VCA Community Impact Grants

The VCA Community Impact Grants aim to support innovative art-based projects that engage underserved communities across Virginia. With a focus on collaboration and artistic excellence, these grants fund new and expanded creative programming and require a 1:1 cash match. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local governments, and educational institutions. The program emphasizes community involvement in project planning and execution, ensuring a meaningful impact through the arts.

Purpose
To facilitate new and innovative art-based projects or services that reach and impact communities, including those that are underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented.
Description
Community Impact Grants fund high-quality creative arts programming, the creation of new work, the expansion of successful arts projects, and/or arts-based services to the field. Impact Grants support any artistic discipline and on any scale. There is a 1:1 required cash match for the grant.
Criteria
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is interested in innovative, collaborative arts programs and/or services with the following priorities:
Community Engagement and AccessThe extent to which there is an active, two-way engagement between the applicant and the audience/community in the planning, participation, and evaluation of the proposed activity, including intentional strategies to reach new and underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented communities.Artistic Excellence Relative to the budget size of the organization, the extent to which the applicant demonstrates a committed effort to provide its audience/community an innovative, impactful, and quality artistic experience.Operational Excellence The extent to which the applicant can demonstrate sound fiscal and project management.

Eligibility

Eligible ApplicantsVirginia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizationsUnits of local and tribal governmentsHigher educational institutions presenting the artsEligibility RequirementsMeets the basic eligibility requirements as listed on page 9 of the Guidelines for FundingAll programming/services will take place in ADA-compliant facilitiesMust not be under current debarment or suspension from federal fundingMust have no past due Final Reports to the VCA at the time of applicationEligible ActivitiesCommunity Impact Grants provide support for a wide range of new and expanded arts programs that drive impact, including, but not limited to:new or expanded performances, exhibitions, screenings, conferences, readings, public art projects, and festivals that focus on engaging new and underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented audiences or communitiesprogram enhancements that enable the participation of individuals with disabilitiescommissions of new works of visual, performing, and media artspublic art projects that commission an artist for the creation of new work that engage the community in the planning, presentation, and/or fabrication Grant awards to organizations must be matched 1:1.For example, if an organization requests $1,000 from VCA, it must have at least $1,000 in cash income from another source (other than state or federal funds) towards the expenses of that same project. Sources of matching funds may include revenue from the project activities such as ticket sales; contributions from individuals, foundations, or corporations; or cash from the organization’s own accounts.

Ineligibility

Individuals may not apply.  In-kind contributions cannot be counted as part of a cash match.The Virginia Commission for the Arts does not fund:lobbying activities intended to influence a member of Congress or the General Assembly, to favor or oppose any legislationactivities restricted to an organization’s membershipexpenses related to parties, receptions, fundraising events/benefits, etcendowments or capital campaignsactivities that are primarily religious in purposecollege or university-based projects that are part of a required course or curriculum that do not involve and serve a significant non-student population, or that are for activities that are otherwise available in the communitygeneral operating