Arts & Cultural Organization General Operating Relief

Details

Purpose:

The Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief grant program intends to provide relief funding to arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Description:

This grant supports the well-being of California’s cultural vitality by helping sustain a robust and diverse arts workforce and infrastructure. Funds may be used to support any eligible expenses associated with the general operations of an arts or cultural organization, including but not limited to rent, utilities, and staff salaries. Applying for this grant does not restrict an organization from applying for other CAC project-based grants. General Operating grants are intended to support the applicant organization in carrying out its mission. Funding is not intended to support a specific project. 

Arts Organizations Defined An arts and cultural organization is defined as an entity with a primary purpose of providing arts, creative, or cultural programming/services. Assessed by CAC staff, this purpose is determined by the organization’s mission, purpose statement, and/or by its summary of core organizational programs and services.  

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Ineligible

Organizations that do not have principal place of business in California Public and private colleges and universities  K-12 school districts  County Offices of Education  Social services or non-arts/cultural nonprofits  

Small Organization Prioritization This program prioritizes small organizations, defined as those with total operating revenues less than $250,000. 

Eligible Geographies:

California-based - Documentation of being a California-based nonprofit arts/cultural organization with a principal place of business in California. 

Matching Funding Requirement:

If applying for multiple CAC grants in a single fiscal year, distinct matching funds must be identified within each application, if applicable. State funds cannot be used to meet the match. The status of each source must be specified as either projected, pending, or committed. 

Matching funds can be met with any combination of in-kind and cash sources. 

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
Summer 2022
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
7/1/22-6/30/23

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$12,850,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$0 – $30,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
100%
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • Federal and State

Funding Source Notes:

99% -California General fund/local assistance; 1%-Federal American Rescue Plan

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advance(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Applicants selected to receive grant awards will be notified and will receive funding upon completion of the contract paperwork.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Leslie Giovanini, 1-916-322-6555, genopsgrant@arts.ca.gov