Project Grants

Project Grants support specific projects or programs that have a distinct budget, personnel, and timeframe spanning a relatively short duration, are focused upon a collection of activities directly related to one another, and are easily defined (e.g. an exhibition, concert, production, festival, residency, special activity, publication, event, series). Range of activities supported might include but are not limited to: architecture, design, culture, film, video, folk arts, history, literary arts, performing arts, visual arts. Project grant opportunity details are described in WebGrants.

• Individuals at least 18-years-old
  • No more than two primary presenters may apply together. In cases where there are more than two presenters, the application must be submitted by an eligible organization
  • Degree-seeking students may not apply for grants that support projects directly related to their academic work
• Nonprofit Organizations (with proof of 501(c)(3) status) 
• Schools and School Districts 
• Non-county Government Agencies 
• Qualified Designated Fiscal Receivers in Dane County for organizations without formal nonprofit status 
• Fraternal organizations and faith communities whose projects/programs for which the grant is being requested do not promote religion or a specific religious doctrine 
• Dane County residency required!

• Applicants may not submit more than one Project Grant Application per cycle. You must choose to apply to either the Project Grant or the Short-Order Project Grant, not both.
• Applications will not be considered from grantees that have not fulfilled obligations to Dane Arts under terms of prior grant awards.

• The grant cannot make up more than 50% of the total project budget (the amount requested must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis, including earned income and cash contributions)
• Budgets also may include in-kind contributions, e.g., donated space, materials and supplies, loaned equipment, donated professional services only, calculated on a local wage scale (non-professional volunteer time is not an acceptable in-kind service to be included in a budget). 
• A budget error may disqualify an application. 
• Dane Arts grants may not be matched by other Dane County tax dollars. 
• A grant award in a lesser amount than what is requested by an applicant may be offered. 
• A grant in any amount carries no commitment for future support by Dane Arts beyond terms of the project supported.

• Project administrators hired specifically for the project
• Honoraria and fees
• Supplies and materials
• Space rental
• Marketing and promotions
• In-county transportation

• Salaries for an organization’s artistic personnel and project administrators
• General operating expenses
• Development of school curriculum or teacher training
• Capital expenditures, including the purchase of permanent equipment
• Prizes
• Tuition or scholarships
• Food or refreshments
• Deficits incurred from past activities
• Direct fund raising or profit-making activities, or commercial ventures
• Grants may not support or be focused upon administration, research, surveys, planning, and development exclusively