Local
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC)
01/16/18 11:59 PM
Grants starting at $25,000 to Montgomery County, Maryland nonprofit arts and humanities organizations to support capital projects to improve facilities. First-time applicants must contact program staff prior to applying. Projects must contribute to the organization’s long-term viability and fiscal stability.
Capital Improvement Project Grants assist arts and humanities organizations complete projects that involve structure or physical plant repairs, critical to an organization’s mission. Grants are not intended for facilities in which capital projects are the responsibility of the landlord.
Projects must address physical plant repairs and renovations critical to an organization’s arts or humanities mission. Examples of eligible proposals include, but are not limited to: Capital projects, including facility construction, repairs or renovations.
Should a grant request refer to an “emergency need,” the conditions related to the emergency and/or exceptional circumstance should be well articulated in the application and the support materials. Examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to: urgent repairs due to an unforeseen disaster; emergency replacement of critical equipment and/or infrastructure, and an urgent critical renovation.
Grants will be made only to arts and humanities organizations that provide direct services to the residents of Montgomery County or that will bring Montgomery County-based arts and humanities organizations to greater public attention.
GrantWatch ID#: 136219
An organization may apply for and may be awarded a Capital Improvement Grant in an amount that is no less than $25,000, and no more than $250,000.
Contracts are for two years from the date of execution of the contract.
An organization is eligible to apply for a Capital Improvement Project Grant if it meets all of the following requirements:
-For at least 24-consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline, the applicant has to have as its primary mission the exhibition, presentation, production or performance of and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services for artists and/or scholars and/or for arts and/or humanities organizations;
-Meets one of the following requirements: holds current status under IRS code 501(c)(3); or is a specifically defined as an arts and/or humanities division with its own program identity within a larger 501(c)(3) organization based in Montgomery County that does not have the arts and/or humanities as its primary mission.
-Is governed by an independent, legally liable board of directors operating under a mission statement for the organization and an operating budget specific to the organization; and
-Offers not less than 50% of its programs and services in Montgomery County and these programs and services are open to the public, with or without an admission fee;
-The organization had annual cash operating expenses of at least $25,000 in the previous fiscal year;
-Has a full-time (35-hours or more) paid executive director, CEO, managing director, or comparable position, who reports directly to the organization’s board of directors and has had that position filled for no fewer than six of the 12-months prior to submitting the application; and
-The organization must be current with its debt obligations to Montgomery County Government.
Project Eligibility Requirements:
-The facility to be improved is located in Montgomery County, MD and is owned by the organization; or if the organization leases the property or facility, the organization demonstrates that the work is the responsibility of the lease holder and that landlord agrees to the work. If the lease ends within 12-months of the application deadline, the applicant must demonstrate that the landlord has given them an appropriate option for renewal.
-The organization must demonstrate that the landowner has approved the proposed capital improvement.
-Applicants who received a Capital Improvement Project Grant in the previous year may seek funding again provided that the proposal is for a different phase of the overall project.
Audit Eligibility Requirements:
-Every applicant must submit an audit prepared by an independent certified public accountant for their fiscal year 2017 as the fiscal year is defined by the organization, e.g., July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 or 2017 fiscal year, e.g. January 1 – December 31, 2017.
-The audit must include the independent auditor’s report, including the notes. The management letter should also be included if the organization consents to its inclusion.
-If this audit is not completed by the application due date, the applicant must submit a financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year signed by the organization’s treasurer with a letter stating the estimated date when the audit will be submitted to AHCMC.
-The audit must be submitted no later than June 1, 2018. If the audit is not received by June 1, 2018, the organization will be disqualified from receiving a grant.
-Grants awards are given to organizations that are fiscally stable and have a demonstrated history of fiscal responsibility. If the audit expresses substantial doubt regarding an entity’s ability to continue as a Going Concern, that entity may be deemed ineligible.
Capital Improvement Project Grants do not fund:
-Scholarships, re-granting, awards, or tuition assistance awarded by the organization for its own activities;
-Expenses that are incurred in connection with fundraising;
-Costs of receptions, refreshments, and food;
-Costs of marketing or promotion merchandise;
-Political advocacy or any partisan activity that promotes the interests of any one political party
or candidate;
-Travel outside the country;
-General operating costs;
-Personnel costs;
-Consumable supplies unrelated to construction;
-Programming, i.e. performances or events, etc.;
-Attorney fees;
-Debt reduction;
-Fees for land use consultants;
-Amounts payable to engineers, architects (if applicable) and other consultants;
-Permitting fees;
-Amounts paid for bonding and related fees, including but not limited to payment and performance bonds securing performance by the site work contractors;
-Amounts paid for testing and inspections;
-Third party consulting and construction management fees; and
-Insurance.
Before the Capital Improvement Project Grant funds may be released, the applicant must provide a match of one dollar for every dollar of grant funds awarded. The match must consist of at least 50% cash. No more than 50% in-kind contributions will be allowed as a match.
The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) is engaged in a partnership with DataArts, a national nonprofit that collects standardized organizational data to help strengthen the arts and culture sector. The Cultural Data Profile (CDP), is its principal and proprietary service offering.
AHCMC requires that applicants complete a CDP annually through the DataArts website (www.culturaldata.org) and submit a Funder Report as a component of the application.
First-time applicants MUST contact Grants Program staff.
Personal appointments are available for those who need assistance. AHCMC grants staff can assist applicants with the content of their application and/or with the online grant application system. Consultation services in languages other than English are available by appointment.
Personal appointments must be held at least two weeks prior to the application submission deadline. To schedule an appointment, contact Nabil Ghachem or Takenya LaViscount.
The application deadline is Tuesday, January 16, 2018,11:59 PM.
FAQ:
http://creativemoco.com/grants/faq
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates/changes/addendums/conferences/LOIs.
Apply Online:
https://artsandhumanities.fluidreview.com/
Nabil Ghachem, Grants Program Manager
301-565-3804
nabil.ghachem@creativemoco.com
Takenya LaViscount, Senior Grants Program Manager
240-839-4519
takenya.laviscount@creativemoco.com
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
801 Ellsworth Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20910
P: 301-565-3804
F: 301-565-3809
USA: Maryland: Montgomery County
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