Cultural Tax Grant

The RAP Cultural Tax Grant is a locally administered funding opportunity in Summit County, Utah, established through a 0.1% sales tax initiative approved by the Utah State Legislature. This tax, known as the Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax, is designated to support cultural and recreational initiatives across the county. The grant is overseen by Summit County and focuses specifically on the cultural allocation of the tax revenue, offering financial assistance to eligible nonprofits and municipal or county cultural councils. The core purpose of the RAP Cultural Grant is to promote and enhance cultural offerings within Summit County. Eligible activities include a wide spectrum of arts and cultural disciplines such as arts education, dance, history, music, visual arts, theatre, and folk arts. The program is designed to elevate cultural engagement and access throughout the county’s communities by supporting both large-scale organizations and small nonprofits. Funding may be used for a variety of operational or project-based expenses, provided they align with the cultural focus of the grant. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations registered with the State of Utah or local cultural councils (e.g., Summit County/Park City Arts Council). Applicants must serve Summit County residents through programs or activities that promote arts and culture. Organizations based outside the county may be eligible if their programming significantly benefits Summit County. Religious organizations are eligible if the programming is nonsectarian and culturally focused. Organizations may only submit one application, and joint applications are discouraged. The 2026 grant cycle opens on March 2, 2026, with applications due no later than 5:00 PM on March 30, 2026. All application materials, including the narrative, budget, financial reports, and support documentation, must be submitted online in a single compiled file. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. There is no pre-application stage or LOI required for submission. All materials must be uploaded via the official Summit County application portal. Applications are reviewed by a RAP Cultural Committee, which uses an evaluation matrix to score each submission. The criteria include artistic merit, community impact, administrative capacity, financial management, and clarity of proposal. The review process also accounts for geographic distribution of funding across the county and efforts to support historically underserved populations. Award announcements are typically made in early summer, with funds distributed shortly thereafter. Grant recipients must comply with annual financial reporting and acknowledge the RAP tax in promotional materials. This program operates on an annual cycle. Organizations interested in future years are encouraged to monitor the Summit County website for updates each spring. The grant guidelines, eligibility checklist, and reporting templates are updated annually and made available at the start of each cycle.

Clearly explain community benefit; ensure complete, accurate financials; only submit one application per organization