Summary

Tacoma Creates funding will support public programming in Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Science, with a strong focus on equity, access, and public benefit. Impact Funding is open to organizations that meet the eligibility requirements as described in the Eligibility for Funding section below.

Organizations that apply in this category may request a minimum of $3,000, and up to $50,000 per year for a single program or multiple programs. Applicants may propose general public programs, or youth education programs, or both, and must demonstrate a commitment to Tacoma Creates’ vision for vibrant, equitable, and inclusive cultural programs. The funding request may be a maximum of 50 percent of the total cost of the proposed programming; applicants must demonstrate at least a 1:1 match of other resources to support the work, which may include volunteer time and donated materials and space.

Application Deadline

Important Update: Deadline for Impact Funding has been extended to Sunday, March 22, 2020, 11:59 PM.

Application Guidelines

Download the Impact Funding Guidelines for complete information.

How To Apply
Eligible organizations interested in this opportunity must submit the following via Submittable:

1. Organizational Information and Eligibility
2. Background Data and Funding Request
3. Narrative Questions
4. Proposal Budget
5. Reporting and Payment Options
6. Additional Support Materials

See the Impact Funding Guidelines for detailed instructions.

Eligibility for Impact Funding
Tacoma Creates has specific eligibility requirements, based on Washington State and City of Tacoma regulations.

An organization must be a group of people working together towards a specific mission or purpose, and must have an organizational bank account and a City of Tacoma business license.

To be eligible to apply in the Impact Funding category, your organization must meet all of the following criteria:

• Primary Purpose Your organization’s primary purpose must be to advance and/or preserve arts, culture, heritage and/or science; see the Definitions section of the Impact Funding Guidelines for additional details.
• Non-Profit Status Your organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, incorporated under the laws of Washington State and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service
  OR
  If your organization meets the Primary Purpose and Program Delivery criteria and your business address is within Tacoma city limits, you may apply with an eligible Fiscal Sponsor. Click here for more information about Fiscal Sponsorship. 
• Location Your organization’s official business address is within Tacoma city limits
  OR
  Your organization’s official business address is in Pierce County, and your organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a two-year track record of providing at least 65% of your public programming in Tacoma, and your organization meets the Primary Purpose and Program Delivery criteria.
• Program Delivery Your organization must directly provide programming or experiences to the general public within Tacoma city limits. 

Organizations are not eligible if they meet any of the following:

• Any agency of the state or political subdivisions
• Municipal corporations
• Organization that raise funds for redistribution to multiple cultural organizations
• Radio or television broadcasting network or stations, cable communications systems, internet-based communications venture or services, newspapers, or magazines

Special Categories

There are two additional types of organizations that are eligible to apply for Impact Funding:

• Business District Associations and Neighborhood Councils Active Business District Associations and Neighborhood Councils recognized by the City of Tacoma may apply for funding for neighborhood-based arts, culture, heritage, and/or science programs or events, especially fairs and festivals, but must have a Fiscal Sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) organization in Tacoma that meets the Primary Purpose criteria of advancing or preserving arts, culture, heritage, and/or science.
• Affiliate Cultural Programs Within a Larger Non-Profit Established and distinct cultural programs that meet the Primary Purpose, Location, and Program Delivery criteria, and are part of a larger non-profit, public-serving organization, may apply if the following additional eligibility criteria are met:

·       Independent mission: Have a published mission statement independent of the parent organization

·       Independent board: Have a board or steering committee that guides the program, independent of the parent organization’s board

·       Independent budget: Have a distinct, balanced budget, independent of the parent organization

·       Track record: Five years providing public programming in arts, culture, heritage, and/or science

·       Staff: Have dedicated, paid staff, equal to at least one full-time employee

·       Matching Funds: Provide a 1:1 cash match for Tacoma Creates funds

·       The parent organization must:

·         Be a public-serving 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) non-profit organization

·         Be based within Tacoma city limits

·         Retain no more than 10 percent of any Tacoma Creates funding to support administrative services

Questions

Contact Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager, (253) 591-5161, or LJaret@cityoftacoma.org

What is a Panel?

A panel is a group of individuals pulled together by staff to review applications or nominations for Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality managed programs or opportunities. Panel members use published review criteria to evaluate applications and make recommendations about who gets grant funding, public art projects, roster appointments, etc.

Panelists are selected for a variety of reasons which can include: their connection to community, knowledge of relevant subject matter, and the diversity of perspectives and experiences they bring to the group overall. For each opportunity, we assemble a unique panel of three to nine people to make collective recommendations about which applicants should receive funding or commissions through our office. Those recommendations generally go to the Tacoma Arts Commission or the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board for final approval.

Why be a Panelist?

The Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality (OACV) is deeply appreciative of the time and expertise community members invest in serving on panels. Serving on a panel is a proactive way to impact how public funds are spent in Tacoma, and panelists receive valuable professional development as well as insight into how the application review process works from the inside.

OACV provides panelists with free parking and food during meetings, in addition to offering a monetary stipend.

The length and number of meetings needed for a selection process vary based on the project. Depending on the application, some panels will require a small amount of prep work in advance, one to two hours, and some panels may require extensive reading and evaluation work in advance of the in-person panel meeting, anywhere from 10-50 hours. Community members will be offered a stipend for their service as follows:

• $50 – quarter day meeting (1 – 2 hours)
• $100 – half day meeting (3 ‐ 4 hours)
• $200 – full day meeting (6 – 9 hours)
• $100 – pre‐meeting work to digitally read and score applications (only when requested)

Members of a City‐appointed commission or board are volunteers and are not eligible to receive a stipend for their service on a panel. City of Tacoma employees and project staff are not eligible to receive a stipend for their service on a panel.

Submit a Panel Interest Form

Please complete the online form to be considered for a position on an upcoming OACV panel: www.surveymonkey.com/r/tacomapanels 

Staff will take into account many factors when putting together panels, and may not be able to use the services of all qualified individuals who submit. If an individual is offered a position on a panel but is unable to participate because of scheduling or conflict of interest, OACV will continue to consider them for future panels. Panel Interest Forms will be saved and reviewed periodically for up to three years from the submission date.

Questions