Call for Proposals: Annual Operating Fund Program (Canada)

Deadline: 3 February 2025

The Dance Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit dance organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the creation, production, presentation and preservation of dance, and other activities that contribute to the development of dance, dance artists, and dance audiences in Toronto.

Toronto Arts Council provides funding support to outstanding artists and arts organizations that contribute to the cultural life of the City of Toronto. TAC is committed to artistic excellence, innovation, and accessibility, and supports a wide spectrum of artistic endeavour and a range of activity that makes the City of Toronto one of the leading cultural centers in Canada. Through its support, TAC cultivates a richer engagement between artists and audiences and reflects the City of Toronto through the diversity of artists, arts communities and audiences that it serves.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:
- be non-profit;
- be a professional dance organization;
- be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City;
- have a history of sustained dance activity over the two years prior to this application;
- have received a minimum of two project grants through TAC’s Arts Discipline or Strategic programs;
- have professional artistic leadership;
- have a viable administrative structure;
- be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization;
- have sound financial management;
- submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year:
  - for requests over $30,000, audited financial statements are required;
  - for requests of $30,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are $250,000 or more, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements);
  - for requests of $30,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $250,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement);
- demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, including earned, government and private sector revenues.
Organizations must conduct their dance activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity.
Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible.
First-time Applicants:
- First-time applicants are organizations that did not receive an operating grant last year:
  - First-time applicants must consult with the Dance Program Manager before submitting an operating grant application.
  - Additional eligibility requirement: First-time applicants must have at least $65,000 in total revenues for the last completed year, and in projected revenues for the current and request years.
  - First-time applicants to the Annual Operating program may only apply in the first year of a multi-year cycle.