MAC Operating grant Grant

MAC Operating grant Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mississippi Arts Commission
Amount: Up to US $30,000
Last Updated: January 19, 2025

Summary

The MAC Operating Grant supports arts-focused organizations in Mississippi, enabling them to cover essential expenses like salaries, marketing, and rent. These grants are tailored for nonprofits with a primary mission in the arts, encouraging them to maintain financial stability while enhancing community access to artistic programming. Eligible organizations must have been established for at least two years and demonstrate a commitment to arts development through diverse programs. This initiative aims to foster cultural growth and strengthen community ties through the arts.

Overview

MAC Operating Grants Operating Grants are specifically available for arts focused institutions as these organizations are crucial partners with MAC in providing increased access to the arts in Mississippi. Operating grants serve as a way to assist these core organizations maintain their financial stability, build their organizational capacity, improve their artist programs, and broaden their programs throughout the community. Eligible organizations should have the arts as their primary focus and mission. Operating Grants can be used by these arts focused organizations to support any of their general operating expenses, including salaries, marketing, rent, insurance, or artistic fees. Because of the wide range of expenses the grant can support, Operating Grant applicants are also required to submit more detailed information than other applicants in order to provide MAC grant review panels with a more detailed picture of the applicant organization’s overall structure and activities. MAC awards Operating Grants in each of the following programs areas: Arts Based Community Development Program Goal: To improve the social, economic and cultural conditions of Mississippi communities through meaningful, quality arts programming. Whether it is after-school programming targeting at-risk youth, public art refurbishing a blighted downtown area, or a music festival bringing together a diverse audience from the community, successful Arts Based Community Development programming utilizes community-driven planning and the power of the arts to create stronger communities. Arts Industry Program Goal: To improve the social, economic and cultural conditions of Mississippi communities through meaningful, quality arts programming. Arts Industry organizations seek to enrich the lives of their audience through entertainment and through learning about themselves and others by expanding the role the arts plays in the broader social arenas of Mississippi communities. They involve the general public with their services and programs. They reach diverse communities to identify shared values, foster excellence in the arts and provide inspiration to generate a higher quality of life for all citizens by providing inclusive and diverse artistic experiences. Folk & Traditional Arts Program Goal: To improve the social, economic and cultural conditions of Mississippi communities through meaningful, quality arts programming. Folk & Traditional Arts works to increase the awareness of and foster the continuation of the state’s folk and traditional art forms. Before applying, review the goals of each program area to determine which one most closely aligns with your organization’s mission and activities.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible organizations are limited to applying for a Project Grant OR an Operating Grant each fiscal year. First-time applicants to the Operating Grant Program are strongly encouraged to contact MAC Program Staff about the viability of this type of grant for their organization before submitting an application. Funds may be used to support salaries, marketing, rent, insurance, or artistic feesA Mississippi-based arts organization may apply for an Operating Grant if it has been incorporated in the state of Mississippi as a nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code for at least two years and:Has a mission and ongoing activities that are focused on arts development and presents performances, exhibitions, arts education programs, or other arts services to the public as its primary function;Has a governing board empowered to form policies and execute programs;Demonstrates a close working relationship with local government agencies, artists, schools, and community organizations;Has a board-adopted, basic long-range plan that shows how the organization intends to grow artistically, manage for the future, and serve the community;Reflects the demographics of its community in the planning, implementation and evaluation of its programs;Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility by maintaining financial records that meet generally accepted accounting principles;Is not receiving operating funds from another line of the Mississippi state government’s budget; andIs not primarily educational and does not award academic credit.Local arts agencies applying for an Operating Grant in the Arts Based Community Development program area must provide at least two of the following services:Arts-based community development programs for local residents;Re-granting and services to local artists or arts organizations;Serves as a source of information on local cultural events, activities, and programs;Facility management (such as a gallery or performance center) services;Arts education;Advocacy for the arts;Arts presenting orArts instruction.Statewide arts service organizations that have missions compatible with one of MAC’s four program areas may apply for up to $15,000 through the Operating Grant program. The organization may be staffed or volunteer. MAC defines a statewide arts service organization as a nonprofit group that:Advocates to policy makers and citizens the benefits of a specific arts discipline or application of the arts, such as dance, theater, arts-based community projects, or arts in education;Serves a defined segment of the arts community;Provides services or programs to the general public, not just its members;Creates technical assistance or networking opportunities for professionals within a specific discipline; andHas a governing board that represents the state’s geographic and cultural diversity.

Ineligibility

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.