The Cross-Sector Impact Grant, offered by the City of Fort Collins, aims to fund projects that integrate arts and culture with other sectors to enhance community health and well-being. This grant aligns with a broader mission to foster collaboration and utilize the arts as a catalyst for positive societal impact. While the context does not explicitly detail the "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," the grant itself embodies a strategy where cross-sector partnerships lead to improved community well-being, suggesting a theory that integrated approaches yield more holistic and sustainable outcomes.
The primary target beneficiaries are Fort Collins residents and/or visitors, as projects must provide a direct public benefit to these groups. The impact goals revolve around improving community health and well-being through innovative collaborations between arts organizations and other sectors. This implies a focus on addressing diverse community needs by leveraging the unique strengths of arts and culture in conjunction with fields like health, education, or social services.
The grant prioritizes projects that demonstrate collaboration between arts organizations and other sectors. A key focus is on ensuring accessibility, as events must be open to the public. Additionally, there's an emphasis on local impact, with projects required to take place within Fort Collins, the Fort Collins Growth Management Area, or a City of Fort Collins owned property. The grant also requires applicants to show a 1:1 cash/in-kind match, demonstrating a commitment to shared investment and resource leveraging.
Expected outcomes include enhanced community health and well-being, facilitated through single-day events or multi-day programs. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in terms of metrics (e.g., "X% increase in community well-being"), the requirement for public benefit and the focus on integration suggest that successful projects would demonstrate tangible improvements in the areas they address through their collaborative efforts. The eligibility for applicants to also apply for Special Event or Program Support Grants indicates a broader strategy to foster diverse cultural and community initiatives within Fort Collins.
