TAC Small Rural Partnership Support Grant

TAC Small Rural Partnership Support Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Tennessee Arts Commission
Amount: Up to US $25,000
Last Updated: November 01, 2025

Summary

The TAC Small Rural Partnership Support (SRPS) provides crucial operating support for 501(c)(3) arts organizations in Tennessee's rural counties. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a minimum annual budget of $30,000 and a history of funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Grants can cover up to 30% of total cash operating expenses, with a maximum request of $25,000, requiring a one-to-one dollar match. This competitive program fosters arts in underserved communities.

Overview

NOTE: First-time applicants to this category must contact their program director to discuss eligibility. This is represented by Letter of Inquiry above. Small Rural Partnership Support (SRPS) Small Rural Partnership Support (SRPS) provides operating support for qualified arts organizations chartered in one of Tennessee’s rural counties. See Glossary to define arts organizations. Funding will depend upon an organization’s rating in the review process and upon the total amount of funds available to the Tennessee Arts Commission for grant allocation. This category is competitive. Applicant organization must have a minimum budget of $30,000. Organizations may request no more than 30% of their total cash operating expenses in their most recently completed fiscal year at the time they submit their application, up to but not exceeding the maximum grant request of $25,000. The Small Rural Partnership Support grant requires a one-to-one (1:1) dollar match. The total cash operating expenses, verified by a 990 submitted to the IRS within 12 months from the application date and provided by the applicant, will be determined by the sum total of: Salaries, Benefits & Taxes,Professional Fee, Grant & Award,Supplies, Telephone Postage & Shipping, Occupancy, Equipment Rental & Maintenance, Printing & Publications,Travel, Conferences & Meetings, andOther Non-Personnel Applicant organizations are reviewed every other year by a peer advisory panel, although organizations must submit a complete application every year. Those organizations new to the SRPS category must be reviewed for two consecutive years prior to beginning the biennial review rotation process. Commission staff will contact all current SRPS recipients and inform them of their review status and, if appropriate, schedule. Every organization that receives public operating support will be required to implement a structured promotional campaign for the Arts Specialty License Plates within its ongoing communications program. Operating support applicants (SUPS, SRPS, PS, MCI) may not submit an application for APS/RAPS in the same fiscal year. However, all operating support applicants may submit applications in the Arts Access and Arts Education categories, and SUPS and SRPS applicants may also submit an application in the Arts Build Communities category. These additional requests are based on eligibility, and applicants must provide proof that funds requested for AA, AE or ABC grants will not be used for Salaries, Benefits & Taxes and that the applicant can independently meet the cash matching requirements for each additional request without using the cash match or Commission funds requested from its operating support application.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible Applicants501(c)(3) arts organizations chartered in one of Tennessee's Rural CountiesMust have a minimum three-year Tennessee Arts Commission funding history in the last five yearsMinimum annual budget of $30,000 verified by IRS Form 990  (orgs with budgets $50,000+) or signed Profit & Loss Statement (orgs with budgets $30,000-$50,000)Requires an approved formal request for entry to Program Director.Proposed applications must involve one or more Commission recognized art forms, including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts. Please see Legal Requirements for further details.

Ineligibility

The following are not allowed as operating expenses: capital expenses, endowment funds, penalties payments, in-kind expenses, bank penalties, or furniture and fixture expenditures.