San Marcos Community Foundation: Arts and Culture Fund Grant

Overview

The City of San Marcos has available funding to eligible organizations to stage artistic and cultural events or activities that benefit the San Marcos community. The funding was established by a public art in-lieu fee in the Heart of the City Specific Plan; it was created to promote art and cultural initiatives that enrich the artistic and cultural vibe of San Marcos. The San Marcos City Council designated the San Marcos Community Foundation to award and monitor the grants.

Applicant organizations must offer art/cultural events that promote the City of San Marcos and benefit its residents. Applicant organizations must also have a history of producing art or cultural programming and have been in existence for at least one year.

Organizations requesting grant funds must be community-based, meaning at least 51% of the Board of Directors must be made up of San Marcos residents, San Marcos business owners, employees of San Marcos businesses or a combination thereof.

Funding

A total of $3,500 is available for this year’s grant cycle. Funding for the art and cultural grant program is determined each year during the city’s annual budgetary process.

Eligibility

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

• The representing organization must be exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 23701(d) of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
• Applicant organizations must have been in existence for at least one year with a history of producing an art or cultural program.
• Organizations requesting funds must be community based, meaning at least 51% of the Board of Directors shall be made up of San Marcos residents, San Marcos business owners, employees of San Marcos businesses or a combination thereof.
• The San Marcos Community Foundation is not obligated to award funding and may decide to set the funding level for each request based on a number of factors including, but not limited to:
  • Capacity of applicant to provide the program/event
  • Other funding sources available including, but not limited to, matching grants
  • New and/or expanded services not being provided
  • Programs targeted to underserved communities
  • Past performance of applicant in staging cultural and promotional activities
  • Ability to yield measurable benefit to the community at large
• Funding may be used for artists’ fees, legally required royalties, production expenses, event space rental, marketing costs, and other expenses related to the event or activity.
• Grants are awarded annually.
• Grantees may be eligible to apply for the same event or program for up to 5 years, subject to available funding and approval of the Foundation.

Ineligibility

• Funds may not be awarded to:
  • Assist a religious, fraternal, or political purpose;
  • Aid organizations whose primary function is to assist other charitable or public groups of activities through grants and donations;
  • Underwrite the cost of advertising or fund-raisers.
• Funding may not be used for prizes, awards, scholarships, permanent equipment, travel, staff expenses including salaries, stipends or any other form of compensation, overhead expenses of the group such as office rental or utility costs, refreshments or debts incurred by past events.