Grants of up to $1,000 to Iowa nonprofit arts organizations in eligible regions for arts projects. Funding is intended to benefit the local community and to further arts awareness. The purpose of this program is to support special circumstances and opportunities that cannot be anticipated within COTA's annual grant process. Eligible applicants are located in Ames.
Non-profit arts organizations that meet the criteria established by COTA (must have a tax-exemption number, or be applying for one) are eligible to apply for special project grants in the arts.
Definitions of eligible organizations:
- Be located in Ames.
- Not a for-profit or governmental entity.
- Have by-laws or other documentation which identify its major responsibility as meeting specific arts goals.
- Be federally tax exempt, or affiliated with a federally tax exempt organization.
- Those which do not discriminate, in accordance with law, on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Ineligible
No project may be funded through the special project grant program if it has been denied in the annual COTA process, or if the event or program has been funded through the annual grant process, unless there have been specific modifications to the original, funded proposal.
Applications will not be considered for:
1. Capital improvements
2. Permanent supplies and equipment
3. Ongoing wages, salaries, and benefit expenses for permanent employees
4. Out-of-state travel by organization members
5. Replacement of available local funds
6. Previous year's or projected deficits
7. Hospitality expenses (e.g. Receptions)
8. Tuition assistance for academic study and continuing education
9. Activities that restrict participation on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, religion, physical disability, mental disability, or that require the purchase of private memberships
10. Project requests not submitted on required forms, not received by published deadlines, or not falling within the current grant period
11. Organizations which fail to submit previous final reports
12. Organizations which do not have specific arts goals as their major responsibility
Pre-Proposal Conference
A workshop will be held to assist in completing the application.
Date: September 11, 2023
COTA strongly encourages attendance at the workshop.
Pre-Application Information
Special Project Grant Period: Spring 2024 (if the project occurs between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024)
- Date of the Workshop: September 11, 2023
- Applications due: September 22, 2023
- Date of the Hearings: October 2, 2023
- COTA Recommendations: November 6, 2023
- Final Accounting/Evaluation Report Due: July 29, 2024
Organizations submitting more than one application per granting period should prioritize the requests.
Applicants must show some reasonable cash support from other sources. Where appropriate, greater priority is given to those projects that offset part of their costs with admission or workshop fees or contributions. Applications are viewed more favorably when the match is at least 25% from the sponsoring organization. COTA reserves the right to question the financial need of applicants who ignore earned income potential. Recognized exceptions may include, but are not limited to: events that are difficult to ticket, events for which admission cannot be charged because such practice is against board-stated policies, promotional activities striving to develop new audiences, or those presenting financial hardship for attendees.
Estimated Size of Grant
Up to $1,000 is available for each award.
Term of Contract
Projects occurs between: January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024.
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