NEWS

Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids

January 1, 2009

Minigrant FAQs

What is the Minigrant Program?
The Minigrant program is a partnership financed by the State of Michigan, through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) and run by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, in this region. The Minigrant program offers grants of up to $4000 to non-profit groups for locally developed high-quality arts projects, which are special opportunities to address local arts needs and increase public access to the arts. Minigrants support a broad range of artistic expression from all cultures through projects which produce or present the traditional or contemporary arts.

Who may apply?
Minigrants are available to nonprofits through a competitive grant application and peer review process administered three times a year. The Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids administers the Minigrant program for seven counties in West Michigan: Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola. If you have an arts project in another county of Michigan, you may call Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs to discover what regional Minigrant regranting office you need to talk to: 517-241-4011.

Service organizations, arts organizations, parks and recreation organizations, professional associations, public and non-public schools, labor unions, cities, townships and villages are among the groups who may apply, but this list is not all inclusive.

Individuals, State of Michigan agencies, departments or commissions with unmet obligations on a Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs award, may not apply for a Minigrant.

Universities and colleges may apply, providing they:
• demonstrate significant and direct community benefit,
• document community support and shared project use, and
• include current letters of support from the community.

Minigrants may not be used for activities within the instructional or service responsibilities of colleges or universities, or that primarily serve their faculty or students.

How much money may I apply for?
You may request up to $4000 on a matching funds basis. Matching funds are donations of cash, goods, and services to the project. You are encouraged to include cash in your matching funds. The program is competitive and grants are typically less than $4000. Not all applications are funded.

Requests for Minigrant Funds may not exceed one-half of your project costs. For example: If you request $1500, your project must cost $3000 or more. You must match your request with $1500 or more of your own funds.

Your match could be:
• cash totaling $1500 or more or...
• in-kind funds (donated goods and services) totaling $1500 or more or...
• any combination of in-kind and cash totaling $1500 or more.

When should I apply?
Minigrant funding is offered in three rounds per year. The first round deadline is August 1st and is for projects beginning after October 1st. The second round deadline is February 1st and is for projects beginning between April 1st and September 30th. Exact dates can be obtained by calling the Arts Council at 616-459-2787 after May 1. All Minigrant-funded projects must be completed within the State's fiscal year, which ends September 30.

What kinds of projects are funded?
Minigrants may be used for arts and cultural activities including, but not limited to, the following:
• exhibits, readings, performances, workshops, broadcasts.
• artist residencies, consultancies, design activities (includes computerized work).
• commissioning of art work, restoration of public works of art.
• festivals, pow wows, conferences, seminars.
• video and film production and screening.
• publication of limited edition, original works by an independent, non-profit press.
• art activities for students.

You May NOT:
• receive more than one Minigrant for the same project.
• receive a MCACA grant and a Minigrant for the same project.
• use the same matching funds for more than one Minigrant
• use MCACA grant funding as matching funds for a Minigrant.
• apply for a Minigrant and a Touring Arts Grant for the same project.

Minigrant Dollars can NOT be used for:
• non-arts activities.
• capital expenses (construction, renovation; purchase of facilities or permanent equipment) .
• activities conducted outside Michigan, or out-of-state travel.
• school teacher salaries, in-service, release time or school administrative costs.
• activities which produce academic credit, receive a grade, or are part of the curriculum.
• creation of textbooks or classroom materials, curriculum development, scholarly or academic research.
• K-12, college or university faculty or student exhibitions or performances or payments to students.
• projects that primarily serve an applicant's membership, staff or board; exhibit or present their work
• consultants who are members of the applicant's staff or board.
• indirect costs (percentage charged against a grant to cover handling of grant funds).
• existing deficits, licensing fees, fines, penalties, interest or litigation.
• purchase awards, cash prizes, contributions or donations.
• food or beverages for hospitality, entertainment or reception functions.
• exhibition of art work which is not original, for example, facsimiles of original works.
• historical reenactments.
• fund-raising or allocations to endowment or other restricted funds.
• funds which the applicant would regrant or subgrant.
• operating costs not directly associated with a project or start up costs for a new organization.
• rarely is the same organization considered for more than 1 Minigrant per year.

How are applications evaluated?
During review panel meetings, applications are discussed, evaluated and scored in light of the guidelines and review criteria. Reviewers also consider application completeness and clarity. Review panels are made up of volunteer arts, community and business professionals with appropriate expertise. Review panel membership constantly changes.

Reviewers look for projects that demonstrate artistic merit, sound planning and management, and community service. Panel funding recommendations are approved by our board of directors.

Geographic, minority, underserved and disciplinary distribution are considered when determining awards.

What must I do if I am awarded a grant?
If you are awarded a grant, you must:
• confirm project plans and, if full funding is not awarded, revise your project budget based on your recommended grant.
• sign a contract detailing the use of Minigrant funds,
• credit MCACA and the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids in all publications and press releases, and
• complete a Minigrant Final Report and provide samples of project materials.

Other Information:
Grant funds may arrive after your project's starting date. You should be prepared to handle initial expenses.

If a project produces material which could be copyrighted, the copyright must reside with the author. However, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs reserves the right to use copyrighted work for Council purposes without obligation to pay royalties to the owner.

A portion of your grant will be withheld pending our receipt and approval of you Final Report.

If the applicant is not an arts organization and the project makes a profit, the surplus up to the grant amount must be refunded.

It is MCACA policy that decisions regarding Minigrants may not be appealed. If you would like more information about the Minigrant Program, contact the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids’ Program Officer.