Grantseekers - Eligibility

Photo courtesy of Woodcraft Rangers.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

  • Nonprofit organizations whose primary mission provides services other than arts programming, as demonstrated by more than 50% of the applicant organization budget devoted to non-arts related programming
  • Municipal departments whose primary mission is to provide services other than arts programming
  • Social and human services agencies and organizations
  • Religious organizations providing services to the broader community that are note religious in purpose
  • Fiscal Sponsors located in California with a Model A comprehensive fiscal sponsorship agreement may submit requests on behalf of multiple projects based in the County
  • Tribal governments located in LA County listed in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgement, or located on the contact list maintained by the State of California Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American Tribe.

Who is Not Eligible to Apply?

  • Arts-specific nonprofit organizations as demonstrated by more than 50% of the applicant organization budget devoted to arts programming. (Nonprofit arts organizations should apply for OGP)
  • Individual artists
  • Los Angeles County departments
  • Federal departments and agencies
  • Local arts agencies
  • Private membership organizations not open to the general public
  • Municipal arts agencies
  • K–12 schools—public, private, and continuation
  • Organizations currently participating in or receiving funding from the Department of Arts and Culture’s Organizational Grant Program (OGP) or the Arts Education Collective
  • Institutions, departments and centers of higher learning/education

 

Requirements

For Nonprofit Organizations

  1. 501(c)3 Tax exempt status, as defined by the IRS
  2. Organizational operating budget of $25,000 or more.
  3. Principal offices in Los Angeles County as evidenced by the address listed on organizational 990.
  4. A functioning board of directors that meets regularly with at least 51% of members residing in California.
  5. At least two full and consecutive years of providing arts-based services or activities in Los Angeles County, either in-person or online. For the two most recently completed years (2022-2024), the organization is required to have produced, created, or hosted at least four arts-based workshops, classes, performances, or presentations each fiscal year. Fundraising events and programs do not qualify.
  6. A submitted Federal Form 990 for a tax year ending on or after December 31, 2022. A submitted Federal Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N is required of all applicants. Religious organizations should submit a reviewed financial statement or annual profit/loss and balance sheet information.
  7. For all organizations with operating budgets of $2,000,000 and above, a financial audit is also required for the applicant organization’s most recently completed fiscal year for a tax year ending on or after December 31, 2022.

For Municipalities and Tribal Governments

  1. One of 88 municipalities in Los Angeles County, or a tribal government in Los Angeles County listed in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Federal Acknowledgement, or located on the contact list maintained by the State of California Native American Heritage Commission as a California American Tribe.
  2. At least two full and consecutive years of providing arts-based services or activities in Los Angeles County in departments whose primary mission is to provide services other than arts programming. During the two most recently competed years (2022 - 2024) the organization is required to have produced or hosted at least four arts-based workshops, classes, performances, or presentations each fiscal year. Fundraising events and programs do not qualify.
  3. Municipal departments and tribal governments should submit a copy of their adopted annual departmental budget.

For Fiscally Sponsored Groups

Fiscally sponsored organizations who possess a Model A comprehensive sponsorship agreement with a verified State of California-based Fiscal Sponsor are eligible to apply (a copy of the Model A agreement or verification letter from the sponsor will be required with the application, along with the sponsor’s 990 listing a State of California address.)

Fiscal Sponsors may apply on behalf of multiple sponsored projects that otherwise meet eligibility requirements, including a project budget of $25,000 or more, principal offices in LA County, two consecutive years of providing a minimum of four arts-based services or activities in LA County per year (2022 - 2024), and less than 50% of their overall budget focused on arts-based programming. The fiscal sponsor is the applicant of record.