United States: Jump Starts Program (Cycle B)

Deadline: 16-Jun-22

The California Arts Council (CAC) has announced for its Jump Starts Program (Cycle B) to support arts and culture education, apprenticeship and/or mentorship via artists-in-residence programs for system-engaged, system-impacted, and/or at-promise youth and young people through the age of 24.

Projects should prioritize system-engaged, system-impacted, and/or at-promise youth or youth who are especially vulnerable to be impacted by or engaged in the justice system, and the project should be tailored specifically to respond to their needs.

Activities may take place during or outside of traditional school hours at state- or county-operated correctional facilities; public settings; online; and at arts and culture venues, community centers, school sites, youth centers, and intergenerational settings.

The JUMP Starts program has two project grant strands. Organizations may apply for and receive funding for projects in one strand:

JUMP Starts – State Facilities
JUMP Starts – Community Spaces and/or County Facilities

Planning grants are also available to support arts organizations in the process of developing an arts project for system-engaged youth.

Funding Information

Grant Request Amount: $2,500 planning grants;
project grants up to $50,000
Estimated Total Number of Grant Awards: 64
Grant Activity Period: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Matching Funds: Not Required
Applicant organizations can request:
- $2,500 for a planning grant
- Up to $50,000 for a full project grant
- Up to $52,500 for a planning and project grant if each request is in different funding strand: Community Spaces and/or County Facilities and State Facilities

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must comply with the requirements below. All applications must include the listed items at the time of submission in order to be considered for funding.
Racial equity statement – Description of the organization’s commitment to equitable policies and culture.
California-based – Documentation of having a principal place of business in California.
Arts programming – Applicants must have a minimum two-year history of consistent engagement in arts programming and/or services prior to the application deadline.
501(c)(3) organization as applicant or fiscal sponsor – Non-governmental (municipal, county, or tribal) applicant organizations must demonstrate proof of nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
Fiscal sponsors – An applicant organization without nonprofit status must use a California-based fiscal sponsor with a federal 501(c)(3) designation to apply for funding.
- The fiscal sponsor will provide the fiscal oversight and administrative services needed to complete the grant.
- A Letter of Agreement between the fiscal sponsor and the applicant organization must be signed by a representative from both parties and submitted with the application. A blank signature field will not be accepted. If a grant is awarded, the fiscal sponsor becomes the legal contract holder with the California Arts Council.
- A fiscal sponsor change is not permissible during the Grant Activity Period, with rare exceptions.
- Fiscal sponsors must have a minimum two-year history of consistent engagement in arts programming and/or services prior to the application deadline. (Acting as a fiscal sponsor to arts and cultural organizations is considered an arts service.)
Certificate of good standing – Nonprofit organizations and fiscal sponsors (if applicable) must have “active status” with the California Secretary of State (SOS) showing evidence of “good standing” at the time of application. You can verify your organization’s status by conducting a search using the SOS online Business Search tool. An indication of “active” (versus “suspended,” “dissolved,” “cancelled,” etc.) confirms that your nonprofit corporation exists, is authorized to conduct business in the State of California, has met all licensing and corporation requirements, and has not received a suspension from the Franchise Tax Board.