ASC: Cultural Organization Support Grants (formerly Technical Assistance Grant)

Overview

Cultural Organization Support Grants

The Cultural Organization Support Grant program is an opportunity for nonprofit cultural organizations to invest in their team so they can deliver on their mission. This program provides financial resources for Mecklenburg County based arts, science, history, and heritage organizations to invest in capacity building opportunities that improve their organization’s management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising and/or achieve operating efficiencies. ASC encourages staff and board development at all levels of the organization.

Purpose

Cultural Organization Grants may support organizations seeking to improve their management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising and/or achieve operating efficiencies. ASC encourages staff and board development at all levels of the organization. Cultural Organization Support Grants support capacity building opportunities that improve an organization’s understanding of its own environmental culture, the history and legacy of white supremacist structures, the ways in which individuals and organizations play a role in maintaining or disrupting these structures and create concrete plans of action to embody equity in their work.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Any Mecklenburg County-based not-for-profit organization with a primary mission of arts, science, history or heritage.
* Generally, this program supports opportunities within organizations previously funded by ASC.
* Eligible projects should be a one-time strategic opportunity to improve an organization’s management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising, provide a unique learning opportunity for staff/board, and/or achieve operating efficiencies.We encourage applicants to partner with BIPOC facilitators/trainers or consulting teams that include BIPOC equity experts in a meaningful manner, to conduct this work.
* The following are an example of some eligible expenses:
* Consulting fees
* One-time costs related to the implementation of new software
* Contract fees
* ASC strongly encourages projects that prioritize the organizational work of anti-racism and enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The culture, history, policies, and practices—both formal and informal—of an organization affect the way it engages with the community, its audiences, stakeholders, and patrons. Cultural Organization Grants can provide resources to support organizations engaging in this critical work of cultural equity.
* BIPOC led organizations working to recover from historical inequities may also request support aimed to improve the organization’s management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising and/or achieve operating efficiencies.
* Applicants may request up to $20,000, or 50% of the total project budget, whichever is less.

* Applicants are expected to provide a 1-1 cash or in-kind match for the project.
* If providing a cash match is a burden to your ability to pursue this opportunity, please contact Adam Santalla Pierce, Director of Community and Artist Support at adam.santalla@artsandscience.org.

Ineligibility

* Public and independent schools, colleges and universities, after school programs and camps are not eligible.
* Applications may not list salaries or benefits as eligible expenses or as part of the match requirement.
* Costs associated with contracted staff that will specifically support the funded project are eligible.
* These funds are not intended to supplement ongoing operating expenses. As a result, ASC will not entertain requests to support the following:
Existing staff salaries or benefits
* Ongoing programs, staff or operating costs
* Multi-year requests
* Capital improvements or the purchase of any item(s) that must be depreciated on financial statements
* Annual product licenses, membership fees, web hosting fees, etc.