Guidelines

DISCLAIMER

Funding for these grants is contingent on Greater Flint Arts Council receiving funds from the Flint Cultural Center Foundation, fiduciary for the Genesee County Arts and Cultural Millage funds.

PURPOSE

Our purpose for providing these grants in Genesee County is to build the capacity of local arts organizations to reach their potential in transforming our communities into vibrant, inclusive destinations with a unique sense of place. Art can be a powerful way for multiple narratives to be heard, seen, and included in the knowledge and experiences of a community. The arts can build a sense of community through shared experiences, improve the quality of our lives by providing outlets for the creativity inherent in all of us, and stimulate economic development by attracting visitors to our community.

GRANT FUNDING PROCESS

Review the information below to learn more about the grant funding process followed by Greater Flint Arts Council.

GRANT ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS

Conducting public grant assistance workshops provides information and guidance to those interested in applying to GFAC for Share Art Genesee grant funds. Workshop notices are broadly disseminated and press releases are issued. Workshops are conducted virtually by appointment by email to Greg Fiedler at greg@greaterflintartscouncil.org.

APPLICATIONS

THE PROCESS

You will be required to fill out an application online at www.shareartgenesee.org. Please read the guidelines carefully and supply all the information requested.

DEADLINE

Deadline for 2025 applications is Monday, December 2, 2024 at 4:45PM.

PANEL REVIEW

In order to insure public interest and support for funded projects, GFAC utilizes a panel application review process. The peer panel process places great importance on the review of applications by volunteer members of our community. Peer reviewers score and rank the grant applications based upon published program criteria found in the guidelines. They provide GFAC with information used to make funding decisions.

PANEL APPOINTMENTS

GFAC forms peer review panels for each grant program. Panelists are selected based on the following criteria:

Professional qualifications
Broad-based knowledge of arts disciplines
Geographic representation

We seek volunteer reviewers living in Genesee County. Staff and board members of organizations applying for grants are not eligible to serve in this capacity.

PANEL PROCESS

Panelists review each application. Panelists objectively apply their knowledge and expertise to the review. Panelists individually record their comments and score for each application. The application final score is the average of all panelists' scores.

FUNDING PLANS

GFAC staff use panelist composite scores to generate a funding plan. The funding plan is submitted to the GFAC Board of Trustees for final approval before implementation.

contracting

In accordance with the approved funding plan, contracts are issued to insure funds are used according to the grant proposal.

FINAL REPORTS

Each funded organization must submit a final report which includes the following:

*Narrative summary of activities which took place using grant funds

*A financial report showing all income and expense related to grant activities

*A minimum of eight (8) digital images that best represent the funded activities on a thumb drive or attached to an email

*Copies of all printed materials showing acknowledgement of the grant program including magazine or newspaper articles.

Missing or late final reporting will cause the organization to be ineligible for the program for one year.

ADDITIONAL CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS

*Attendance at annual Sharing Summits

GRANT PROGRAMS

Application can be made to only one of the following grant programs with the exception of Grant Program 2 which can be paired with Grant Program 4.

GRANT PROGRAM 1 – Creative Placemaking

Creative Placemaking is generally understood as the use of arts and culture by diverse partners to strategically shape the physical and social character of a place in order to spur economic development, promote enduring social change and improve the physical environment.

Use of arts and culture. This could involve a painter, musician, sculptor, historian, architect – or any other expression of “arts and culture”. The project could be many things including a mural, a street carnival, busker musicians on a street corner, or a public art sculpture about the place’s history. Artists are involved in the planning, execution and activity.
Diverse partners. Contributors to projects might include neighborhood residents, businesses, non-profits, churches, government agencies, etc. Diverse partners who invest time, talent and/or financial support will strengthen the project and take greater ownership in its maintenance and stewardship long-term.
Shape a place. The combination of arts, culture, and diverse partners can convert an under-utilized place and make it something useful, safe, beautiful and vibrant.
To spur, promote and improve. Whether the project is big or small, low-budget or very expensive, successful creative placemaking projects attract people. People want to be near other people. Places that attract people also attract new business, housing, schools and other amenities. This becomes the catalyst for other improvements.
- *Funding – up to $2,500 maximum
- *Must partner with one or more paid artists who reside in Genesee County
- *Must pay artist(s) a minimum of 50% of the grant funds

GRANT PROGRAM 2 – Community Cultural Planning Charrette Grants

At this critical time in the history of Genesee County, with an influx of financial support from our recent millage for the arts, it is crucial that we do cultural planning in the communities that will benefit. We encourage arts organizations from these communities to find out what the needs and wishes of their citizens are and to respond to them. By organizing a Cultural Planning Charette, it will become apparent where best to use the millage funds over the next 5 years.

Definition: Cultural planning is a public process in which representatives of a community undertake a comprehensive community assessment and create a plan of implementation for future cultural programming.

Definition: A Charrette is a type of participatory planning process that assembles an interdisciplinary team—typically consisting of planners, citizens, city officials, architects, landscape architects, transportation engineers, parks and recreation officials, and other stakeholders—to create a design and implementation plan

Funding – up to $2,500 maximum
Does not require a match, however we highly recommend seeking sponsorships from local businesses
Can still apply in Grant Program 1, 3 or 4
Must use one or more professional consultants. We recommend contacting the United Way of Genesee County, Non-profit Capacity Building at unitedwaygenesee.org for consultant referrals.

GRANT PROGRAM 3 – Program and Services Grant – Tier I

To increase the organization’s ability to provide programs within their mission
Funding up to $5,000 maximum
Program expenses for Tier I arts organizations
Definition of Tier I organization: a 501 C 3 Charitable arts organization with no paid staff and no physical location that is either owned or rented.
Funds must be matched. Grant requests cannot exceed the organization’s total expenses shown on their financial report from their most recently completed fiscal year.
Funds may not be used for capital projects or the purchase of equipment.

GRANT PROGRAM 4 – Program and Services Grant – Tier II

To increase the organization’s ability to provide programs within their mission
Funding up to $30,000
Program expenses for Tier II arts organizations
Definition of Tier II organization: a 501 C 3 Charitable arts organization with both paid staff and a physical location, open to the public, that is either owned or rented.
Funds must be matched. Grant requests cannot exceed the organization’s total expenses shown on their financial report from their most recently completed fiscal year.
Funds may not be used for capital projects or the purchase of equipment.

ELIGIBILITY

FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAMS

*Must be located in Genesee County

*Must have a mission 100% dedicated to the arts and/or arts education. Examples include local arts councils, art associations, community theaters, dance associations, writers associations.

*Must have established arts* and cultural* programs that serve a portion or all of Genesee County

*Must be a 501 C 3 Nonprofit Michigan Corporation or an established cultural office of local government and been incorporated as such for 3 years (received 501 C 3 designation by January 1, 2022)

*Must be able to confirm nonprofit status is current according to the IRS and the laws of the State of Michigan

GRANT PROGRAM 4 (additional to the above requirements)

*Must operate a physical space that is available to the public either rented or owned

*Must have paid staff either employed or contracted

*Must supply an annual audit and 990 for the most recent fiscal year completed. If an organization does not have an annual audit, an internal audit signed by the Board Chairperson can be substituted

*Arts are defined as visual arts, performing arts and literary arts

*Cultural programs include historical programs and museum services

NOT ELIGIBLE

*Organizations receiving Genesee County Tax Funds of any kind.

*Organizations who are affiliates of organizations receiving Genesee County Millage Funds. Affiliates are defined as those that share space, are connected by charter or mission, are a program of, partner of, receive support from, or in any way serve the funded organization. This does not include fiduciary relationships formed only for the purpose of receiving grants.

*Libraries, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Faith Based Organizations, Service Clubs, Societies or Auxiliaries.

*Fiscal Agent relationships using millage funds are not allowed.

*Re-granting millage funds is not allowed.