Chapman Cultural Center Community Grants
Chapman Cultural Center is committed to broadening and strengthening Spartanburg’s creative community. Because of this commitment, a major part of the work we do is centered around funding Spartanburg’s arts and cultural community. Through our Community Grants program, quarterly grants of up to $5,000 per application are awarded. The grant program is open to both individual creatives and non-profits/government agencies.
The purpose of the grant program is to support arts projects & programs which promote artistic excellence, community arts development, career advancement, and/or professional development.
Funding for these grants is provided by the South Carolina Arts Commission and matched by Chapman Cultural Center's United Arts Annual Fund thanks to generous donations from our supporters.
Eligibility:
Applicants must either be a unit of government or a nonprofit organization operating in Spartanburg County. Applicants must provide a valid DUNS or UEI number.
These funds may help with:
- Equipment purchase/rental
- Travel/research expenses for a new project
- Master-level workshops/skill development opportunities (non degree-earning classes)
- Marketing/promotion
- Much more…see application for the full breadth of funding opportunities.
These funds may NOT help with:
- Scholarships
- Capital improvements and real property
- Classes/practicums that earn college credit
- School-related projects (preK-12, Colleges & Universities)
- In-school, curriculum-based projects with significant non-student participation
- Projects not open to the general public
- Ordinary living expenses such as rent and utilities.
- Past projects - i.e. reimbursement for an already completed project
Deadlines (2022-2023):
- August 15, 2022: Projects lasting Oct 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 (9-month time frame)
- November 15, 2022: Projects lasting Jan 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 (6-month time frame)
- February 14, 2023: Projects lasting April 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 (3-month time frame)
General Operating Support Grants
Chapman Cultural Center provides annual grant funding to Spartanburg County-based arts, humanities, and science museum nonprofits or creative groups that have been established for 3 or more years. Our General Operating Support Grants are unrestricted funds that can be used by organizations to expand their missions and programming, hire new staff, pay their rent, purchase new equipment, and even expand to new facilities.
Funding for these grants is provided through Chapman Cultural Center's United Arts Annual Fund thanks to generous donations from our supporters.
Eligible nonprofit organizations may apply within one of the following categories:
Small or Emerging Organizations ($150,000 in operating income or less):
Requests for up to 25% of the organization's operating budget will be considered, based on need and community impact.
Eligibility:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of Science or Humanities
- Must be a nonprofit, have 501c3 status, or have a fiscal agent/sponsor with status - i.e. Spartanburg County Foundation, etc.
- Must have a minimum of three years of operations.
- Does NOT require paid employee(s)
- Annual income under $149K per year
- No individuals or sole proprietors
Application Timeline for Fiscal Year 2023-2024:
- Applications open August 15, 2022
- Applications close October 21, 2022
- Panel will review applications November 16, 2022
- Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in December 2022
Medium Organizations ($150,000-399,000 in operating income):
May request up to 20% of income from the organization's previous Fiscal Year.
Eligibility:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of Science or Humanities
- At least 5 years since incorporation as a nonprofit, must have 501c3 status.
- At least 1 (One) part time or full time paid employee(s)
- Annual income between $150K - $399K per year
Application Timeline for Fiscal Year 2023-2024:
- Applications open September 16, 2022
- Applications deadline in November 18, 2022
- Applicants will give presentations to review panel December 14, 2022
- Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in February 2023
Large Organizations ($400,000+ in operating income):
May request up to 20% of income from the organization's previous Fiscal Year.
Eligibility:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of Science or Humanities,
- At least 7 (seven) years since incorporated as a nonprofit; must have 501c3 status with IRS
- At least 1 (One) paid full-time employee
- Annual income over $400K per year
Application Timeline for Fiscal Year 2023-2024:
- Applications open November 15, 2022
- Applications close January 20, 2023
- Applicants will give presentations to review panel February 15, 2023
- Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in April 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the process, your eligibility, or whether your project qualifies? Check out our FAQ's below! Is your question not addressed? Contact our Outreach department and they will gladly address your concerns! - Lucy Southwell, Outreach Coordinator, lSouthwell@chapmanculturalcenter.org
Who can apply for a grant?
Community grant applicants must meet the criteria below to be eligible:
- A unit of government OR
- A non-profit organization that is:
- currently registered with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office
- reflecting Spartanburg County as the primary address on all current official organizational documents
- with federal tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service OR applying through a tax-exempt Fiscal Agent/Receiver organization
In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) private schools, government entities, public school districts, and nonprofit organizations – must provide a valid DUNS number to receive a SCAC grant award.
General Operating Support Grantees must meet the criteria below to be eligible:
Small or Emerging Organizations ($150,000 or less in operating income):
Any organization with:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of science or humanities
- Must be a nonprofit, have 501c3 status, or have a fiscal agent/sponsor with status - i.e. Spartanburg County Foundation, etc.
- Must have a minimum of three years of operations.
- Does NOT require paid employee(s)
- Annual income under $149K per year
- No individuals or sole proprietors
Medium Organizations ($150,000-399,000 in operating income):
Any 501c3 organization with:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of Science or Humanities
- At least 5 (Five) years since incorporation as a nonprofit
- At least 1 (One) part-time or full-time paid employee
- Annual income between $150K - $399K per year
Large Organizations ($400,000+ in operating income):
Any 501c3 organization with:
- Art-specific mission, or museum of Science or Humanities,
- At least 7 (Seven) years since incorporated as a nonprofit
- At least 1 (One) paid full-time employee
- Annual income over $400K per year
How much money can I apply for?
Community Grants:
Applicants can request up to $5,000 per application.
General Operating Support Grants:
Small or Emerging Organizations:
Applicants may request up to 25% of operating income, based on need and community impact.
Medium Organizations ($150,000-399,000):
Applicants may request up to 20% of operating income.
Large Organizations ($400,000+):
Applicants may request up to 20% of operating income.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
You may apply for multiple CCC grants, however, you will only be awarded one. For instance, organizations looking to fund a specific artistic project may want to apply for a Community Grant. However, if the organization is already receiving CCC GOS support, their Community Grant application will not be considered.
What can the money be used for?
Community Grant funds may be used for:
- Equipment purchases and rentals, travel costs, and research expenses, for a new project
- Master-level workshops or skill development opportunities (non-degree-earning classes)
- Marketing /promotion
- Much more…see an application for the full breadth of funding opportunities.
General Operating Support Grant funds may be used for:
GOS Grants are unrestricted and can be used for any operating support costs that help progress and sustain your organization.
What other CCC grants are available?
There are not currently any other grants offered by Chapman Cultural Center. However, there are grant opportunities through the South Carolina Arts Commission and South Arts for artists and nonprofits.
In the past, artists and nonprofits were not eligible for grants through the South Carolina Arts Commission because they needed to apply directly through CCC. That is no longer the case. Artists and nonprofits may now apply through CCC and the South Carolina Arts Commission for any grant opportunity.