MAC Mini-Grants for Organizations

The MAC Mini-Grants for Organizations provide vital funding to support professional development and capacity building for Mississippi-based arts organizations. Eligible applicants, including non-profit organizations and local government entities, can receive matching grants to engage professional artists for various activities like performances, workshops, and curriculum development. Priority is given to organizations in underserved areas and those led by BIPOC individuals. This initiative aims to enhance public engagement and appreciation for the arts statewide.

Mini-Grants for Organizations are matching grants designed to support professional development and capacity building for arts organizations. Mississippi based non-profit organizations and government entities are also eligible to receive Mini-Grants to hire professional artists such as those listed on MAC’s Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster. LLC’s and other for-profit businesses are NOT eligible to apply for MAC grants.
MAC funds activities that promote public understanding and support of the arts and artistic excellence, including:
Performances, readings, exhibitions and related publicationsWorkshops and artist residenciesArts research, planning, development, fieldwork and cultural documentationInformation disseminationServices to artists and arts organizationsArtistic and managerial professional developmentProjects that promote arts educationProjects that increase access to the artsCommissioning of artworkAdding to museum collectionsProjects that increase resources for the artsGeneral operating expenses of arts organizationsIndirect costs of up to 10% of the total project budget
Eligible Activities
There are types of activities that may be supported through Organization Mini-grants:

• Presenting/Hiring Professional Artists:
• Mini-grants can pay for up to half of the total fee to hire a professional artist.
• Those hiring members of MAC’s Artist Roster will be given funding priority.

Other professional artists must include proof of artistic excellence and professionalism. Examples of how to establish this within the application include, but are not limited to: Artist’s resume and work samples, signed intent to hire agreement, link to professional website or listing on another adjudicated roster program, such as the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, the Poet Laureate of Mississippi, or a program managed by another state or regional arts agency.
Organizations may hire artists (Priority will be given to those hiring MAC Roster artists or MAC Teaching artists) to: Present a performance, workshop, or other presentationCreate public art on/in your building or for your organizationTo create arts curriculum
Organizational or Curriculum Development:
Mini-grants can support up to half of the total fee of a consultant to support organizational capacity building, organizational professional development or curriculum development.
Organizations may hire professional consultants to provide a short-term consultancy that is focused on overall organizational development such as: Organizational long range Strategic PlanningOrganizational Fundraising PlanningI.D.E.A. Audit (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access)Diversity Training or other professional work to diversify and organization’s Board of DirectorsADA Compliance and Accessibility TrainingsBoard Member TrainingArts Related Emergency PreparationConvening focus groups of different types of artists, stakeholders or members of the community touched by your organizationCurriculum development in a K-12 school
Please note: The applicant organization must demonstrate through the required attachments that the consultant is qualified to do the work.
Conference Support:
Mini-Grants can support up to half of the total cost for an arts organization to send staff or board members to an in-person or online professional conference or workshop that directly relates to the organization’s work in and through the arts.
If you are a non-arts organization, please contact MAC staff to discuss eligibility.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must:Be based in MississippiBe incorporated in Mississippi as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization ORBe a unit of local government, such as a school, library, or another county or municipal agency. Units of local government may be required to provide documentation of their status as a governmental agency.Grant awards to organizations, unless otherwise specified in the program guidelines, must be matched dollar-for-dollar.Grantees cannot match MAC funding with other state funds.

Ineligibility

LLC’s and other for-profit businesses are NOT eligible to apply for MAC grants.Grant funds may not be used for the following expenditures:ReductionsContingency fundsActivities already funded in the state’s budget (for example, an organization receiving unrestricted funds from the state of Mississippi through another agency or line item may not receive general operating support from MAC.)An organization receiving MAC or other state funds for a partial project cannot apply to MAC for funding of the same projectIndividuals are only eligible to receive one Mini Grant per fiscal yearInterest on loans, fines or litigation costsFood or beverages for hospitality or entertainment functionsProjects primarily planned for fundraising purposesLobbying expenses or other activities that are primarily political in nature;Tuition or scholarships for academic studyMonetary awards for competitionsCollege and university events that are considered a part of regular or extracurricular programsPurchase or long-term rentals of equipment, property or collectionsOut-of-state tours or travel to competitionsSchool-sponsored trips, including transportation, admission fees, and other related travel expensesCapital improvements, facility construction, or renovation work (except through the BFA grant program.)Activities where the primary focus is for therapyCreation of sexually explicit content.Programs for a religious purpose, including for the promotion of any sect, church, creed, or sectarian organization, nor to conduct any religious service or ceremony. Funds can be granted to religious organizations as long as the funds are not used for a religious purpose. This allows faith-based organizations to apply on behalf of its community for arts activities or programming where artistic expression is the primary focus.