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, and visual arts.

Applicant Eligibility

To be considered for this grant, the applicant must be:

• One of the following:
  • A nonprofit (with proof of 501(c)(3) status)
  • Individual(s) or group with a qualified designated fiscal receiver in Dane County without formal nonprofit status
  • School/school distrct
  • Municipality
  • Noncounty Government Agency
  • Fraternal organizations and faith communities whose projects/programs for which the grant being requested do not promote religion or a specific religious doctrine
• A Dane County Resident or partner with a Dane County organization/individual
• Individual(s) 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
  • NOT a Degree-seeking student seeking to apply for grants that support projects directly related to their academic work

Applications will not be considered from grantees that have not fulfilled obligations to Dane Arts under terms of prior grant awards. To check obligation fulfillment status, refer to “Status Report” in WebGrants. If you need to create a status report, please use the Status Report Instructions. 

Project Budget Requirements and Information

• 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.
• Award amount range and project date requirements are specified in the WebGrants application portal (please refer to the Apply webpage to navigate WebGrants).

Project Grants MAY be used for:

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

Project Grants MAY NOT be used for:

• 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

Application Requirements

• (2) Letters of support from the community
• Income/expense statement from immediate past fiscal year and current fiscal year
• IRS federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) determination for your organization or letter of commitment from fiscal receiver