Cross-Sector Impact Grants (United States)

Cross-Sector Impact Grants are open to all art forms for partnership projects taking place in South Arts’ nine-state region. Eligible projects must focus on the “Arts & …” theme – for example, arts and the military, arts and equity, arts and aging, arts and community revitalization. Applicants may be organizations, units of government, higher educational institutions, or artists.

Goals

• South Arts’ mission is advancing Southern vitality through the arts. This program addresses two of South Arts’ strategic goals:
  • Connect artists and arts professionals in the South to resources that will increase opportunities for success within and outside the region
  • Advance impactful arts-based programs that recognize and address trends and evolving needs of a wide range of communities in the South

Funding Information

• For applicants/projects that are new to this program, the minimum grant request is $5,000 and the maximum request is $15,000. For applicants/projects that received Cross-Sector Impact funding in the past, the minimum grant request is $5,000 and the maximum request is $10,000.
• A match of at least 1:2 is required; meaning for each grant dollar, the grantee must provide $.50 towards the project expenses.
• Up to half of the match may be comprised of in-kind contributions such as donated materials, donated services, or other contributed non-cash assets or staff time diverted to this project. At least half of the match must be cash. For staff time diverted to this project, up to 10% of the total project expenses but no more than $5,000 can be included as a cash expense or cash match for staff time. The remaining staff time must be an in-kind contribution. Contracted individuals and services specifically for this project are eligible cash expenses.

Eligible Activities

• All projects must include a minimum of two public-facing activities. Activities, as described below, may be virtual or in-person.
• One public-facing activity must be a public event, meaning that the activity is open to and marketed to anyone who wishes to come. This could be an in-person or virtual concert, exhibit, workshop, screening, or other event. It can be free or have an admission charge.
• The second activity may also be public or may be for a targeted group/non-public audience such as a business group, university students/faculty, nursing homes, K-12 school students, or patients/care providers, etc.
• At least one of these activities must be an educational or community engagement event that provides context or deeper understanding of the arts experience or project. Examples include a virtual or in-person master class or workshop, live Q&A and interview with artists or other persons facilitating the project, a demonstration, or a post-event conversation.
• All grant activities must follow local, state, and federal COVID-safety protocols, as applicable.

Eligibility Criteria

• Partnership Eligibility
  • For this grant program, partnering entities are defined as two parties working together for purposes of the proposed project. One entity must represent one or more artistic disciplines listed above and may be an individual artist or arts organization. One entity must represent an area of community impact listed above and must be an organization. These must be the only two official project partners in the grant application, although additional individuals and/or organizations may be involved in the project’s implementation.
  • Examples of eligible partnerships include:
    • A non-profit arts organization or unit of government and a non-profit organization or unit of government from a non-arts sector
    • An individual artist or ensemble and a non-profit organization or unit of government from a non-arts sector
    • A non-profit arts organization or unit of government and an organization from a non-arts sector
    • A university arts department and an organization from a non-arts sector
  • Examples of ineligible partnerships include:
    • An artist and/or arts organization without a non-arts partner
    • A university department partnering with another university department
    • Partnerships that received Cross-Sector Impact funding for three years are not eligible for FY25 funding. Partnerships that received a Cross-Sector Impact Grant in the past may apply for a FY25 Cross-Sector Impact Grant to continue or further their funded project, as outlined in these guidelines. However, neither partner from a previously funded grant may apply for a new project in FY25, either in their existing partnership or in a new partnership. Previously funded Cross-Sector Impact projects must be completed prior to January 1, 2025.
• Applicant Eligibility
  • All applicants/partners must:
    • Be located/reside in South Arts’ nine-state region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee);
    • Be in good standing with South Arts, having submitted all past final reports; and
    • Agree to the grant requirements which includes acknowledging South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in all programs and promotional materials related to the funded project.
    • A minimum of one of the two applicants/partners must:
      • Be a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, an official unit of local, county, or state government (including an institution of higher education), or a federally recognized tribal community; and
      • Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Visit our website for additional information about UEI numbers as well as instruction on how to receive one.
      • Local, county, or state governmental organizations must provide proof of government status. If applicable, non-profit status and UEI numbers will be verified by an independent third-party entity.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Federal agencies or local departments of federal agencies
• Educational pre-schools and K-12 schools/institutions
• In addition to the two applicants/partners, other individuals and/or organizations may be involved in the project’s implementation. These may include local departments of federal agencies, educational pre-schools, K-12 schools/institutions as long as no funds are disbursed to additional partners.
• Applicants/partners may only be part of one LOI.

For more information, visit South Arts.