Mid-Year Grant Opportunity
This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Columbia for projects that promote cultural activities between May and October 2025.
The City of Columbia’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is offering $50,000 in mid-year grants for Fiscal Year 2025. This funding is available for projects taking place between May 1, 2025, and October 31, 2025. The program supports arts and cultural organizations that operate within Columbia city limits. Applications must be submitted via the Foundant online system by 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 2025. Only one application per organization is allowed. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organizations, collaborations of such organizations, or partnerships between an arts and culture agency and other nonprofit entities. To qualify, organizations must dedicate at least 75% of their budget to cultural activities or have a mission focused on the arts or cultural education. Projects must be located within Columbia and must not include capital improvements, permanent equipment purchases, fundraising, or discriminatory practices. Organizations may request up to 25% of their last fiscal year’s total revenue, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Organizations with revenue under $4,000 may request up to 50%, but no more than $1,000. There is no requirement for matching funds. Two types of applications are available: a streamlined version for organizations currently funded by the OCA and a comprehensive application for new applicants. Applications will be evaluated by the Commission on Cultural Affairs using a scoring system with a maximum score of 100. Only applications scoring 60 or above will be considered for funding. Funding levels are determined by a formula that includes the amount requested, the average score, and an adjusting percentage based on total requests versus available funding. Final funding recommendations will be made in March 2025 and approved by the City Council in April 2025. Approved applicants will receive 90% of their grant funds in May 2025, with the remaining 10% released upon submission of a final project report. This report is due within 45 days of project completion. If the report is delayed beyond 90 days, the remaining 10% of funds will be forfeited.
Award Range
$1,000 - $5,000
Total Program Funding
$50,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility Information Applicants must be either, (1) a single, 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts & culture agency; (2) a collaboration of arts & culture agencies; or (3) a collaboration of an arts & culture agency and one or more nonprofit agencies (schools, social service agencies, public entities). An arts and culture agency is defined as an organization whose primary mission and/or more than 75% of its annual operating expenses are dedicated to cultural activities: the performing arts (music, dance, theatre), visual arts, literature, film, or whose primary mission is the promotion of their culture through educational and/or artistic activities. Proposed projects must occur within the Columbia city limits. (Interactive map of Columbia city limits opens in a new windowfound here) Organizations may request up to 25% of last fiscal year’s total revenue*, with a minimum request of $1,000 and a maximum request of $5,000. If an organization’s last year’s total revenue is less than $4,000, up to 50% may be requested, not to exceed $1,000. No matching requirement: There is no funding match requirement for the mid-year grant request. Organizations may submit one application only. Funded projects may not discriminate against any segment of the community on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, national origin, veteran, disability, economic status, familial status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Receipt of City funding is conditional upon the arts agency signing a grant agreement. The executed agreement must be returned by the stated deadline in order to receive funding. If City funding is received, a final report of the project is due within 45 days after its end date; 10% of each contract will be held until the report is submitted. If the report is not received after 90 days, the 10% is forfeited. City grant funding is conditional on meeting these guidelines. If an agency is approved for funding by the City Council, but does not meet these guidelines, the Commission on Cultural Affairs may recommend to City Council that the funding award be withdrawn.
Geographic Eligibility
Columbia
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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