To be eligible to apply to the Cultural Advancement Program, an organization:
- Must have received a recommendation for funding from the program in the previous fiscal year, and/or have been invited by Department staff to apply;
- Must be legally incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation, with a designated tax-exempt status, and in good standing, under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code;
- Must have as its primary purpose and function, as defined by the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the organization, the creation, performance, exhibition, and/or presentation of the arts on a year-round basis (organizations whose primary mission it is to create, present or exhibit cultural programs for children and/or with children are not eligible);
- May qualify as a public or private institution of higher education, if all the following criteria are met: its primary mission is to the creation, performance, exhibition, and/or presentation of a year-round season of public performances not related to degree-granting programs; professional artists are the principal participants of the program; the program is overseen by a community-based board of directors or advisory board that meets regularly; and the public-at-large is the primary target audience and direct beneficiaries of the program.
- Have a total prior year’s organization budget of at least $500,000 (including in-kind services support not to exceed 25% of the total cash project budget) based on the last completed fiscal year;
- Have at a minimum consecutive three-year history of artistic programming or presenting;
- Have at least two (2) paid full-time administrators;
- Have its primary office in Miami-Dade County
- Present at least three (3) distinct programs or services marketed and available to a broad audience;
- Possess the potential to achieve regional, national, or international visibility as evidenced by current programs and management structure;
- Be vital to the cultural development of Miami-Dade County as evidenced by the size, scope, and maturity of the artistic product;
- Have distinguished themselves in past and present endeavors;
- Have reached a critical stage of development in programming or institutional development;

Organizations may not:
- May not be a religious organization whose proposed project, in whole or in part, is designed to promote religious or sectarian activities or to encourage the preference of a religion;
- May not be a municipality or government entity;
- May not be an educational institution whose proposed project is for degree-seeking academic purposes or is primarily for the academic community’s benefit.

Applications from non-arts or service organizations will not be accepted.

For details on the eligibility of colleges and universities, see: https://www.miamidadearts.org/sites/default/files/files/inline/advgui_2022-2023_0.pdf#page=3

For a list of ineligible grant expenditures, see: https://www.miamidadearts.org/sites/default/files/files/inline/advgui_2022-2023_0.pdf#page=8

ADV Grants Program Timeline (dates/times subject to change):
- Applications Available: March 1, 2022
- Consultation Period with Department Staff: March 1, 2022 - March 28, 2022
- Courtesy Deadline: March 29, 2022, 11:59 PM
- Deadline: April 4, 2022, 11:59 PM
- Application Comments / Corrections Issued: April 22, 2022
- Corrected / Final Application Due: April 29, 2022, 11:59 PM
- ADV Panel Meeting: May 25, 2021, 10:00 AM
- Cultural Affairs Council Approval: June 15, 2022, Noon
- Board of County Commissioners Approval: September 2022
- Award Notifications Issued: October 2022
- Availability of Grant Funds: No earlier than December 2022

The Cultural Advancement (ADV) Grants Program operates on a three-year review cycle with a pre-application qualification and invitation to apply, comprehensive application submission, and a panel review completed in the first year (FY 2019-2020) and a more streamlined application form and review process for the subsequent two years (FY 2020-2021 and FY 2021-2022).

A consultation with Department staff, either in person or by telephone at least one week prior to the application deadline is required. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Please contact Gilda B. Mooney, Chief of Grants.

Returning applicants will have the option to submit a completed application, including all required support materials, no later than one full calendar week in advance of the grant program’s published application deadline for a thorough “Courtesy Review” by the Program Administrator. Returning applicants who waive their option for a Courtesy Review and submit their applications by the grant program’s published deadline will receive a technical sufficiency review only.

Applications received from first-time applicants by the grant program’s published application deadline will be reviewed by the Program Administrator and are exempt from meeting the program’s Courtesy Review deadline. Feedback and suggestions for strengthening and/or correcting the application will be provided approximately 7 days prior to the corrected/final application deadline.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process at least 3 business days in advance of the application deadline to ensure successful submittal.

Before you can access the grant application form, you must have a user account for basic login access and complete and submit a Grant Eligibility and Request Form. Once you have completed these steps, your Grant Eligibility and Request Form will be reviewed by the Program Administrator to determine whether your organization is eligible to apply for the requested grant. This review may take up to 3 business days. After the Program Administrator has confirmed your eligibility you will be provided access to the grant application form. It is critical to keep these steps and this timeline in mind when preparing to submit a grant online.

Applicants must meet the program’s $1 to $1 grant match in cash. The Cultural Advancement Grants Program shall not be considered the sole source of funding. Applicants should thoroughly explore other funding sources prior to seeking support from this program.

Applicants are required to attend the panel evaluation meeting as observers and will be notified by email of its scheduled time, date and location.