City Arts Investment Fund Grant Program

The City Arts Investment Fund (AIF), administered by the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC), supports the development of arts and culture in Rapid City, South Dakota. This local government-backed grant recognizes the arts as vital to public welfare and seeks to enhance the city’s cultural and artistic landscape. The RCAC, based at the Dahl Arts Center, manages the fund and serves as the city’s designated arts agency. The AIF program invites applications from nonprofit arts and culture organizations or projects with valid fiscal sponsorships that directly serve Rapid City residents through programming conducted within city limits. Eligible applicants may request support for General Operating Support (GOS), including ongoing cultural programming in performing, visual, or other arts forms unique to the region. Funded activities must take place entirely within the Rapid City municipal boundary. However, there are strict exclusions: funding cannot be used for capital improvements, contests, prizes, religious or school-based programming tied to government agencies, legal fees, or activities completed prior to funding. Applications must also align with the fund's purpose, demonstrating impact on cultural enrichment and arts engagement, and how the project contributes to broader community development goals. Eligibility is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organizations or fiscally sponsored local projects. Fiscal sponsorships must be documented with a formal agreement and overseen by a qualified Rapid City-based nonprofit. Applications from public or private schools, or those in violation of civil rights or anti-discrimination laws, are not eligible. Grantees must comply with anti-discrimination policies, maintain transparent financial records, and submit a final grant report by November 21, 2026, to qualify for final disbursement and future funding. Applications are evaluated by the RCAC’s Grant Committee, which includes board members, city council representatives, and community leaders, all of whom adhere to conflict-of-interest policies. Projects will be judged on merit, feasibility, public benefit, artistic and cultural excellence, innovation, and cultural equity. These criteria favor proposals that are accessible to the public, deliver measurable impact, and address the needs of historically underserved populations. The application must be submitted by January 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM MT, using one of three approved methods: email, postal mail, or hand delivery to the Dahl Arts Center. Required documents include a completed application form, project budget, board member list, recent IRS filings or CPA-certified statements, and verification of nonprofit or fiscal sponsorship status. Award notifications are expected by March 2, 2026. Funding will be disbursed in quarterly checks, with exact timing dependent on the city’s payment schedule. All awardees must acknowledge support from both the City of Rapid City and RCAC in their promotional materials and program outputs.

Align with public benefit goals; ensure activity occurs within Rapid City; acknowledge funders or risk ineligibility.