The Fund for Creative Communities (The Fund) is part of the New York State Council on the Arts’ (NYSCA) statewide Decentralization program (DEC), which was established in 1977 by the New York State Legislature as a statewide, community arts regrant program. LMCC administers The Fund for the borough of Manhattan.

How The Fund Works

The Fund supports small and midsized non-profit organizations that provide high-quality local arts programs. The Fund also seeks to increase access to arts and cultural activities in neighborhoods throughout Manhattan and to encourage new arts activities in communities where the need exists.

Grants ranging from $750 to $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organizations and to artists applying through a fiscal sponsor for arts projects with a public component that will benefit Manhattan communities. Through The Fund, LMCC awards close to $300,000 each year. In our most recent cycle, the program awarded 86 grants to enable projects in neighborhoods from Washington Heights to the Battery.

Application Assistance

Information sessions provide an overview of The Fund for Creative Communities program and guidelines, as well as a discussion of the components of a well-prepared application.

First-time applicants and returning applicants who have not attended an information session in the past three years (prior to 2006) are required to attend. Please click here for dates and locations.

We encourage you to seek one-on-one assistance from LMCC staff, in person or on the phone, with specific questions about the proposal.

Applicant Eligibility

Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations, such as arts organizations, social service agencies, senior centers, faith-based organizations, folk societies and cultural centers. You must meet the following requirements to apply:

• Organizations must be based in Manhattan, and proposed activities must serve Manhattan residents
• Organizations should not have applied directly to NYSCA for a grant for the same fiscal year
• Organizations must have proof of nonprofit status
• Organizations must provide arts, cultural and creative programming to specific communities
• Individual artists and groups may only apply through a nonprofit organization acting as a fiscal sponsor. NOTE: An organization that already receives funding from NYSCA may not act as a fiscal sponsor for this program.
• First-time applicants and returning applicants who have not attended an information session in the past three years (prior to 2006) are required to attend. Please click here for dates and locations.

Project Eligibility

Applications will be accepted for ongoing or new projects in any artistic discipline. Projects must meet the following requirements:

• Project activities must take place between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.
• Project activities, including the public component, must be located in Manhattan.
• Individual artists residing in other boroughs may apply if their nonprofit fiscal sponsor is Manhattan-based and their project takes place in Manhattan. However, they will not be eligible to apply to another borough for DEC funding in FY10.
• Applicants may only submit one (1) proposal requesting support for one (1) project.

Funding Restrictions

Under this program funding is not available for:

• Organizations applying directly to or receiving funding from the New York State Council on the Arts in the same year, regardless of that application’s status
• Public school districts, affiliates or components exclusively serving student audiences such as in-school and after school programs
• New York State agencies and departments
• Any organization previously funded with outstanding final reports to LMCC
• 100% of project costs; applicants must show at least 25% of the project income from other sources
• Establishing a new organization
• Offering fellowships
• Cultural activities restricted to an organization’s membership; eligible projects must be promoted and remain available to the general public
• Arts programs that are solely socio-economic, recreational, rehabilitative or therapeutic in nature
• Entertainment costs, such as opening parties, receptions or fundraisers
• Payment for facilities or purchase of capital equipment
• General operating support
• Work-in-progress showings solely for the development of new work
• Humanities projects
• Proposals requesting support solely for educational workshops; eligible projects must have a culminating event that is promoted, and available, to the general public

Deadline: September 22, 2009. For more information and details please visit their web site.

To view other available grants please click here.

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