Arts Business Resource Fund

Arts Business Resource Fund

Overview: The Resource Fund provides critical funding to small businesses and nonprofits to support capacity building initiatives. Funding is primarily awarded in conjunction with Help Desk participation, but occasionally given outside this annual programming.

Award Amount: Up to $2,500 per organization

Geographic Scope: United States and U.S. territories

Eligible Funding Uses

• Volunteer staff member stipends (e.g., founders of very small organizations)
• Fundraising operations
• Rent / Space Rental
• Software
• Equipment
• Insurance
• Utilities and Accounting

Eligibility Requirements

• Led by and for marginalized communities: Priority given to LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent social enterprises and organizations
• Location: Applicants must reside and conduct work in the United States or U.S. territories
• Annual budget/revenues: Under $500,000 (prioritizes small and grassroots projects and microbusinesses)
• Mission alignment: Social enterprise or nonprofit must align with ABC's mission to tangibly improve the quality of life for people of color via the arts or sciences
• Fiscal sponsorship: Fiscally sponsored projects are eligible
• For-profit requirements: Must provide business incorporation documents

What They Do NOT Fund

• Program expenses
• Fundraising events or campaigns
• Projects based outside the U.S.

Reporting Requirements

• Grantees must provide a one-page maximum report describing how operational funding improved their ability to carry out their mission and/or reroute other unrestricted funding to programmatic initiatives
• For-profit grantees must provide receipts
• Nonprofits can provide general financial reports
• All grantees must sign a grant agreement

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are scored 1-5 on the following criteria:
• Alignment with Mission of the organization
• Cultural Impact and Community Engagement of the organization
• Feasibility and Readiness of the project
• Innovation and Creativity of the organization
• Budget and Use of funds of the project

Scoring Tiers

• 20-25 points: Prioritized for funding
• 15-19 points: May be considered based on available funds
• Below 15 points: Unlikely to be funded but may receive feedback and be encouraged to reapply

Contact Information