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STRATEGIC PARTNER INVESTMENTS

Description
Strategic Partner Investments are designed to support mature Guilford County arts organizations that, over time, have produced consistently strong arts programs and services and demonstrated strong management and financial accountability. Funds are provided on an ongoing basis to support and strengthen artistic and administrative functions of arts organizations and help them deliver high quality arts services to the citizens of our community. Investments generally range up to $150,000 and are based on the organization's application rating. Organizations receiving funding in this area complete a vigorous evaluation process by the UAC and support the UAC’s strategic objectives. New applicants must contact the UAC one full year prior to applying for a Strategic Partner Investment. Representatives of the UAC will conduct a site visit to determine applicant readiness.

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SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENTS

Description
UAC Greensboro Supplemental Investments are divided into the following categories:
1. Organizations
2. Teacher Art Grants
3. Central Piedmont Regional Artist Grants

General Funding Policies for Supplemental Investments

- Organizations may submit up to two Supplemental Investment applications per year

- If funding is sought for an existing program, funds must be used to expand the program to new audiences or measurably improve the program’s quality;
- Project’s focus must be to promote the arts or an art form and must demonstrate that the project cannot be or is not being implemented through existing arts organizations;
- Project must take place in Greensboro or Guilford County and be community-based or generate area-wide arts involvement;
- The United Arts Council’s supplemental investment will assume no more than 50% of the total cash requirement of a project or program; investment funds require a 1:1 cash match. In-kind contributions may not be considered for matching purposes, but may be documented as supplemental evidence of support. Matching funds are required to be from local sources and may either be public or private funds. Matching funds and grant funds must be spent in the same fiscal year;
- Investments may not be used to match other grants received from the NC Arts Council. Likewise, other NC Arts Council grants may not be used to match a UAC Greensboro grant.

SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTMENTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS
Supplemental Investments for Organizations are designed to offer support and assistance to local, Guilford County-based non-profit organizations who produce programs of artistic merit and who demonstrate financial and administrative stability. This support is granted in a variety of ways: project assistance, capacity building, organizational development, and new ventures.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant organization must be a Guilford County-based non-profit organization or must secure a tax-exempt organization to act as a fiscal agent (see requirements for submitting a grant as a fiscal agent as found on the application);
• Organization must demonstrate evidence of sound fiscal and management capabilities;
• Applicant must have no outstanding reports due to UAC Greensboro and must have a solid track record of compliance with UAC grant requirements;
• Organization must be able to meet the evaluation criteria.

Fiscal Agents
Organizations that are seeking tax-exempt status but do not yet have the required IRS determination letter may apply for grants through a fiscal agent for up to three years. A non-profit organization with tax-exempt status may act as a fiscal agent for an applicant organization that has not yet received its tax-exempt status. In cases where a grantee is using a fiscal agent, the fiscal agent, as well as the grantee organization, are fiscally and legally responsible for all grant requirements. There must also be a demonstrated relationship and spirit of cooperation between the organization and the fiscal agent.

The fiscal agent is responsible for the expenditure of all project funds and is liable for the repayment of any grant funds not spent or spent incorrectly. More information on requirements of fiscal agents can be found under “contractual requirements for grantees” on the application form.

Ineligible Applicants
The UAC supports independent not-for-profit arts organizations that do not receive a significant part of their operating support from other major institutions or sources. Therefore, applicants in the following categories generally will not be eligible for UAC supplemental investments for organizations:
- Public broadcasting media: radio and television stations;
- Political groups;
- Churches or religious entity-associated programs receiving a significant portion of base support from a church or religious organization;
- Institutions of Higher Education.

Note: collaborative efforts are encouraged between independent not-for-profit arts organizations and institutions for arts projects. Questions about eligibility should be directed to UAC staff.

Investment Categories for Organizations
1. Project Assistance (funded in part by the NC Arts Council’s grassroots grants program)

- Support for special projects and programs, such as innovative projects including festivals, performances, art contests, exhibits, etc.
- Organizations with financials less than $50,000 may apply for basic operating support through this grant category (Those $50,000 and greater may apply through Strategic Parnter Investments, Tier III)
Funding may be used for the following expense areas:
- Programming Expenses (artists’ fees, supplies, marketing, etc.)
- Programming Administration (telephone, postage, printing, etc.)
- Programming Personnel (permanent and part-time, etc.)
- Operating (rent, utilities, etc.)
- Capital Expenditures (permanent equipment: typewriters, lighting, cameras, etc.)

2. Capacity Building / Development Investments

Funds in this category should be used to strengthen the organization itself, not for specific artistic projects or programs and should support efforts of an organization to extend and expand effectiveness, ie: strategic planning, fundraising strategy, board development, salary assistance for new or expanded positions, etc.

3. New Ventures Investments
Funds in this category should support an extraordinary programming effort and serve as risk capital to develop a new area of programming that extends an organization into new venues, audiences or area of artistic endeavor.

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TEACHER ART GRANTS
Description
Designed to enhance and strengthen the use of the arts to teach core curriculum, to broaden programs offered for K-12 students and to encourage collaboration between artists, arts organizations and schools; emphasize learning in, through and about the arts and teacher professional development. Grants are accepted from a school’s teachers, parents or staff.

Eligibility Criteria
Teachers, PTA’s and/or schools are eligible to apply. PTA’s must have a teacher representative for the project. All projects must have approval by the school Principal or headmaster. The program serves non-High Point area schools including Guilford County schools, independent, parochial and charter schools, grades K-12 (High Point Area Arts Council operates a separate Teacher Art Grants program).

Evaluation Criteria

• Artistic and Programming merit and ability to complete a quality project;
• Relationship between project and school curriculum and demonstrated ability to meet school guidelines and address specific curriculum goals;
• Ability to create collaboration between schools;
• Involvement of direct student and teacher participation Funding Restrictions;
• Multiple project applications will be accepted from any school. However, preference will be given to funding one project per school due to limited funds;
• Funding is available for project costs, and may not be used for a school’s administrative or general operating expenses;
• Grants may be used for arts resources, programs, and hiring arts consultants or artists. Money may not be used for food or drink or solely for standard classroom art supplies. Grants for permanent equipment and supplies will be considered but capital expenditures will be disfavored unless related to a specific project.

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CENTRAL PIEDMONT REGIONAL ARTIST GRANTS

funded in part by the NC Arts Council

Description
The United Arts Council of Greensboro coordinates the Central Piedmont Regional Artist grant program on behalf of a consortium of five counties: Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham. Funding is provided by the North Carolina Arts Council and matched locally by participating counties.

A limited number of grants are offered annually to residents of these counties to further their development as professional artists at any stage in their career. Grant funds may not be used for tuition in degree programs. Eligible artistic disciplines are music (both classical and contemporary), dance, visual arts (painting, photography, sculpture and pottery), film/video, drama, and literature. Applicants must submit samples of their work and provide a narrative description of their career development plans. Grant recipients are required to sign a contract and file an evaluation at the completion of their project.

Eligibility

• Individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply (each member of the group of artists applying for the grant must meet all of the eligibility requirements);
• Applicants may be either emerging artists or established artists and should possess a strong record of artistic accomplishment appropriate to the stage of the applicant’s career;
• The applicant must be a current resident of Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph, or Rockingham county;
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and not currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
  

Evaluation Criteria
- Artistic Excellence;
- Professional Commitment to his/her artform;
- Contribution of the proposed project to the applicant’s professional development;
- Feasibility of the proposed project.

Funding Restrictions
- Staff of the UAC of Greensboro or any other partner arts councils are not eligible to apply
- Central Piedmont Regional Artist project grant recipients who were awarded the grant within the last three years are not eligible to apply. For example, recipients awarded the grant in 2005, 2006 or 2007 are not eligible to apply in 2008.