BCAA Endowment Guidelines for: Project, Equipment Purchase or General Operating Support (GOS)

BCAA is a mission driven organization and will fund artists and organizations that share and seek to actively further our values, as delineated in our mission statement: BCAA acts as a catalyst to incubate, stimulate and sustain a thriving arts community in Boulder County. BCAA commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive and equitable Boulder County for all.

Organization Operating Support: General Operating Support (GOS) is flexible funding intended for the overall benefit of the requesting organization for support of internal or management expenses such as marketing, office expenses or personnel expansion or where needed. These grants are designed to assist organizations in realizing their mission, or improving or expanding their programming. Applicants must describe as specifically as possible the anticipated impact of these funds on the organization and the community.

Individual Artist Project or Equipment Support: Project grants will be awarded to support artistically excellent work that has a measurable impact on the community. Impact may include equity and inclusion, outreach, education, and climate action. Projects are programmatic in nature – a single or a series of events in a specific time frame designed to fill a specific need, expression or expansion within the discipline represented.  When requesting equipment purchase support, successful applications will demonstrate how the equipment will enhance operations or production of art - beyond the usual cost of doing business. 

Application deadline - Completed applications must be submitted online by 5:00 pm on the application deadline date. The application form will go offline at 5:01 pm and will no longer be available for editing.
Funding cycles – Projects and purchases must take place within a year from the date the grant award is issued. Grants will be distributed approximately 8 weeks after the application deadline and in the same calendar year the grant was awarded.
A final grant report is required within 12 months of the grant award date.

Requirements for Funding:

All applicants must be current members of the Boulder County Arts Alliance. If you are not a current member of BCAA, please visit our membership page to join or renew. Final reports for previous BCAA Endowment grants and other past due reports must be filed before submission of a new application.

Individual artists may apply for project or equipment support and must be at least 18 years old and have established residency in Boulder County for a minimum of one year prior to submission of this grant.  

Organizations may apply for General Operating Support and must have established residency in Boulder County for a minimum of one year prior to submission of this grant.  

Application Evaluation Criteria:

All eligible proposals are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary panel using the evaluation criteria listed below.  Each panelist reviews and scores every application on their own. Then a panel meeting is called and proposals are reviewed by the panel as a whole.  Final scores are determined at the panel meeting and the top scoring proposals will be awarded grants for that cycle.  Feedback on grant proposals is available after the awards are announced. Panelists' verbatim comments will not be shared with applicants.

Applications are read primarily for content but will also be evaluated based on the areas listed below:

1)  The written application - how well it is crafted and represents the individual/organization.  This would include:

  • Accuracy of facts, figures, arithmetic
  • Following directions and answering questions in a clear and concise manner
  • Demonstration of track record or ability to complete projects through such efforts as effective planning, management and budgeting, and citing previous successes
  • Evidence of organizational need and/or impact on organization’s mission
  • Inclusion of required support materials

2)  The uniqueness or scope of the project or organization.  This would include:

  • Artistic excellence of artists involved and merit of proposed activities
  • Community involvement and community benefit from proposed activities
  • Strong initiatives to increase equity, inclusion and diversity of the audience served and within the organization
  • Articulating goals of the project and means to evaluate its success
  • Showing evidence of filling a need within the organization or discipline

3)  Required - An application consists of the following (and will not be considered for funding if not included)

  • Completed online application. EMAILS AND PAPER COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
  • Supplemental Material - up to 7 attachments can be uploaded with your electronic application. If you have work samples on the web, you may include URLs in your grant narrative or in one of the attached documents.
  • GOS Applicants: Attach 2 prior fiscal years Profit and Loss statements and Balance Sheets. 
  • Individual artists attach your detailed project budget. For equipment purchase, provide specifications with price and images. Please also include an explanation for anything that may raise questions
  • Visual artists:  include up to 5 images of your work
  • Writers and poets:  include up to 5 examples of your work
  • Film/media or performing artists – URLs for 3 -5 minutes of your work
  • Projects - Letter of intent (can be an email) from the venue where the performances or exhibit will take place. If you cannot get a letter from a venue, explain why not.

    Optional but recommended:

    • Letters of intent, if applicable, from key collaborators
    • Letters of recommendation, reviews or promotional pieces that support the work of the organization, artist, project, and/or the ability to complete the project
    • Professional profiles of key project participants
    • Other documents that you feel would support your proposal

    Online application forms:
    Applicants may only submit one application form but may choose the form that best describes the kind of funding they need. There are no longer funding cycles for individuals or organizations. However, we would appreciate if you could select the type of form for our data capturing purposes.

    Questions:

    For additional information about the BCAA Endowment Grants email info@bouldercountyarts.org. Please keep in mind that staff availability is limited so make an effort to complete and submit your proposal well in advance of the due date.

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