The COVID-19 Colorado Creatives Relief Grant helped Colorado nonprofit arts organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $1 million by offsetting costs associated with COVID-19. Grants were for general operating support.
The following types of organizations had priority:
- small to mid-size
- those working in underserved communities
The award amounts were based on the organization's cash operating revenue for the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
This program was a one-time grant that closed in June 2020. You cannot apply for this grant anymore.
Overview
Type: Grant
For: Nonprofit arts organizations
Amount: $4,000 to $8,500 per organization
OEDIT division: Colorado Creative Industries
This grant was open to Colorado-based, arts-focused 501(c)(3) organizations with a primary purpose to support the arts as reflected in their organizational mission. Organizations that had other goals and included some arts programming were not eligible.
Your organization needed to:
- have its primary business location in Colorado
- have received funding in the last five years from Colorado Creative Industries (CCI)
- not received funding from CCI in the past year
- have a minimum cash operating budget of $25,000 for the last completed fiscal year.
- be registered in Good Standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
You may not have used this grant for:
- capital improvements, new construction, renovation or restoration
- purchasing major equipment
- debt and deficit reduction
- re-granting of grant funds
Colorado Creative Industries gave priority to small and midsize organizations, particularly those working in underserved communities. Decisions were weighted based on organizational need. The timeline is for the calendar year 2020.
April 1 to June 1 – Grant information period
June 1 – Deadline to submit online application
June 1 to June 19 – CCI staff reviews applications
June 19 – Council reviews recommendations; CCI announces funding
June 19 to June 30 – Grantees return award documents to CCI
July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 – Funding period
The funding period was July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Your organization needs to have spent the grant money by December 31, 2020. Grantees need to submit a final report at the end of the funding period.
You need to include a Colorado Creative Industries logo in all announcements and promotional materials and publicly credit Colorado Creative Industries at any public events related to your grant-funded program and activities. Recipients may also use the current National Endowment for the Arts logo if desired.
You need to submit a final report about how you met your organizational and project goals and the community impact of the activities. Final reports need to include a financial report for the funded activity clearly showing how you spent the money, numbers of people and communities served, and numbers of artists and youth the project engaged. Grant recipients who do not submit final reports are ineligible for further Colorado Creative Industries funding.
As a condition of the grant, Colorado Creative Industries requires the recipient of public funds to comply with all state terms (PDF) and federal terms (PDF). All material submitted regarding application for grant funds becomes the property of the State of Colorado and is subject to the terms of Colorado Revised Statutes 24-72-201 through 24-72- 206, Public Open Records. The State of Colorado has the right to use any or all information/material presented in reply to the Announcement, subject to limitations for proprietary or confidential information. Disqualification or denial of the application does not eliminate this right. Any restrictions on the use or inspection of material contained within the proposal shall be clearly stated in the proposal itself. The contents of the application will become contractual obligations if the project is funded.
Colorado Creative Industries can withhold, reduce, or cancel awards if a grantee:
- misses deadlines for reports
- does not notify the Colorado Creative Industries of significant management changes or instances of fraud or embezzlement
- fails to comply with the grant award requirements
- demonstrates inadequate financial management and oversight
- does not properly credit support from Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Creative Industries requires recipients of public funds to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to:
- Fair Labor Standards – Meet requirements for minimum wage and working conditions.
- Nondiscrimination – Statutes prohibite discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry or marital status.
- Audit – All applications accepted for funding become official records of the State of Colorado and are subject to an audit. Colorado Creative Industries requires open access to accounting records for award funds spent for the purpose of audit examination, reference, or transcription.
- Drug-Free Work Place – Comply to the extent applicable with the Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988.
- Fair Language – To comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, grant recipients need to take adequate steps to provide language assistance so people with limited English proficiency can meaningfully access programs, activities, and services.
- Access for People with Disabilities – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. All events funded by Colorado Creative Industries need to be accessible to people with disabilities including visual, hearing, mobility, and learning impairments. If you have questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact Access Gallery at 303-777-0797.
Grantee agrees to send a letter to their state legislators, informing them of the importance of state funding.