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Funding & Support Opportunities

SC Arts Commission
With a commitment to excellence across the spectrum of our state’s cultures and forms of expression, the South Carolina Arts Commission pursues its public charge to develop a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education, and economic vitality for all South Carolinians. The South Carolina Arts Commission provides support in four focus areas: Grants, Staff Assistance, Direct Programs, and Partnerships.  Information on all of these programs can be found via links on the home page: https://www.southcarolinaarts.com

For Individual Artists

  • Programs:
    • Arts Grow – Now joined by partners Central Carolina Community Foundation and Coastal Community Foundation, the ArtsGrowSC program combines the strengths of all four organizations to offer resources for qualifying artists, including a savings program, micro-loans, business venture loans, matching grants, personalized coaching and workshops.
    • Artists U – The South Carolina Arts Commission and Artists U are partners to offer ongoing training for S.C. artists. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Artists U is a grassroots planning and professional development program run by and for artists. Artists U training is designed to push artists to build lives that are balanced, productive, and sustainable.
    • Artists’ Venture Initiative – S.C. Artists’ Ventures Initiative (AVI), a broad-reaching project at the Arts Commission, is dedicated to improving conditions for S.C. artists by helping them develop the knowledge and skills to build satisfying, sustainable careers. Responding to input from artists across the state about their key concerns, the Arts Commission offers the following activities:
    • Business training
      The Artists’ Ventures Initiative connects artists to affordable training from Artists U that supports their development as entrepreneurs and profitable business people.
    • Start-up support for new arts-based businesses
      Through a competitive grant program and virtual business incubator, the Artists’ Ventures Initiative supports artists with sound plans for starting new arts-based businesses.
    • SC Arts Directory/Teaching Artist Certification
    • SC Novel Prize – The South Carolina Novel Prize recognizes one of South Carolina’s exceptional writers by providing a book contract with Hub City Press.
  • Grants:
    • Traditional Artists Apprenticeship Grants (APR) To support the passing of traditional artistic and cultural knowledge from Mentor Artists to qualified Apprentices UP to $2,000 to mentor artist, $500 to apprentice No Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/apr/
    • Arts Project Support Grants (APS) To support arts projects & programs which promote artistic excellence, community arts development, career advancement, and/or professional development Up to $1,000 Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aps/
    • Individual Artist Fellowships (FEL) To recognize and reward the artistic achievements of South Carolina’s exceptional individual artists Up to $5,000 Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/fel/
    • Artists’ Venture Initiative Grants (AVI) To encourage and enable the creation of new artist-driven, arts-based business ventures that will provide career satisfaction and sustainability for South Carolina artists. By invitation only Up to $3,500 for one time project/single purchase September 2019 Up to $5K for ongoing business venture Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/avi/

Arts Education & Schools

  • Programs:
    • Poetry Out Loud for HS students – national competition
    • The Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Project provides leadership to achieve quality, comprehensive arts education (dance, music, theatre, visual arts and creative writing. Partnership w/USC and Winthrop
  • Grants:
    • AEP Grant To support quality arts education programs in both traditional arts education settings and through other organizations that utilize the arts to advance learning in children Up to 15K Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aep/
    • Advancement Grants (ABC) To support schools and school districts committed to implementing standards-based arts curricula and to making the arts an integral part of the basic curriculum and daily classroom instruction Up to 15k per year per single school Up to 25K per year for school district Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/abc/
    • Teacher Standards Implementation Grant (TSI) To help arts teachers acquire the supplies, materials, professional development, or other tools/expertise needed to meet S.C. arts education standards Up to $750 Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/tsi/

Organizations & Community Arts Development

  • Programs
    • Art of Community, Rural SC
    • Cultural Districts
  • Grants:
    • Folklife and Traditional Arts Grant (FLK) To ensure that S.C.’s living traditions remain vibrant and visible parts of community life Up to 6K Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/flk/
    • AEP To support quality arts education programs in both traditional arts education settings and through other organizations that utilize the arts to advance learning in children Up to 15K Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aep/
    • Operating Support for Small Organizations Grant (OSS) To help strengthen small organizations’ ability to bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state Up to $2,500 per year Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/oss/
    • Arts Project Support Grant (APS) To support arts projects & programs which promote artistic excellence, community arts development, career advancement, and/or professional development Up to $1K Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aps/
    • General Operating Support Grants (GOS) To help strengthen arts organizations that bring ongoing arts experiences and services to individuals, communities, and other organizations throughout the state. No preset $ range Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/gos/
    • Sub Granting Grants (SUB) To provide funds to local arts councils for subgranting to organizations and artists in their region Up to $10K Match Requirements https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/sub/
    • Presenting and Performing Arts Initiatives Grants (PPA) To support the presentation of South Carolina-based touring performing artists Up to $2K Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/presenting-and-performing-arts-initiative- ppa-grants/
    • Accessibility Grants (ACA) To help South Carolina organizations make arts programs and existing facilities accessible to persons with disabilities Up to $2,500 Match Requirement https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aca/

South Carolina Humanities
South Carolina Humanities’ mission is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. https://schumanities.org/

  • Grants:
    • Major Grants are for public humanities programs that are large in scale. Awards are in sums between $2,000 and $8,000.
    • Mini Grants are to support public humanities programs of modest cost. Awards are $2,000 or less.
    • Planning Grants are awarded to support preliminary work in designing a project that warrants detailed planning because of its length, scope, or cost. Awards are $2,000 or less.
    • Fast Track Literary Grants are intended to support new or existing public literary programs such as (but not limited to) writers series, festivals, conferences, workshops, or writer’s residencies at schools. Awards are $3,000 or less.


Sustainable Arts Foundation
Amount: $6,000
Who For: Award supporting artists and writers with families.
Deadline: February 26.
Link: http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org
Application:

  • Biography
  • Artist Statement
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • How I Would Use this Award
  • Writers: 25 pages maximum.
  • Poets: 10 poems, not to exceed 25 pages total
  • Visual Artists: 10-20 images, highest resolution

Details and Notes: Fine Art Emergency Fund Grant List Sustainable Arts Foundation is one of the few grants for those artists and writers with families.


The Haven Foundation
Amount: Approximately $10,000
Who For: Award supporting artists and writers.
Deadline: Rolling
Link: http://www.thehavenfdn.org/
Application:

  • Letter detailing the reasons for the need of financial assistance.
  • Signed copy of household’s IRS tax returns for last 3 years.
  • Copies of medical expenses (doctors and hospital bills).
  • CD or slides of current work.
  • Resume, exhibition brochures, gallery affiliation, publisher(s), musical demonstration.

Details and Notes: Started by the writer Stephen King who was struck by a driver and nearly killed while taking a daily walk (thank you Mr. King), the Haven Foundation is for those dealing with a health crisis due to a recent illness or chronic condition due to a recent injury and where there is a question about being able to return to work. Grants are for one year and may be renewed for up to four more years. Payment is made, if possible, directly to landlord, mortgage holder or bank. Turn around response time is quick.

Marketing Training Opportunities

The National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP), a program of Americans for the Arts, is dedicated to serving arts professionals and artists who seek to market the arts, engage audiences, and serve their communities. We believe that the arts have the power to transform individuals, organizations, and communities and have seen that power at work across America. When arts professionals and artists are afforded the necessary skills to effectively market the arts and engage audiences, they have greater opportunities to not only strengthen their fiscal health and sustainability, but also create lasting impact in their communities. NAMP serves a broad group of arts professional and individual artists of various skill levels who work to promote the arts as a vital part of both an enriched, health life and a strong community.

ArtsU is an Online Education Forum for arts professionals to gain new skills, knowledge, and connections to further their personal and organizational goals. ArtsU seeks to expand and organize Americans for the Arts’ existing professional development and educational resources under one umbrella. Learn Anytime courses in marketing online here. 

Wallace Foundation Building Audiences for the Arts. ​​​The arts generate a range of benefits for people and society, from bringing individuals pleasure and captivation to helping communities build stronger social bonds. Audience building is not an easy matter for arts organizations, however. Diversifying the current audience mix; converting people who are inclined to attend, but don’t, into attendees; getting current audience members to attend more often: These are difficult but important challenges that many arts institutions face—and want to tackle. Access the free reports here. 

Leadership Training

ArtsU is an Online Education Forum for arts professionals to gain new skills, knowledge, and connections to further their personal and organizational goals. ArtsU seeks to expand and organize Americans for the Arts’ existing professional development and educational resources under one umbrella. Learn Anytime & Live Webinar courses in arts management and leadership online here. 

Carolina Leadership Seminars serve South Carolina’s dedicated new nonprofit executive directors. Over the past five years, Carolina Leadership Seminars has established itself as a trusted, multi-faceted, leadership development  program, designed exclusively for nonprofit executive directors. Each cohort is limited to 25 participants. Access online information here. 

Financial Management

Nonprofit Finance Fund helps mission-driven organizations achieve communities’ aspirations through tailored capital, strategic advice, and accessible insights. NFF envisions a society where money and knowledge come together to support vibrant communities. Access learning resources online here. 

The Wallace Foundation is a philanthropy working nationally to answer important questions that, if solved, could help strengthen practices and policies within a field. Organizations with strong financial management are better able to fulfill their missions and deliver high-quality services. With Fiscal Management Associates, a leading financial management consultant for nonprofits, we’ve created this library of resources to help your organization become “fiscally fit.” Access the Wallace Foundation online toolkit here. 

The National Council of Nonprofits produces and curates tools, resources, and samples for nonprofits. View the most recent additions, browse by category or tag, or search for the specific information you are looking for below. Access their free online resources for Financial Management here. 

Board Development

BoardSource believes that nonprofit board education and training is a vital part of any board’s development. Whether board members need help understanding their roles and responsibilities, or your chief executive wants to strengthen the board-staff partnership, BoardSource’s educational offerings can help you achieve your goals. Access these resources online here. 

The National Council of Nonprofits produces and curates tools, resources, and samples for nonprofits. View the most recent additions, browse by category or tag, or search for the specific information you are looking for below. Access their free online resources for Governance here. 

Strategic Planning

Planning as an Art by Bill Byrnes Access the free strategic planning guide online here.

ArtReach is an organization designed to support community-based arts initiatives. Access their free strategic planning and succession planning resources here. 

The National Council of Nonprofits is a trusted resource and proven advocate for America’s charitable nonprofits. Connecting the policy dots across all levels and branches of governments, the Council of Nonprofits keeps nonprofits informed and empowered to create a positive public policy environment that best supports nonprofits in advancing their missions. Access their free online resources for Strategic Planning here. 

Emotional Intelligence/Conflict Management

GlobalGiving is a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors and companies. Since 2002, they’ve helped trusted, community-led organizations  across the globe access the tools, training, and support they need to make our world a better place. Access their article on preventing conflict in the nonprofit workplace here. 

Harvard Business Review, “Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups”. Access article here. 

MindTools, “Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Learning How to Be More Aware”. Access article here.

Volunteer Management

VolunteerHub, “Manage Volunteers Successfully: 15 Strategic Tips”. Access article here. 

National Council of Nonprofits produces and curates tools, resources, and samples for nonprofits.  Access their Resource Toolkit for Volunteer Management here. 

VolunteerPro provides online volunteer management training, coaching & community to leaders of volunteers at all levels. We share research, best practices & emerging innovations in volunteer engagement, all based on engaging today’s volunteers. Access their free toolkit, The Essential Guide to Managing Volunteers here. 

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