Frequently Asked Questions
The COVID Relief Fund for the Arts grant program is closed. The application deadline has passed.
What is Earned Income? Contributed income?
Earned revenue is money that a non-profit earns for providing goods or services. For example, sales of tickets, admission fees, tuition as well as sales in a gift shop also generate earned revenue. Contributed income, on the other hand, are gifts made freely without receiving anything in exchange and include the following:
- Contributions from Individuals: Cash contributions for operational/programming activities. Include memberships.
- Contributions from Private Foundations: Cash support from private foundations, trusts and regional arts foundations such as New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA).
- Business/Corporate Contributions: Cash support from businesses, corporations and corporate foundations.
- Fundraisers/Special Events: The contributed portion for which the ticket buyer did not receive a beneļ¬t. Non-profit organizations may report, as contributed income, the net income from dinners, auctions, and other events conducted to raise money to fulfill its mission.
Is there a match required to receive a $5,000 base award?
No. The base award does not require a match.
What types of Contributed Income can be used to satisfy the 2:1 cash match for the supplemental grant award?
Only contributions from individuals, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events received from March 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020 can be used to satisfy the required match.
What types of Contributed Income will be used to calculate our supplemental grant award?
Only contributions from individuals, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events received from March 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020 will be used to calculate the supplemental award.
Does the private dollars raised by November 1 require cash only by November 1, or would a written pledge payable in whole or in part after November 1 be eligible for a match?
Pledges will be accepted if they were made during the time period defined in the application (March 1, 2020 - November 1, 2020) and will be fully paid by December 30, 2020, but please note that pledges can account for up to 20% of cash "in hand" match only. In other words, an organization may only use pledged dollars for up to 20% of total contributed income.
What are fixed costs?
Fixed costs include rent, utilities, electricity, heat, telephone, internet, insurance, accounting and legal, software and online services, equipment leasing and/or maintenance.
What are the eligible expenses for this program?
Per the federal CARES Act guidelines, the following are eligible expenses:
- Payroll
- Fees paid to contractual workers
- Rent/mortgage
- Utilities
- Telephone and internet service
- Insurance
- Accounting and legal services
- Software and on-line services
- Equipment leasing and maintenance
- Costs associated to ensure compliance with Reopen Connecticut Sector Rules
The guidelines refer to compensation of artists. Does "artists" include stagecraft technicians too?
Yes. Artists include musicians, actors, dancers, singers as well as lighting technician, sound technician, stage hands, etc.
What is meant by duplication of benefits in the Fiscal Information section?
Per federal rules, a grant recipient cannot apply grant funds toward expenses which have already been offset by other sources. We strongly encouraged grantees to track and keep detailed records of how the funds were allocated to document that no duplication of benefits took place.
Can multiple part-time positions that equate to a full-time position be used to qualify for this funding opportunity? *Updated 10.27
Yes. The guidelines have been updated to reflect that an organization may use part-time positions to count toward a full-time position. The new language reads, "Had, prior to March 1, 2020, at least one (1) full-time equivalent (FTE) position (salaried or contractual)
*Full time is defined as at least 30 hours per week or at least 130 hours per month.
Full-time is defined as at least 30 hours per week or at least 130 hours per month.
Will the grant we received from our city be counted toward the supplemental grant of 50 percent of contributed income? And can it be used to satisfy the cash match?
No. A grant from a town or city is a grant from a municipal government. Only non-governmental contributions such as contributions from individuals, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events will be used to calculate the supplemental grant amount. In addition, a grant from a municipal government cannot be used to satisfy the match requirement.
Can we use our grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to satisfy the match? Or the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)?
No. A grant from the NEA (and the NEH) is a grant from the federal government. Only non-governmental contributions such as contributions from individuals, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events will be used to calculate the supplemental grant amount. In addition, a grant from the federal government cannot be used to satisfy the match requirement.
No. Earned income and in-kind goods/services cannot be used towards the match. Only contributed income from non-governmental sources can be used to satisfy the required match.
Can governmental grants be applied to satisfy the 2:1 cash match?
No. Federal, state and local/municipal grants cannot be used to satisfy the required match for this funding opportunity. Only non-governmental contributions, such as contributions from individuals, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events can be used to satisfy the required match.
What types of Income can be used to satisfy the 2:1 cash match?
Only contributed income from non-governmental sources can be used to satisfy the required cash match, such as contributions from individuals, membership dues, private foundations, business/corporate contributions and the net income from fund-raising events can be used to satisfy the required match.
May an organization apply under a fiduciary (fiscal sponsor) non-profit with 501(c)(3)?
No. An arts organization must have it own 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Organizations are not allowed to apply under a fiscal sponsor.
Is an arts organization eligible if its staff person(s) is/are independent contractors?
Yes, as stated in the guidelines, paid positions may be salaried or contractual.
Can two or more part-time positions be used to equal the required one full-time position?
No.
My organization applied to and received a CARES Emergency Relief Grant from the CT Office of the Arts (COA). Can we apply for a COVID Relief Fund grant too?
Yes
Can my organization apply to the COVID Relief Fund for the Arts as well as the CT CARES Small Business Grant Program being offered?
No
Is an organization responsible for paying back this money?
This is a grant. Not a loan. An organization is not responsible for paying back the funds.
Can an organization apply to both COVID Relief Fund and and other grant programs offered by the Office of the Arts?
Yes
Can an arts organization that received a PPP loan also apply for a COVID Relief Fund grant?
Yes
Can an arts organization that received a prior assistance grant from another State of Connecticut emergency/relief fund also apply to this COVID Relief Fund?
Yes, however, you cannot apply to the CT CARES Small Business Grant program currently being offered by the Dept. of Economic & Community Development. You cannot apply to both.
Can we apply to the Connecticut Humanities Cultural Relief Grant program (the CHEFA grants) and the COVID Relief Fund for the Arts?
Yes, you may apply to both programs.
Our organization received a sizable grant from a private foundation to upgrade the lighting system in our rehearsal and performance space. The money is earmarked but not yet in hand. Can this grant (restricted funds) be an eligible contribution? Will it also be matched at 50%?
Yes, a contribution, even if it is earmarked, can be used. But like a pledged amount, it must be in hand by December 30, 2020, AND, it can only count towards 20% match. See FAQ regarding pledges.