Deadline: 15-Dec-21
Connecticut (CT) Government is inviting applications for the Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund (CAEF) to stimulate the development of private sector funding and to ensure the long-term stability of Connecticut’s arts industry by providing funding to organizations.
The Fund is managed by the Office of the State Treasurer and the program is administered by the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA).
Funding Formula
Applicants do not specify a grant request amount. Grant awards are calculated solely on the following formula:
- Year 1 “Prior Fiscal Year”: For the portion of donor contributions which is equal to $ 15,000 or more but does not exceed the total donor contributions for the prior fiscal year, there shall be a match of 25% of such amount, capped at $ 250,000.
- Year 2 “Most Recent Fiscal Year”: For the portion of the total donor contributions that exceeds the total donor contributions for the prior fiscal year, there shall be a match of 100%, capped at $ 1 million.
Grant Requirements
- Connecticut Arts Endowment grants provide unrestricted funds that may be used for a wide-variety of operational and program functions, including but not limited to:
- Staff Salaries
- Payments to contracted artistic, technical or administrative professionals
- Production, travel, telephone, shipping and postage costs
- Space rental; occupancy costs (maintenance, security, insurance, utilities, etc.)
- Printing, advertising and marketing costs
- Evaluation services and documentation (photo, video, audio, collection of statistical information, etc.)
- Travel and conference registration expenses for staff and / or volunteers to attend local, regional or national relevant industry conferences, workshops, retreats, clinics, etc.
- Grant funds cannot be used for:
- Ex think outside victims of the funding period
- Brick and mortar or capital improvements / construction
- Elimination or reduction of existing debt
- Benefits, fund-raisers and social events
- Scholarship assistance for academic or non-academic programs
- Political contributions
- Lobbying activities
- Legal fees
- Religious programming, activities or paraphernalia
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must be a Connecticut Arts Organization that meets the definition below:
- An art s organization is defined as an organization whose core mission, vision, focus and legal purpose, as stated in its Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, articulate a commitment to create, perform, present or promote artistic activities * AND at least 51 percent of its annual fiscal expenditures are allocated specifically to support artistic activities, arts programs / services and arts-based initiatives.
- *Artistic activities include, but are not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, literature, films, and allied arts and crafts.
- Additional criteria required:
- Raised more than $ 15,000 in donor contributions from private-sector, non-governmental sources * for two (2) consecutive fiscal years, one of which is the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year;
- Filed, prior to the application due date, an IRS Form 990 or IRS Form 990-EZ that substantiates total donor contributions;
- Have tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
- Be incorporated in Connecticut as a not-for-profit for at least two (2) years prior to the application due date;
- Primary place of business and operations in Connecticut; and
- *A non-governmental source is a private-sector organization, foundation, corporation, partnership, single proprietorship or association or person making a contribution to an arts organization.
For more information, visit https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Connecticut-Arts-Endowment-Fund