Topics:
Grants Program Categories (Where to Apply,Who Can Apply), Award Allocations, Applications, General Questions
Grants Categories
Q: What are the grant program categories?
A: The grant categories are:
- Project Support Grant: divided amongst Individual Artists, Nonprofit Organizations, and Special Projects.
- General Support Grant: divided amongst Level I and Level II.
Q: What is a Project Support Grant?
A: This grant is intended to help artists and art organizations accomplish specific arts projects in
Santa Cruz
County
that significantly benefit the community. The funding must be spent on the specific project's expenses.
Q: What is a General Support Grant?
A: This grant is meant to support arts organizations that create and present ongoing arts programming in
Santa Cruz
County
. The grant provides funding for general operating or other expenses.
Q: What is a Special Project Grant?
A: Special Project Grants are grants for organizations that do not fall within the eligibility requirements of the other categories but demonstrate a strong long-term commitment to significant arts programs in
Santa Cruz
County
. The Cultural Council maintains the ability to fund these organizations through the Special Project category.
Two organizations fit in this category: KUSP and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. They are essential to the health and vitality of the
Santa Cruz
arts community, and their work is of great importance to the community at large.
Q: What are the Eligibility Criteria for each Grant category?
A: Please see the Grants Category Overview.
Q: How do I know if I should apply for a Special Category Grant?
A: You can't apply for this category. This category has been created to include only two organizations: Shakespeare Santa Cruz and KUSP Radio.
Q: How do I know if my organization should apply for General Support Level I or Level II?
A: Refer to the Eligibility Requirements for Levels I and II in the Guidelines. The main differences to focus on are the requirements for budget and paid administrative staff. Level I require a minimum budget of $150,000, while Level II includes organizations with an annual budget of between $40,000 and $150,000. (Remember to exclude ineligible expenses, such as operational expenses of a school.)
In addition, Level I requires that at least one of the people providing continuous administration is paid full-time. However, Level II only requires some level of paid administrative work; as explained in the Guidelines, this staff need not be full time or continuous, but your organization must demonstrate accountability and professionalism.
Q: Why do you have two sub-categories for General Support? Will my organization be at a disadvantage by being in one category rather than the other?
A:
Santa Cruz
County
arts organizations are primarily divided between large and small budget organizations. The Level I and II subcategories reflect the needs of
Santa Cruz
County
artists and art organizations. They were created for the benefit of the applicants and to ensure equitable competition; they are not judgments of what makes an organization better or worse.
Q: May my organization apply for more than one type of grant?
A: Each organization can only be awarded one type of grant. Apply for one category only.
Q: Do I still need fiscal sponsorship if I am an individual artist?
A: No. There are no longer any sponsorship requirements.
Q: Do I need fiscal sponsorship if I am an art organization without nonprofit status?
A: No. You may apply for a Project Grant for Individual Artists with your lead artist as the applicant.
Q: If I am involved in an organization that is applying for a grant, may I apply separately as an individual artist for my own project?
A: Yes. You are welcome to apply for a grant for your own project as long as it is independent from the organization's work. It will be up to the panelists to determine if there's any conflict of interest. Some conflict of interest issues may be determined at staff level. If this is the case, you will be contacted by staff.
Q: My organization does not have nonprofit status. May we still apply for a Project Grant? May we apply for a General Support Grant?
A: You may apply for a Project Support Grant and use the Individual Artist/Arts Groups/Non-profit organizations application with the lead artist applying as the head of the group. You may not apply for other grants categories.
Award Allocations
Q: How are the funding decisions made?
A: Cultural Council staff verifies completed applications and submits those eligible to the Review Panel. The Grants Panel reviews all applications and support material. The Panel evaluates, discusses and then assigns final scores to each applicant. The Grants Committee (comprised of Board members) makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors based on these scores. The Board votes for final approval of the funding allocations.
Q: How much money is available for these grants at the Cultural Council this year?
A: As we are still adjusting our budget and determining the availability of funds, the exact amount to be awarded has not yet been finalized. There has been a significant decline in funds available to the Cultural Council as a whole, as it's the case with most art organizations and cultural councils in the nation.
We have decided to keep the grant process competitive. This means not all applicants will receive funding. Be conservative when creating your budgets for the upcoming year.
Q: I'm trying to create a budget. What is a safe estimate for how much funding my organization can expect to receive from the Cultural Council this year?
A: We cannot provide estimates. A safe figure would be a very conservative one. Organizations, including the CCSCC, are exercising caution this year in their predictions of funding from outside sources. This is the smartest way to go.
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Applications
Q: Why do I need to submit so many copies of the application?
A: Each panelist receives one copy of each application to review. The original is held in the Cultural Council files.
Q: May I submit my application by email?
A: No. We require six application packets of your application. That is, one original and five copies. You may complete the application on a computer after downloading it from this website (MSWord) and then print copies.
Q: Where are the applications available?
A: Applications are available at the Cultural Council office, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and various arts venues in the county. They are also made available in PDF format on our website. Please contact Nabil Ghachem at (831) 475-9600 x 16 or check the website at www.ccscc.org for updates on application availability.
Q: Why don't you allow more space for the questions? Why can't I alter the layout?
A: The Review Panel has many applications to review each round. The question restrictions help them compare applications and to streamline the review process (allowing quicker allocation decisions). Space allotted should be adequate for all questions; it is a guide for how much we expect for each question. Panelists are community members volunteering their time; they have to read between 30 and 40 applications. Average time to read an application is 45 minutes. With more space for answers, the application review process will take much longer.
DO NOT ALTER THE LAYOUT. It could result in declaring your application ineligible.
Q: What if I have more to say?
A: You have to decide what the most important information is. Focus on your project or program, be simple in describing your work, and prioritize the information you want to communicate.
Q: I know the Cultural Council does not fund workshops specifically, but can the revenue from workshops be included in earned income for a project?
A: Yes. Include revenue that you are using to help fund your performance or other project.
General Questions
Q: Whom do I contact with other questions about the grants program?
A: Please contact Nabil Ghachem, Technical Assistance and Grants Program Coordinator, at grants@ccscc.org or (831) 475-9600 x16.
Q: Where does the Cultural Council receive funding from?
A: The Cultural Council finances the grants program through a combination of foundations, government grants and private donations.
Q: Does the Cultural Council accept applications for "web-art" projects?
A: Yes. The Cultural Council is receptive to new art forms. You are welcome to apply for funding for such projects. However, be aware of the extra challenges you face in demonstrating why the Cultural Council should fund your project, including demonstrating the impact on
Santa Cruz
County
residents versus other internet users. New media projects are a challenge both for the Cultural Council and the artists; our approach will develop further in coming years.
Q: Do you have any advice?
A: The best advice is to approach the application as a chance to sell your idea or organization. Be honest and descriptive. Believe in the program/project you are describing as well as in yourself as an artist. Hopefully, you have a lot to say about your ideas, so pick the best parts and start writing. Grant writing can be scary at first, but you will probably find it easier than you thought once you get going.
We wish you inspiration and success!
