Bravo Greater Des Moines: Capital Project Grant

Bravo Greater Des Moines offers the Capital Project Grant to support eligible arts, culture, and heritage organizations with capital projects in the Greater Des Moines area. This grant facilitates funding for projects requiring significant external funds and promotes community engagement in arts and culture. Eligible applicants must be in good standing with Bravo and meet specific deadlines. The aim is to enhance the region's cultural landscape through impactful projects, ensuring a vibrant and enriched community.

About Bravo
Bravo Greater Des Moines is the region’s arts council, providing significant funding and support to nonprofit cultural organizations and programs that are essential to a vibrant community.
Bravo Greater Des Moines provides financial support to all eligible arts, culture and heritage organizations for capital projects.
Program Overview
Bravo Greater Des Moines offers financial support for arts, culture and heritage capital projects in Greater Des Moines. The Capital Project Grant (CPG) program provides funding for projects which are of the type and scope that an organization must raise designated and specific additional funds outside normal operations to complete it.
Project Eligibility
Bravo defines a “Capital Project” as:
Facility Improvement: A comprehensive and cohesive construction, expansion, renovation or replacement project for an existing facility.Equipment: A purchase of major equipment (assets) that fall outside general operating expenses and is also considered a capital project.

Eligibility

An organization may submit only one CPG application per grant cycle.Project EligibilityProjects must have a total cost of at least $15,000 and must have a useful life of at least three (3) yearsProjects with multiple aspects must be tied together into a cohesive larger project for consideration.Funds may be used for land acquisition, engineering and architectural planning, construction costs, the purchase of major equipment with a useful life of at least 3 years and the acquisition and installation of public art. For the purposes of this grant, Bravo defines public art as permanent artwork in a public place that is free and accessible.

Ineligibility

Organizations that received a Capital Project Grant award in grant cycle 2024 are ineligible for CPG funding in 2025.Previously funded projects are ineligible for additional Bravo funding unless the proposed project is a distinct and separate phase.Other ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to the following:Operating costs, including staff timeProgramming and eventsEndowmentSponsorshipExisting obligations, debts or liabilitiesFeasibility studiesExhibits or other additions to an organization’s permanent collection (artwork, animals, instruments, etc.)Community gardensIn-kindIt is unlikely Bravo would award more than $125,000 to a single project.