Capacity and ReadinessApplicant organizations and/or key project personnel must have a minimum of five years of experience working with the nonprofit and/or arts and culture fields in California. Applicant organizations and/or key personnel must demonstrate five years of experience reaching diverse communities across the state.Applicant organizations and/or key project personnel must demonstrate at least five years of grants management experience and demonstrate administrative and organizational capacity to administer grant programs, including application submission and review processes, financial tracking, and grants management capability.Applicant organizations and/or key personnel must demonstrate ability to design and implement programs with statewide reach that include rural communities and regions outside of major metropolitan areas.Applicant organizations and/or key personnel must demonstrate deep knowledge and understanding of the arts and culture ecosystem and an understanding of nonprofit management.Application organization must employ or engage in a close partnership/contract with an experienced folklorist as a part of their program design and implementation.Administering Organization RequirementsProvide opportunities for artists, creators, tradition bearers, and/or arts and cultural organizations who are actively working in traditional arts.Successful proposals will demonstrate how the AO will support a variety of artists who practice folk and traditional arts statewide and regionally. Top consideration will be given to an AO who can show the ability to serve multiple communities and support a variety of cultural traditions and practices. The AO will list their organization’s selection criteria for funding artists through this program.Provide engagement and access throughout all counties and/or municipalities identified within statewide and regional networks.Supported artists and organizations must reside and primarily work in California.Support the creative visions, processes, and projects of artists working in community settings.Ensure that individuals to be compensated by this grant are not full-time students in a degree program directly related to any type of compensation/credit for this project.Ensure that all CAC-funded programs, services, information, and facilities where funded activities take place, including online spaces, must be accessible for individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, have difficulty speaking, have a physical disability, visual disability, developmental disability, learning disability, mental illness, or chronic illness.Any state funds regranted through this program must be in compliance with the CAC’s Grant Opportunity statement, included on page 10 of the appendix of this document.All recommendations for funding will be reviewed and approved by the CAC. AO will seek approval from the CAC on all RFPs and contracts distributed to the public and potential grantees before posting.All applications must include the listed items at the time of submission to be considered for funding.California-basedDocumentation of having a principal place of business in California.Arts programming Applicants must have a minimum five-year history of consistent engagement in arts programming and/or services prior to the application deadline.501(c)(3) organization as applicant Non-governmental (municipal, county, or tribal) applicant organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.Certificate of good standing Nonprofit organizations must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application.

Ineligibility

Fiscally sponsored organizations are not eligible to apply.What CAC Does Not FundAs applicants:State agenciesFederal agenciesNon-arts organizations not involved in arts activitiesFor-profit organizationsNonprofit organizations not in “good standing” with California Secretary of StateFormer grantee organizations not in compliance with CAC grant requirements, such as failing to submit a final report (as stipulated in grant agreement)Expenses incurred before the start date or after the ending date of the Grant Activity PeriodExpenses that would supplant other state fundingNeither the award nor the match may be used to supplant other state funding, including salaries of state employees or general operating expenses of school districts, County Offices of Education, or publicly funded schools, colleges, or universities.Operational, administrative, or indirect costs of schools, colleges, or universities Fundraising activities or services such as grant writing, annual campaigns, or fundraising eventsLobbying activities that are intended to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials or specific legislationPrograms or services intended for private use, or for use by restricted membership (including programs that require college or university enrollment for participation)Projects with religious purposesTrusts, endowment funds, or investmentsConstruction projects, purchase of land and buildings, or capital expenditures used to maintain, upgrade, acquire, or repair capital assetsEquipment purchases (equipment rentals are eligible)Debt repaymentHospitality expenses, meals, or foodOut-of-state travel