Grants for Community-Based Organizations


The Delaware Division of the Arts offers two grant options for non-profit Delaware organizations, colleges, and universities, and government entities that present arts programming or activities but do not have the arts as their primary mission.

Project Support grants assist in the growth of a vibrant cultural environment by supporting increased access to high-quality arts activities presented by community-based organizations throughout the state.

Grant requests may be up to 30 percent of the direct cash expenses for the artistic portion with an average awarded amount range of $2,000 to $10,000.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for Project Support as a community-based organization, you must:

1. Be a Delaware-based nonprofit organization whose primary mission is not the arts.

    • This includes organizations such as libraries, civic groups, community/senior centers, and university/college non-credit programs intended to serve the community.
    • Organizations must have a stable, functioning board of directors that meets at least quarterly.
    • Organizations must be based and chartered in Delaware as a nonprofit organization; exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) or 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; and eligible to receive donations allowable as charitable contributions under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
    • Important Information for New and Returning Applicants

or

Be an established unit of municipal, county, or state government within Delaware.

and

2. Be proposing an arts project with more than $5,000 in estimated eligible direct cash expenses.

3. Project Support funding is available for arts projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

    • Provide experiences of artistic merit and integrity for the public
    • Involve collaborations between artists or arts organizations and community and civic groups, government entities, schools, or social service agencies
    • Provide opportunities for expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts programming and participation
    • Reach audiences and participants with limited access to the arts or to a particular art form
    • Provide lifelong learning opportunities in the arts beyond the school setting
    • Offer opportunities for the creation of new works of art
    • Support arts programs in new or non-traditional venues
    • Provide opportunities for artistic expression of a community’s unique history, culture, or circumstances
    • Provide opportunities for conservation, documentation, and appreciation of the artistic traditions of diverse cultures and communities

Please note the following restrictions:

  • No single applicant may apply for more than three projects. The combined total grant request of all three project applications submitted must be less than $75,000.
  • The Division will not accept applications through fiscal agents.
  • Applicants generally may not receive support from both Project Support and Arts Access within the same fiscal year.
  • No individual may compile or submit an application on behalf of an organization if that individual is a member or relative of a member of the Delaware State Arts Council or Division staff.

Guidelines:

Project Support funding is available for arts projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

  • Provide experiences of artistic merit and integrity for the public
  • Involve collaborations between artists or arts organizations and community and civic groups, government entities, schools, or social service agencies
  • Provide opportunities for expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts programming and participation
  • Reach audiences and participants with limited access to the arts or to a particular art form
  • Provide lifelong learning opportunities in the arts beyond the school setting
  • Offer opportunities for the creation of new works of art
  • Support arts programs in new or non-traditional venues
  • Provide opportunities for artistic expression of a community’s unique history, culture, or circumstances
  • Provide opportunities for conservation, documentation, and appreciation of the artistic traditions of diverse cultures and communities

Funding awarded in the FY2025 grant cycle must be spent on projects taking place between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025.

Click here for the FY2025 Project Support Guidelines.

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

The next deadline for Project Support Applications is 4:30 pm on March 1, 2024.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the system.

 

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email in July. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

  • First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
  • Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.
Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

 

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process.

Grant payment information is available on smARTDE under the “Award Info” tab.

 

FY2025 Timeline:

Application Opens December 4, 2023
Application Deadline 4:30 p.m. ET March 1, 2024
Grant Panel Review Approx. May 2024
Delaware State Arts Council Review Approx. June 2024
Funding Notification Approx. July 2024
Grant Activity Period September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025
First Payment Approx. September 2024
Final Report Deadline September 30, 2025
Final Payment
(pending final report)
October 2025

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

  • Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
  • Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
  • Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
  • Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
  • Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
  • Submitting required Final Report

Final Report:

Final Reports for Project Support grants must be submitted through smARTDE by September 30 (within 30 days after the grant period end date). Failure to submit a final report on time may result in forfeiture of the final payment (10%-20%) of the grant award and may impact future funding.

Contact:

Briana Henry
Program Officer, Community Engagement
302-577-8282
briana.henry@delaware.gov

Arts Access provides small grants of up to 80 percent of eligible cash expenses, not to exceed $1,250, to support the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for an Arts Access grant, applicants must:

  • Be an established unit of municipal, county, or state government within Delaware, OR be based and chartered in Delaware as a nonprofit organization; exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) or 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; and eligible to receive donations allowable as charitable contributions under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Applicants may include arts organizations, community-based non-arts organizations, schools, libraries, parks, etc.
  • Be managing an arts program that involves the presentation of work by a professional artist or artists.
  • Important Information for New and Returning Applicants

Please note the following restrictions:

  • Organizations that receive General Operating, StartUp, or Project Support from the Division of the Arts are generally not eligible to apply.
  • Schools are eligible to apply only if the proposed project takes place after school hours and is open to and promoted to the community at large.
  • The Division will not accept applications through fiscal agents.
  • No individual may compile or submit an application on behalf of an organization if that individual is a member or relative of a member of the Delaware State Arts Council or Division staff.

Guidelines:

Arts Access provides program support to organizations that offer occasional arts programs and to organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Division’s General Operating Support and Project Support categories. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff prior to application.

Arts Access funding is available for arts projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

  • Provide experiences of artistic merit and integrity for the public
  • Involve collaborations between artists or arts organizations and community and civic groups, government entities, or social service agencies
  • Provide opportunities for expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts programming and participation
  • Reach audiences and participants with limited access to the arts or to a particular art form
  • Provide lifelong learning opportunities in the arts beyond the school setting
  • Offer opportunities for the creation of new works of art
  • Support arts programs in new or non-traditional venues
  • Provide opportunities for artistic expression of a community’s unique history, culture, or circumstances
  • Provide opportunities for conservation, documentation, and appreciation of the artistic traditions of diverse cultures and communities

Download the full Arts Access Guidelines here.

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

Deadline:

Arts Access grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the start of the project. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. When the funds allocated to this program are depleted, the application will be closed for the remainder of the fiscal year (ending June 30). Early applications (starting in July) are recommended, whenever possible. The Arts Access grant application may be accessed at smARTDE.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the new system.

Notification:

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers and checks are free methods of payment. However, electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

  • First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
  • Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.
Questions about eSupplier?

Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

 

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process.

You can expect to receive your grant payment approximately two weeks after contacting Division staff with your eSupplier information.

 

Timeline:

Rolling Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the project.

Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. When the funds allocated to this program are depleted, the application will be closed for the remainder of the fiscal year (ending June 30).

Generally, organizations may receive a maximum of two Arts Access Grants each fiscal year (July 1- June 30).

Grant Committee Review Approx. two weeks from application deadline
Funding Notification Approx. four weeks of application submission
Full Payment Two weeks after individual has entered or updated eSupplier information
Final Report Report due 30 days after completion of the project

Grantee Requirements:

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

  • Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
  • Keeping public events current on DelawareScene.com
  • Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the programs, budget, or staff/board
  • Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators
  • Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
  • Submitting required Final Report

Final Report:

Final Reports for Arts Access grants must be submitted through smARTDE and are due within 30 days following the end date of the project. Failure to submit a final report may preclude future funding.

Contact:

Kathleen Dinsmore
Organization Support
302-577-8287
kathleen.dinsmore@delaware.gov


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