25 Feb Funding Alert! Challenge America Grants
National Endowment for the Arts
Is your organization looking for project-based funding to support activities that further the arts? The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently opened applications for its Challenge America program. This program supports small organizations working to reach underserved populations through the arts across a variety of disciplines (dance, folk and traditional, media arts, music, visual arts, etc.), arts programming, education, marketing and promotional activities, and organizational planning.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, such as arts organizations, local arts agencies, and arts service organizations; local education agencies; units of state or local government; or federally recognized Native American tribal communities or tribes.
Entities should be first-time applicants to the NEA or a previous applicant who, in the three most recent fiscal years, was not recommended for funding for one of the following NEA programs: Grants for Arts Projects (formerly Art Works), Research Grants in the Arts, or Our Town. An applicant may not apply to Challenge America and Grants for Arts Projects in the same calendar year.
What do the arts projects look like?
Challenge America grants aim to assist small organizations that may face a barrier to accessing grant funding, that have limited grant funding opportunities, or that have been historically underserved by national arts funding. This program is meant to be an entry point to NEA funding for these organizations, offering an abbreviated application process and robust technical assistance.
All Challenge America grants are awarded in the amount of $10,000 for a project period of up to two-years. These grants require a cost share/match of at least $10,000 in cash or in-kind contributions from nonfederal sources.
Applicants can request support for projects in the following disciplines:
- Artist Communities
- Dance
- Design
- Folk & Traditional Arts
- Literary Arts
- Local Arts Agencies
- Media Arts
- Museums
- Music
- Musical Theater
- Opera
- Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works
- Theater
- Visual Arts
This covers a wide range of possible projects that further the arts in communities across the country. The program solicitation website provides additional details and examples of the types of work that the Challenge America program may fund.
This application process is divided into two parts, with initial applicant and general project information due to Grants.gov by April 22, 2021. The full application form is due to the NEA applicant portal by April 27, 2021.
What makes a project a good fit?
Challenge America grants extend the arts to underserved populations, meaning those whose geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability limits their ability to experience the arts. The NEA encourages engagement with appropriate constituencies, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, African American serving institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, or organizations that support the independence and inclusion of people with disabilities.
The NEA is interested in proposals that recognize artistic excellence, including high-quality artists, arts organizations, works of art, and/or services that the project will involve. The NEA also prioritizes artistic merit, including the following characteristics of proposed projects:
- Ability to improve access to the arts for underserved individuals and regions;
- Potential to make quality arts or cultural resources more widely available;
- Correlation to the applicant organization’s mission and existing programs;
- Evidence of direct compensation to artists, art collectives, and/or art workers; and
- Ability to grow organizational experience and capacity.
What if I am ready to apply?
To move your application forward, take the following action steps ASAP:
- Read through the program description for more detail regarding underserved populations, the various eligible disciplines, and potential projects.
- Check out the applicant resources available for this program, including online tutorials, sample narratives, checklists, and FAQs.
- Mark your calendar for a live webinar on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 to learn more information and ask questions. You can register to attend here.
- Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and that you have agov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf.
What if I need help with this application?
Contact Assel Grant Services today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.
What if I am not ready to apply this year?
Check out other opportunities to work with the NEA. The agency website provides resources regarding other upcoming grant programs, partnerships, and funding opportunities, as well as examples of previously funded projects.
How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities?
AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series coming in 2021! The series is designed to support nonprofit professionals before and during their first federal grant. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.
AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills
Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs
Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy
Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization
Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs