Nebraska Arts Council grant applications due Oct. 1, 2012

October 1, 2012, is the deadline for Nebraska Arts Council-funded projects that will take place between January 1 and June 30, 2013 :

• Artists in Schools/Communities (AiSC) Sponsor Grants for OVER $2,500
• Arts Project Grants (APG)
• Arts Learning Project Grants (ALG)

Nebraska organizations (which may include library Friends and Foundation groups, public libraries, and schools) may apply for NAC funding if they:

• are incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and are physically located in the State of Nebraska, with articles of incorporation on file and current in the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office;  OR they are a subdivision of government, school, or religious organization with appropriate legal status.
• have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
• have received federal tax-exempt status.  Religious organizations, schools, and divisions of government must submit a copy of the sales tax exemption certificate from the State Department of Revenue.

Using the same criteria the grant panelists use, NAC staff members can review your application and offer advice on presenting a complete, well-prepared, and clearly presented application that includes an accurate and realistic budget; review your support materials; and will review your application as a whole to help make your proposal as competitive as it can be. In order for them to have time to review the draft of your application—and for you to then have time to make any recommended changes before the deadline—staff  ask that you contact them no later than Wednesday, September 19.

• For Arts Learning Projects and Artists in Schools/Communities grants, contact Anne Alston, anne.alston@nebraska.gov, 402-595-2122
• For Arts Project grants to underserved communities, contact Deborah Bunting, deborah.bunting@nebraska.gov, 402-595-3940
• For Arts Project grants, contact Mike Markey, mike.markey@nebraska.gov, 402-595-3935
• If you don’t know which category is the best fit, or for general grant questions, contact Nicole Van Zante, nicole.vanzante@nebraska.gov, 402-595-2124

Before beginning your application, NAC encourages you to review the NAC’s Eligibility Criteria. You are also encouraged to watch the NAC Grants Info Tutorial YouTube video , which provides a 13-minute overview of the NAC’s grant programs. For more detail about the various grant categories, please visit the Grants Information section of the NAC website. NAC is also hosting several “NAC Good Grantsmanship” workshops in Kearney, Lincoln and Omaha leading up to the October 1 project grant deadline. These workshops, conducted by NAC staff members, will provide specifics on writing competitive applications for NAC funding. The sessions are free of charge, will last approximately 1.5 hours, and will include time for questions and answers. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. A list of dates, times, and locations can be found below.

• Tues., Aug. 28^th, 12pm – Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney
• Thurs., Aug. 30^th, 1pm – Nebraska Arts Council Conference Room, Omaha
• Wed., Sept. 5^th, 1pm – International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Lincoln
• Thurs., Sept. 6^th, 5:30pm – Nebraska Arts Council Conference Room, Omaha

To register for one of these workshops, click here and click on the date on the NAC Calendar. Please note that all October 1 grant applications are submitted via eGrant. NAC recommends that first time eGrant users download the eGrant User Guide and watch the 15-minute eGrant Online Tutorial YouTube video before starting an application in eGrant. Floating deadlines for other grants (funding availability for grants varies):

• 6-12 Weeks Prior: Mini Grants
• At least 6 Weeks Prior: Artists in Schools/Communities (AiSC) Sponsor Grants UNDER $2,500; Nebraska Touring Program Sponsor Grants (NTP)