Economic Response Technical Assistance

Applications are no longer being accepted for this grant program.

In our continuing effort to support and promote the arts in the South, the Southern Arts Federation (SAF) with support from the National Endowment for the Arts is offering a limited number of Economic Response Technical Assistance grants for non-profit presenting organizations in our nine-state region.

In response to the current economic climate, this special initiative encourages visual, media, performing, and literary arts presenting organizations to contract with an outside consultant for intensive work to focus on organizational stabilization and to strengthen an organization’s infrastructure. Examples of consultation activities funded by this Technical Assistance grant program include: updating a strategic plan, short and long term planning, fundraising, innovation or entrepreneurial efforts, building participation, and grantsmanship. Activities should focus on ways that the organization will respond to the current economic conditions for the long-term health and stability of the organization.  The maximum request is 50% of the consultant fee, up to $2,500.

New applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Nikki Estes, Program Director - Presenting and Touring, at 404-874-7244 ext. 16 to discuss eligibility prior to submitting an application.

PLEASE NOTE:  SAF may be able to offer assistance if you need help finding an appropriate consultant.

 

To apply for this grant, please follow the below steps:

STEP 1: Find out if you meet all of our requirements

STEP 2: Download the application form:
(Adobe PDF version or MS Word version)

STEP 3: Submit all of the required materials

STEP 4: Submit by the deadline



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

  1. Only not-for-profit visual, media, performing, and literary arts presenting organizations in SAF’s nine-state region are eligible to apply. For the purposes of these guidelines, visual and media arts presenting organizations include organizations that present artwork to the public (e.g., exhibitions and film screenings by professional guest artists); literary and performing arts presenting organizations include organizations that engage and present touring performing and/or literary artists to perform works produced elsewhere (e.g., concerts, readings, and performances by professional guest artists). SAF’s nine-state region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
  2. Organizations must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status or be an official unit of local, county or state government. Applicants must provide proof of not-for-profit or government status.
  3. All applicants must have a DUNS number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a DUNS number. Find out more about the DUNS number and how to get one.
  4. All services must take place in SAF’s nine-state region (in the organization’s state).
  5. Applicants must contract with an outside consultant (i.e., employees or staff cannot provide consultation activities).
  6. Applicants are limited to only one Economic Response Technical Assistance grant per SAF fiscal year.
  7. All services must be completed by June 30, 2009.
  8. All grant recipients are required to provide accessibility for constituents with disabilities at grant-funded events. The National Endowment for the Arts has provided a resource, the Design for Accessibility handbook, to assist organizations in making accommodations. Please visit the Endowment's Web site.
  9. Applicants who have failed to submit final reports for any previous SAF grant by the application deadline for this program will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle.
  10. Applicants who fail to properly acknowledge SAF’s and NEA’s support in programs and press materials may not be considered for additional funding.


PLEASE NOTE 

  • Technical Assistance grants are NOT transferable to other services. All changes in the services must be submitted in writing to SAF before the project start date. Awards may be revised or revoked in light of such changes.
  • All SAF grant awards require a dollar-for-dollar cash match. 
  • Applicants are eligible to receive up to 50% of the consultant fee as listed in the contract (subject to the noted limits). Special consideration will be given to organizations in underserved communities. Underserved communities include those communities in which people lack arts programs, services, or resources due to geography, economic conditions, cultural background, socio-political circumstances, disability, age or other demonstrable factors. The term “community” can refer to a group of people with a common heritage or characteristics, whether or not living in the same location.
  • All grant requests are subject to funding availability. Grants are awarded on a first come/first served basis until funding is depleted.


IN ORDER TO APPLY

Please submit the following:

  • Completed application form with original signature
    (Adobe PDF version or MS Word version)
  • One-page project narrative
  • A copy of the signed letter of intent or contract between the consultant and the organization stating the services, date(s) and fee (signed by both parties)
  • A copy of the consultant’s resume AND client list
  • A copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) letter or proof of government status
  • Self-addressed, stamped postcard for application acknowledgment


NOTE: SAF staff requests that applications be bound by paper clips. Please do not use presentation folders, page protectors, etc.

Mail application materials to:
Nikki Estes
Southern Arts Federation
1800 Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 808
Atlanta, Georgia 30309

 

DEADLINE

Applications must be postmarked at least 30 days prior to the project start date.  Applicants should request a legibly dated US Postal Service postmark (from a federal postal service center) or receipt from a commercial carrier. Privately metered postmarks will NOT be accepted as proof of timely mailing (Please do NOT risk ineligibility – make a visit to your local post office!).

The Southern Arts Federation strictly adheres to application deadlines and will NOT accept applications that are late, faxed, incomplete, or illegible.  Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in writing within five business days of receipt, at which time grant contracts will be sent to funded applicants.  Contracts must be signed and returned within two weeks of their receipt.

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