UMEZ Mertz Gilmore Seed Fund for Dance
Diversity in Dance / Graphic by UMEZ
UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant
PHOTO: Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance / Photo: Reynaldo Garcia Pantaleon
The UMEZ Arts Engagement grants program is designed to enhance the diversity and frequency of cultural presentations in Upper Manhattan. Grants are made to support artist-driven projects and organizations with budgets under $750,000 to make their work more widely available to the public. Unlike other UMEZ grants, applicants to the UMEZ Arts Engagement grants may request funds to support programming and general operations.
To administer this program, UMEZ is partnering with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), which is the regrantor of funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for the borough of Manhattan.
For a list of grant recipients, click here: 2018, 2019, and 2020.
AN OVERVIEW
Size of Grant: Grants are expected to range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Length of Grant: One year.
Matching Requirement: Grantees must show evidence or intent to obtain at least 25% of the project budget, either through income or in-kind donations and services.
Minimum Annual Operating Budget: No minimum budget. Organizations applying to this grant may not have an annual operating budget larger than $750,000.
Application Deadline: For projects taking place from January 1 - December 31, 2021, the deadline is Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 5pm. First-time applicants must attend one of the UMAE Info Sessions presented by LMCC in July and August.
Filing and Financial Requirements: If incorporated, organizations must submit the last IRS 990. If the organization filed a 990N or IRS filing is not available for the most recently completed fiscal year, an itemized financial statement signed by the organization’s treasurer, bookkeeper, or accountant, or an audited statement should be submitted. Individual artists or collectives must submit a financial statement for a completed project they have managed, preferably within the last four years, and of similar scale to the proposed project. The statement must reflect actual income and expenses.
Staffing Requirements: Must have one identified leader. All participating professional artists must be guaranteed a fee, indicated in the project budget.
Board Requirements: If incorporated, must have an active, functioning board of directors.
Programming Requirements: Applicants must have at least two years of programming activity within the past four years. All UMEZ-funded programs must take place in Upper Manhattan.
Fund Disbursement: Funds will be disbursed in April 2021.
Want to apply, find out about eligibility and restrictions, contact us, etc.?
Capacity Grant
PHOTO: Classical Theatre of Harlem Production of the Three Musketeers / Photo: Jill Jones
Capacity Grants are multi-year, matching grants for organizations that are expanding their staff and operations, based on a strategic plan for growth. Requests may be made to execute selected portions of an organization’s strategic plan or other long-term effort to expand and strengthen the organization’s resources. Funding in this category may support new, non-program staff positions and consultancies; components of new fundraising, marketing, and/or earned income initiatives; and capital projects.
AN OVERVIEW
Size of Grant: Multi-year grants will range up to $750,000. Grant requests may be no more than 50% of the organization’s average annual expenses over the past three fiscal years.
Length of Grant: Three years.
Matching Requirement: One-to-one (e.g., a request for a $300,000 grant will need to have a total project budget of at least $600,000). No in-kind expenses or in-kind matching funds are allowed.
Minimum Annual Operating Budget: $100,000
Application Deadline: LOIs are considered on a rolling basis, but the project start date should be approximately one year away.
Filing and Financial Requirements: Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Code section 501(c)(3). Applicants will be required to submit the last three years of audited or reviewed financial statements (based on NYS requirements) and the last three years of IRS 990 Forms.
Staffing Requirements: Organizations must have at least one full-time staff member.
Board Requirements: Organizations must have an active, functioning Board of Directors. Organizations will be required to have a 100% board giving rate over the course of a UMEZ grant.
Programming Requirements: Organizations must have at least three years of cultural programming in Upper Manhattan.
Fund Disbursement: Funds are disbursed in installments based on project expenses. 10% of the total funding amount is withheld as a reimbursement pending the final project report.
Funding Timeline: Click here for a sample timeline.
UMEZ funds cannot be used by an organization at its discretion to cover ongoing general operating expenses such as administrative staff, office supplies, insurance, and technology. UMEZ support may only be used to support the agreed-upon project expenses for the grant. (The only exception to this is the UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant program, where both administrative and program expenses may be included in the project budget.) In order to support an organization’s growth or to help an organization upgrade its infrastructure, however, UMEZ funds may be used to fund expense lines directly related to the project, even though those expenses will fall into general administrative expense lines. A completed grant request must include a multi-year planning document with budgets that show that the organization has increased its revenues and can maintain the proposed new staff position(s) as part of its general operating expenses after the UMEZ grant ends.
Applicants must be able to devote significant staff time to grant management and reporting. Click here for a sample of required documents. The timeline for receiving a Capacity, Infrastructure, Technical Assistance, or Catalyst grant is lengthy because each grant is tailored to the applicant. Organizations are encouraged to plan appropriately when requesting UMEZ funds to support a project as the application process may take up to a year.
Want to apply, find out about eligibility and restrictions, contact us, etc.?
Infrastructure Grant
PHOTO: Jazzmobile / Photo: Hubert Williams
Infrastructure Grants are multi-year grants to improve an aspect of an organization’s operations without requiring the addition of new staff positions. The project request should be driven by a business or strategic plan. Funding in this category may support a software upgrade (e.g., fundraising, financial, or marketing analytics), hardware, web site upgrade, marketing campaign, redesign brand image, sales and inventory management, capital improvements and accessibility improvements, among other examples, as well as the implementation costs associated with the project.
AN OVERVIEW
Size of Grant: Grants will range up to $250,000. Grant requests may be no more than 50% of the organization’s average annual expenses over the past three fiscal years.
Length of Grant: Two years.
Matching Requirement: UMEZ will support up to 75% of the project budget. The balance must be covered by the organization through actual (not in-kind) income and expense.
Minimum Annual Operating Budget: $100,000
Application Deadline: LOIs are considered on a rolling basis, but the project start date should be approximately one year away.
Filing and Financial Requirements: Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Code section 501(c)(3). Applicants will be required to submit the last three years of audited or reviewed financial statements (based on NYS requirements) and the last three years of IRS 990 Forms.
Staffing Requirements: Organizations must have at least one full-time staff member.
Board Requirements: Organizations must have an active, functioning Board of Directors. Organizations will be required to have a 100% board giving rate over the course of a UMEZ grant.
Programming Requirements: Organizations must have at least three years of cultural programming in Upper Manhattan.
Fund Disbursement: Funds are disbursed in installments based on project expenses. 10% of the total funding amount is withheld as a reimbursement pending the final project report.
Funding Timeline: Click here for a sample timeline.
UMEZ funds cannot be used by an organization at its discretion to cover ongoing general operating expenses such as administrative staff, office supplies, insurance, and technology. UMEZ support may only be used to support the agreed-upon project expenses for the grant. (The only exception to this is the UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant program, where both administrative and program expenses may be included in the project budget.) In order to support an organization’s growth or to help an organization upgrade its infrastructure, however, UMEZ funds may be used to fund expense lines directly related to the project, even though those expenses will fall into general administrative expense lines.
Applicants must be able to devote significant staff time to grant management and reporting. Click here for a sample of required documents. The timeline for receiving a Capacity, Infrastructure, Technical Assistance, or Catalyst grant is lengthy because each grant is tailored to the applicant. Organizations are encouraged to plan appropriately when requesting UMEZ funds to support a project as the application process may take up to a year.
Want to apply, find out about eligibility and restrictions, contact us, etc.?
Technical Assistance Grant
PHOTO: HarlemStage / Photo: Marc Millman
Technical Assistance Grants allow organizations to work with a consultant to address a specific issue or challenge. Technical Assistance Grant projects are self-determined; organizations may seek expertise in fundraising, marketing, governance, business plan development, or similar critical needs. A Technical Assistance Grant may prepare the recipient to apply for a Capacity Grant or Infrastructure Grant. Grantees will work with UMEZ staff to develop a Request for Proposal based on the organization's specific needs, and to make a selection from among a list of pre-approved consultants.
AN OVERVIEW
Size of Grant: Grants are expected to range from $20,000 to $50,000.
Length of Grant: One year or less.
Matching Requirement: None.
Minimum Annual Operating Budget: $100,000
Application Deadline: LOIs are considered on a rolling basis.
Filing and Financial Requirements: Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Code section 501(c)(3). Applicants will be required to submit the last three years of audited or reviewed financial statements (based on NYS requirements) and the last three years of IRS 990 Forms.
Staffing Requirements: Organizations must have at least one full-time staff member.
Board Requirements: Organizations must have an active, functioning Board of Directors.
Programming Requirements: Organizations must have at least three years of cultural programming in Upper Manhattan.
Fund Disbursement: Funds are disbursed directly to the consultant working on the project, with regular reporting from both the consultant and the grantee.
Funding Timeline: Click here for a sample timeline.
UMEZ funds cannot be used by an organization at its discretion to cover ongoing general operating expenses such as administrative staff, office supplies, insurance, and technology. UMEZ support may only be used to support the agreed-upon project expenses for the grant. (The only exception to this is the UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant program, where both administrative and program expenses may be included in the project budget.) In order to support an organization’s growth or to help an organization upgrade its infrastructure, however, UMEZ funds may be used to fund expense lines directly related to the project, even though those expenses will fall into general administrative expense lines.
Applicants must be able to devote significant staff time to grant management and reporting. Click here for a sample of required documents. The timeline for receiving a Capacity, Infrastructure, Technical Assistance, or Catalyst grant is lengthy because each grant is tailored to the applicant. Organizations are encouraged to plan appropriately when requesting UMEZ funds to support a project as the application process may take up to a year.
Want to apply, find out about eligibility and restrictions, contact us, etc.?
Catalyst Grant
PHOTO: National Jazz Museum in Harlem Opening Celebration with Bill Saxton Singer and Terri Davis / Photo: Richard Conde
Catalyst Grants are one-time matching grants designed to support a singular, transformative project that will have a sustained and measurable positive impact on Upper Manhattan’s cultural ecology. The project will be developed by at least three organizations working in partnership, leveraging their group resources to gain increased impact. Eligible cultural projects must have the potential to attract significant visitorship and thereby position Upper Manhattan as a destination for cultural tourism. Funds may support joint marketing, fundraising, and production costs, and artistic fees for the implementation of the project. As management of a partnership effort tends to be outside the normal course of business, selected administrative costs may also be covered.
AN OVERVIEW
Size of Grant: Grant support will not exceed $50,000.
Length of Grant: One year or less.
Matching Requirement: One-to-one (for example, a $50,000 request must have a total project budget of at least $100,000, although project costs tend to be larger). All project income and expense must be cash-based, not in-kind. Matching funds equal to the proposed grant request must be secured prior to the start of the grant.
Minimum Annual Operating Budget: $100,000 (applies to the lead applicant only).
Application Deadline: LOIs are considered on a rolling basis, but the project start date will ideally be at least six months away.
Filing and Financial Requirements: The three applicant partners must be tax-exempt and located within the UMEZ catchment area. At least one partner, serving as the lead applicant, must be tax-exempt under IRS Code section 501(c)(3) and meet all other UMEZ eligibility criteria. This lead applicant will be required to submit the most recent three years of audited or reviewed financial statements (as applicable, based on NYS requirements) and the most recent three years of IRS Form 990s.
Staffing Requirements: Lead applicant must have identified leadership with a track record of success in related ventures.
Board Requirements: Lead applicant must have an active, functioning Board of Directors.
Programming Requirements: Lead applicant must have at least three years of cultural programming in Upper Manhattan.
Fund Disbursement: Funds are disbursed in installments based on project expenses. 10% of the total funding amount is withheld as a reimbursement pending the final project report.
Funding Timeline: Click here for a sample timeline.
UMEZ funds cannot be used by an organization at its discretion to cover ongoing general operating expenses such as administrative staff, office supplies, insurance, and technology. UMEZ support may only be used to support the agreed-upon project expenses for the grant. (The only exception to this is the UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant program, where both administrative and program expenses may be included in the project budget.) In order to support an organization’s growth or to help an organization upgrade its infrastructure, however, UMEZ funds may be used to fund expense lines directly related to the project, even though those expenses will fall into general administrative expense lines.
Applicants must be able to devote significant staff time to grant management and reporting. Click here for a sample of required documents. The timeline for receiving a Capacity, Infrastructure, Technical Assistance, or Catalyst grant is lengthy because each grant is tailored to the applicant. Organizations are encouraged to plan appropriately when requesting UMEZ funds to support a project as the application process may take up to a year.
Banner photo: Fernando Tamburini installation at The Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling / Photo by Michael Palma Mir
Want to apply, find out about eligibility and restrictions, contact us, etc.?
Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to 16 exceptional dance artists, collectives, and/or small nonprofit organizations for projects, presented to the public in Upper Manhattan, that express their artistic vision.