Creative Aging Grants

To be eligible for Access Creative Aging as a library or senior center, you 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

Note to First-time applicants (excluding public libraries): A copy of your State of Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and IRS Nonprofit Determination Letter must be submitted with your first application

• Be committed to or have a strong interest in arts learning for 55+ adults
• Be trained as a hosting organization through the Delaware Division of the Arts

Please note the following restrictions:

• An Access Creative Aging grant budget has been established, and grants will only be available for the programming year until funding has been depleted.
• 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.

Eligible organizations may request funding to fully support creative aging programs that actively engage 55+ adults in the creative process utilizing the visual, literary, or performing arts. The programs are to be led by teaching artists trained in creative aging who are current members of the Delaware Artist Roster. Creative aging programs are presented as sequential learning over the course of eight (8) weeks and include a culminating event. The weekly classes are 60-120 minutes in length and may accommodate up to fifteen (15) participants.

Access Creative Aging programs accomplish one or more of the following:

• Provide opportunities for learning and creative expression
• Promote good physical and cognitive health
• Strengthen social bonds
• Improve emotional well-being

Access Creative Aging programs must be sequential learning experiences totaling eight (8) class meetings typically scheduled over the course of eight (8) weeks and include a corresponding culminating event, such as a performance, exhibit, or presentation, open to the community at large.

Applicants may request 100% of the eligible program expenses, as outlined on the Project Budget form, not to exceed $5,000. No financial match is required, but if available, may be used to support the expenses of the program. Prior funding does not guarantee future support.

The Access Creative Aging grant application includes:

• Organization profile
• Narrative
• Financial information (upload Project Budget, $5,000 max)
• Support Materials (upload the Creative Aging Program Curriculum Guideline and the Letter of Intent (LOI) from the teaching artist)

Note: All materials submitted to the Division of the Arts during the grant application process are subject to public inspection upon request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Please redact any confidential information contained in financial documents and audits prior to submission.

Access Creative Aging grant applications are accepted on a quarterly basis with the program application deadline schedule outlined below. The Access Creative Aging online application may be accessed at smARTDE.

• January 1 for activities starting between February 15 and May 15
• April 1 for activities starting between May 15 and August 15
• July 1 for activities starting between August 15 and November 15
• October 1 for activities starting between November 15 and February 15

Division staff members, in conjunction with the Division Director, review Access Creative Aging grant applications for completeness and alignment with the program goals. The Director then makes final funding decisions. For details on the grant review process and appeals procedure, read the Delaware Division of the Arts Grant Review Process.

The Division of the Arts retains the right to reduce or rescind a grant award during the grant period if the grantee is found not to be in compliance with state and/or federal grant requirements, or if funding (state or federal) is reduced during the fiscal year.

Notification:

Applicants will be notified of the funding decision within four (4) weeks of application submission. Awardees will receive full payment following notification of their award.

As part of the grant award notification, there will be a number of documents that applicants are required to read and acknowledge before receipt of your first payment.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, organizations 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 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:

Grantees will be notified of awards via email, and payments will be issued according to the payment schedule issued with the award notice. Payments of Arts Access typically occur in full approximately 4 weeks following acceptance of the grant terms.

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that they have 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 arts events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the program or budget
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators, if appropriate
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

An annual final report describes how funds were spent over the most recently completed granting period. The final report collects narrative, fiscal, and demographic information in keeping with DDOA and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) requirements.

A final report is due within 30 days following the end date of the project in the smARTDE grant management portal. Failure to submit a final report on time may result in the rescinding of the grant award and may impact future funding from the Division.

You can use this interactive tool to search for Delaware Division of the Arts grants awarded to organizations and individuals from 1999 through today.