General Support Program

The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture’s General Support program provides core operating support to arts and cultural organizations of all sizes that have a primary mission to create, produce, or provide arts and cultural programming to enhance the quality of life for Phoenix residents.

• Support arts and cultural opportunities among residents of all ages through education and outreach programs and opportunities for personal artistic expression and participation.
  

• Encourage broad-based, community-wide participation in arts and cultural activities resulting from a diversity of programming that is accessible to all residents.

• Sustain a community of organizations that are responsibly governed and managed, financially sound, and assist organizations that have reached a critical stage in artistic or institutional development by encouraging the identification of internal needs important to the sustainability or growth of the organization.
  

All sessions are held virtually via WebEx and are in Arizona Time. A recording will be available on the grants page 24 hours after each session is held.

Video one-on-one appointments and application consultations can be made with grants staff between February 21 and March 24, 2023.

To be eligible for the General Support program, applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Have a primary mission of producing or creating arts and culture programming and education for Phoenix residents
• Must have a minimum prior-year income of $4,000 (i.e., a total of earned income from Phoenix sources only and contributed income from all sources)
• Be in good standing concerning all contract agreemen​ts with the City of Phoenix, including filing previous grant final reports

• Must complete and submit a DataArts Cultural Data Profile with three years of financial data (applicants with a prior annual income of $4,000 to $249,999 have the option of submitting completing the provided summary form.)
  

• Not be an organization that is applying to the Project Support program
• Exist as a 501(c)3 organization for at least three years that has a business address and administrative offices in the city of Phoenix (no PO BOX) and conducts a majority of its programs and services in the city of Phoenix. Applicants that are not a 501(c)3 nonprofit but meet all the other eligibility criteria are eligible if their average annual income from the past three fiscal years is not over $250,000, and they also meet the evaluation criteria below.

Applicants do NOT make specific funding requests:

• Like-sized budgeted organizations are reviewed by a review panel. Organizations receive award allocations determined by the ranking it receives in the panel.
  

Applications are reviewed for eligibility by staff and evaluated and ranked by review panelists using the criteria listed below. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale. 

Community Significance

Evaluation Criterion (30 points)
The applicant clearly and specifically identifies the community the organization engages; reveals an understanding about how they currently effectively engage their community; describes a concrete path to reengaging any paused relationships with community post-pandemic.

Application questions:

• What community does your organization engage? Include demographic information, if available, or describe the community as specifically as possible. (400 words)
• What tried-and-true tactics does your organization rely on to engage your itended community? (400 words)
• As we transition out of the pandemic, what steps is your organization taking to reestablish community connections and/or collaborative relationships that were impacted by the pandemic? (400 words)

Artistic/Cultural Value

Evaluation Criteria (40 points)
The applicant is thoughtful in delivering programs and services that advance the organization’s artistic/cultural mission; demonstrates intentionality behind upcoming programming; and shows commitment to the success and development of Phoenix artists.

Application questions:

• Highlight upcoming programming that is exciting to the organization. Explain why that programming is particularly unique, innovative, and/or exceptional. (300 words)
  
• Describe the development process of your programming (event, workshops, performances, etc.). Who is involved in the programming development process? (400 words).
  
• How does your organization support local artists and culture workers through opportunities, fair wages, promotion, and/or professional development? (400 words)
• Primary Programs/Events Upload (past three years of programs, events, and services)
• Support Materials (Video, Images, Brochures, etc.)

Financial & Leadership Capacity

Evaluation Criteria
The applicant shows fiscal accountability and is flexible to keep up with the challenges the organization faces during the Coronavirus crisis, including fiscal health, staff, and board development, and a focus on the future; and reveals leadership's thoughtfulness regarding building equity into the organization.

• Adjusted annual revenue from most recently completed fiscal year (this is the figure labeled "Total Revenue Unrestricted Less In-kind Unrestricted" found on your DataArts profile or Statement of Activity). 
  
• Cultural Data Profile Report (Form upload option for organizations with prior year annual income between $4,000 and $249,999)
• Reference and explain specific Cultural Data Profile/budget expense and/or revenue line item trends/variances or debt/loan circumstances impacting the financial position. (400 words; Optional)
  
• Describe successes, challenges, or special circumstances related to your financial position in the past, current, and next fiscal year. Reference the CDP report/summary form when applicable. (400 words)
• What are three unique reflections about possible next steps for your organization to build a more equitable organizational framework? (400 words)

​Other application questions/attachments

• Background/About the Organization (200 words)
• What is your organization's Mission Statement? (250 words)
  
• What is your organization's Vision Statement? (250 words)
  
• Upload bios of 1) Artistic/Program Director or equivalent, 2) Executive Director/CEO or equivalent, and 3) Board Chair​​.​​
  
• Primary Programs/Events Upload (past two years + current year of key programs, events, and services)