Online Grants Applications and Management System
Logos
- Missouri Arts Council logos
- National Endowment for the Arts logos – required if your grant includes federal funds
FY2023 Annual Grants Guidelines
Applications for Annual Grants are currently closed. Organizations interested in Missouri Arts Council funding should consider applying for Express Grants—see section below.
Guidelines
- FY23 Guide to Grants – for reference only
- FY23 Guide to Off-Year Grants – for reference only
- FY23 Guide to Partnership Grants (application by invitation only)
FY2023 Express Grants Guidelines
We are currently accepting applications for Express Project and Express Touring programs for FY2023 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023).
For Express Grants, applications are accepted and award amounts are determined on a rolling basis throughout the year. The deadline is the first Monday of the month, two months in advance of the month in which the project incurs expenses. For example, for a project that incurs expenses in May, the application must be received no later than the first Monday in March. If the first Monday is a holiday, the deadline is on Tuesday. We encourage organizations to submit applications early.
Guidelines
- FY23 Guide to Express Grants
- FY23 Instructions for Express Project Applications
- FY23 Guide to Arts Council Grants
- FY23 Guide to Arts Education Grants
- FY23 Guide to Big Yellow School Bus Grants – coming soon
- FY23 Guide to Express Touring for Schools and Communities
Support Materials
FAQS, for FY2022 grant cycle
What if we need to make a change to our project, whether or not as a result of COVID-19?
Applicants should notify your Missouri Arts Council program staff of any significant changes in your project. Our staff will work with you to determine the appropriate course of action. This may include significant modifications, or doing all or part of the event virtually.
Will canceling or postponing events impact our relationship with the Missouri Arts Council?
Absolutely not. Your organization should do what is necessary for the well-being of your organization and constituents.
What are eligible expenses?
See the FY22 Guide to Grants for information on what we can and cannot fund.
Are matching funds required?
Yes.
When must funds be used?
All funds must be spent within the fiscal year they are awarded. The 2022 fiscal year ends June 30, 2022.
What if I have other questions?
Contact your program specialist or Executive Director Michael Donovan.
FAQS, OPERATING SUPPORT for FY2023 Grant Cycle
What organizations are eligible for operating support?
Missouri-based nonprofits whose purpose is primarily to present, produce, or serve the arts are eligible.
What organizations are NOT eligible for operating support?
- Organizations that do not primarily present, produce, or serve the arts, including schools, universities, government agencies, and social service organizations, are not eligible.
- Express grants and partnership grants are not eligible.
Does this mean the Missouri Arts Council no longer supports non-arts organizations’ projects?
Absolutely not. We will continue to provide project support for approved arts programs by eligible non-arts organizations through the Annual and Express grants.
What is the difference between project grants and operating support grants?
We fund both projects and operating support. Both must have a public presentation during the grant period.
- Project funding is focused on a specific activity that is completed in a specific timeframe. Examples are performances, exhibits, and literary publications.
- Operating support provides stability and sustaining funding to organizations. This most significant difference is that, in operating support, Missouri Arts Council funds can be used for administrative costs not directly related to the MAC-funded project.
What operating expenses are eligible for Missouri Arts Council funding?
Eligible operating expenses include these:
- Salaries
- Rent
- Mortgage
- Insurance
- Building and equipment maintenance
- Equipment purchase or rental
- Utilities (electricity, internet, phone, etc.)
- Supplies (including COVID-19 related supplies)
- Marketing (for example, advertising, website, social media, printing and mailing brochures, flyers, and posters)
What operating expenses are NOT eligible for Missouri Arts Council funding?
Missouri Arts Council funds cannot be used for these items:
- Permanent acquisitions (for example, buildings or land)
- Capital expenditures (for example, acquisition of artwork and other items; purchase of buildings or real estate; renovations or structural improvements; permanent and generally immobile equipment such as grid systems or central air conditioning)
- Investment or contingency funding (for example, accounts earning interest)
- Deficits
- Costs of parties, receptions, fundraising benefits, and other social activities
- Programs occurring before or after the fiscal year
- Projects outside the state of Missouri
- Commissions and of permanent works in the visual arts
- Direct aid to individuals, including scholarships or fellowships
- Cash prizes and awards
- Depreciation
How can my arts organization convert project funding to operating support?
Contact your program specialist to discuss your situation and obtain approval. We would convert project funding to operating support under these circumstances:
- The organization has made a good-faith effort to implement their funded programs or an approved alternative.
- Funds are remaining that can be spent on allowable operating costs.
What if I have other questions?
Contact your program specialist for help.
FY2022 Forms for Grant Recipients
Required
The Interim Report, Grant Agreement, and Final Report are located in our Online Grants Application and Management System.
◾ FY22 Invoice – The invoice must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted. Using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the relevant link to access the fillable PDF. Save the document on your computer, then complete the form you have saved on your computer. (If you enter information directly from the link without first saving the form, all the data will be lost.)
Supplemental Documents
- FY22 Grant Requirements Checklist
- FY22 Grant Management Handbook
- State Vendor System for Payment of Grants – Organizations new to the Missouri Arts Council, as well as those changing their legal name, address, or banking information, must register through MissouriBUYS.
- Changing an Organization’s Address (Mailing or Physical): Required Steps
- Changing an Organization’s Legal Name: Required Steps
Sample Documents
- Sample Board List Template
- Sample Budget Detail
- Sample Budget Detail, Arts Education
- Sample Financial Statement – Required information includes assets and liabilities, fund balance, revenues, expenses, method of accounting (cash or accrual), and time period covered.
- Sample IRS Tax Exemption
- Sample Email to Governor and State Legislators
- Sample Email to Governor and State Legislators for Arts Education, Big Yellow School Bus, or School Touring Program
- Sample Missouri Annual Registration Report
- Sample MissouriBUYS Registration Form
- Sample W-9
Touring Performers
We are not accepting new applications for the Missouri Touring Performers Directory for FY2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023). To learn when FY2024 applications become available, we recommend that interested artists sign up for email notifications about our programs. The sign-up form is in the lower right-hand corner of every page of this website.
School Touring Qualified
Applications to become School Touring Qualified are still being accepted and are accepted throughout the year. The selection process for becoming School Touring Qualified is independent of the process for being listed on the Missouri Touring Performers Directory. Applicants for School Touring Qualified need not apply for or already be listed on the Missouri Touring Performers Directory.