General Operating Support (GOS) Grants

General Operating Support (GOS) Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Carolina Arts Commission
Last Updated: October 15, 2025

Summary

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grants offer three years of unrestricted funding to arts organizations in South Carolina. These grants aim to strengthen organizations that provide ongoing arts experiences and services. Eligible applicants include various arts organizations focused on producing, presenting, or education. Funding is contingent upon factors like panel review and the size of the applicant's budget, with awards varying annually based on available funds.

Overview

About This Grant General Operating Support (GOS) grants provide three years of unrestricted support for basic operations to help strengthen arts organizations that bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state. The grant provides operating support funding for applicants ranging from emerging to established arts organizations with primary missions involving these artistic functions: producing, service, presenting, and/or education. Arts councils may also submit a separate application for subgranting of additional S.C. Arts Commission funds to local applicants. Purpose To help strengthen arts organizations that bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state. Funding There is no pre-set funding range. Grant awards will be based on: panel review of the applicationssize of the applicant’s operating budgetavailability of funds, andBoard approval. Awards may vary from year to year and are contingent on appropriation of funds by the S.C. General Assembly. Each dollar awarded must be matched with $3 cash. No in-kind expenses are allowed as part of the applicant’s match in this category.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Your organization may apply for this grant if it meets all of these requirements: has a primary mission focused on the arts OR serves as the primary arts provider in your community.is either:a nonprofit community-based arts organization;currently registered with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Officereflecting S.C. as the primary address on all current official organizational documentswith federal tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue ServiceOR applying through a tax exempt fiscal agent/receiver organization (Note: New applicants who are applying through a fiscal agent/receiver will need to submit a letter that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.)OR a unit of government;has completed at least one fiscal year of programming;has a valid DUNS number. In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) private schools, government entities, public school districts, and nonprofit organizations – must provide a valid DUNS number to receive an SCAC grant award.If a grantee is using a fiscal agent/receiver, separate DUNS numbers must be provided for both the applicant organization and the fiscal agent/receiverand is eithera current Group 1 GOS grantee, ora new GOS applicant (not a current GOS grantee in another Applicant Group).

Ineligibility

Organizations receiving General Operating Support may not apply for Arts Project Support (ASP) (except for requests for staff professional development or cultural district related activities). Organizations with annual expense budgets of $75,000 or less may apply for General Operating Support (GOS) or Operating Support for Small Organizations (OSS), but not both.