Thursday, December 20, 2007

BOPA grant?

http://promotionandarts.org/index.cfm?page=grants&contentid=24

Grant for Organizations

Background & Purpose
Mayor Sheila Dixon and the City Council of Baltimore are committed to nurturing and supporting a vibrant, creative community that inspires individuals, celebrates our culture and showcases the arts.

In June 2007, the Mayor and City Council authorized an increase for underwriting the support of Baltimore's cultural community through the city budget.
The Creative Baltimore Fund will provide grants that will total over $1,000,000 to cultural organizations. The grant will support general operating expenses of the eligible organizations

Program Administration
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) will administer the Creative Baltimore Fund as a competitive grant program.
The fund will award up to 3% of the annual operating budget of eligible organizations.
Awards will be made based on track record of the organization, the quality of their public cultural programs, particularly those geared towards children/teens, the availability of other financial support for the organization, the organization’s service to the community and the organization’s ability to effectively manage its resources (financial, manpower, program, and administrative).

Funding Amounts
The Creative Baltimore Fund will provide up to 3% of an organization’s allowable operating cash budget.
Requests are based upon allowable operating expenses for the most recently completed fiscal year.
Not allowable as operating expenses are
Re-granting
Acquisition of capital assets
Allocations to cash reserves
Capital improvements
Depreciation
Deficits
Loan principal payments
Contributions to endowments
Scholarships awarded by the applicant organization for its
own activities

Not allowable as operating income are
Loans
Carryover
Transfer of funds earned in prior years
Revenue raised for capital or endowment funds
Funds intended for the purpose of re-granting

Time Line (TBD)
Applications available on line (www.promotionandarts.com) Tuesday, November 1, 2007
Applications due by 5:00 pm, Friday, January 4, 2008.
Jury review takes place February 1 - February 29, 2008.
Awards announced March 17, 2008. Payment of 80% of award made with receipt of completed contract.
Final reports due by July 31, 2008 and final 20% of award disbursed upon receipt of final report.

Eligibility
Non-profit cultural organization with 501(C)3 status headquartered in Baltimore City or providing at least 50% of its programs within the City.
Produces or presents cultural, visual, performing or literary arts programs or performances.
Member in good standing of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance

Funding available for:
Operating Expenses - All awards will be competitive.

Financial Information
All applicants will be required to use the financial reporting forms available through the Maryland Cultural Data Project (CDP). The Maryland CDP is a standardized online system for collecting historical financial and organizational data for grant applications to participating funders. Contact help@MDCulturalData.org or call 1-866-9-MD-DATA for more information.

Staff Review
After the application is received, it will be reviewed by staff at BOPA for completeness and adherence to the guidelines set forth in this document. Applicants will be notified by e-mail whether their application is complete or if additional information or corrections are necessary.

Advisory Panel Review
When the application is complete, it is assigned to members of the appropriate Advisory Panel for review. Advisory Panels meet formally to evaluate the applications submitted within their disciplinary areas.

Notification
All applicants will be notified of the final decision in writing by March 17, 2008.

Payment
Grant agreement forms mailed out by March 31, 2008, and must be executed before grant funds are disbursed.

Required documentation
Applicants must submit the following:
Most current audited financial statement for the organization
Copy of 501(C)3 tax exemption determination letter
Copy of Maryland Certificate of Good Standing
List of current Board of Directors
List of paid staff (FT and PT)
Resumes of key artistic and management personnel (with salaries listed)
List of activities scheduled and completed in the past two years

General Application Information
Applications may be submitted electronically to: Shawn James at Sjames@promotionandarts.com, or mail completed application to:

Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts
7 East Redwood Street, Suite 500
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Creative Baltimore Fund

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