4Culture seeking Applications for Cultural Relief Fund for Organizations

Deadline: 05-Jun-20

4Culture has launched a call for applications for the Cultural Relief Fund for the organizations.

4Culture has committed a total of $1 million to support King County cultural organizations and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including $450,000 to organizations in this initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding Information

Grants up to $5,000 are available for cultural organizations that have suffered significant financial hardship from the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Any organization whose primary mission relates to arts, heritage, or preservation may apply for Cultural Relief funds. However, if you are awarded funds and your organization is not a nonprofit or public development authority, you must find a fiscal sponsor before you can claim your award. If you are unable or do not wish to secure a fiscal sponsor, you may apply for Cultural Relief funding as an individual.
You must have a minimum 2-year track record of programming or activity.
You must be located in and serving King County, Washington.
You must demonstrate a direct financial impact from the outbreak of the COVID 19 virus, including but not limited to: loss of income (e.g. ticket sales, admissions, earned revenue, or rental fees) or loss of opportunity (e.g. cancelation of events, including fundraising events; cancellation or postponement of programs).
You must not be a 4Culture staff, Advisory Committee, or Board member, or a 4Culture Cultural Relief Fund panelist during the period of review.

Selection Criteria

All eligible applications will be reviewed using the following selection criteria:

Financial Hardship: every organization will experience financial impacts at this time, but some will suffer acute financial hardship. Applicants are asked to clearly state the financial challenges they face, which may include but are not limited to:
- Costs to comply with official social distancing policies such as additional cleaning, reduced capacity to allow reduced audience proximity, technology purchases to support online content or remote work of employees, etc.
- Disproportionate reduction in 2020 revenue as the result of loss of income or opportunities between March 1 and May 31, 2020, as demonstrated in a program or event schedule and an adopted 2020 budget. For organizations that submitted an application prior to May 15, and reported on March–April impacts, we will assume financial hardships continued through May.
- Limited or no access to credit, rent abatement, or other sources of COVID-19 relief funds from other funders or from local municipal government.
- Current liabilities – credit, loans, accounts payable – that are equal to or greater than financial assets as demonstrated by a profit and loss statement.
Emergency: applicant demonstrates an emergency need and a timely use of grant funds. Applicants that demonstrate one or more of the following emergency circumstances will be given priority:
- Imminent loss of cultural space due to the inability to make monthly rent, mortgage, or utility payments as demonstrated by an eviction notice from the landlord, a notice of repossession from a financial lender, and/or a notice to cease service from a local utility.
- The inability to make payroll through May 31, 2020, due to a lack of financial income or reserves as demonstrated by the difference between a current cash statement and the most recent payroll expenses.
- The inability to pay healthcare premiums for employees due to a lack of financial income or reserves as demonstrated by the difference between the current cash statement and the most recent monthly bill from a healthcare provider.
Public Benefit: applicant offers substantial public benefit in a typical year. For 4Culture’s purposes, public benefit describes your organization’s efforts to make your events, activities, or programs more accessible to King County residents, particularly underserved communities. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Free or discounted tickets for students/seniors; scholarships to educational programs or free/discounted educational programs; outreach efforts to young audiences, seniors, communities of color, communities of disability, or non-English speakers; free or pay-what-you-can performances; etc.