Projects Pool Grants

Projects Pool Grants are administered by Arts Culture Catawba for nonprofit organizations serving Catawba County. The program is supported through the North Carolina Arts Council's Grassroots Arts Program, with additional dollars provided by Catawba County government and six municipalities: the Town of Catawba, City of Claremont, City of Conover, City of Hickory, Town of Maiden, and City of Newton. Arts Culture Catawba serves as the Designated County Partner. The program is intended to enhance and strengthen the cultural community, broaden services offered to Catawba County citizens, and support innovative arts projects. Eligible applicants include organizations with 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. A nonprofit organization that does not yet have 501(c)(3) status may apply if it secures another organization with that status to serve as fiscal agent. Organizations must have been active for at least one year before applying and must be governed by a representative board that is not self-perpetuating. Colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical institutes may apply when the proposed project is community based, generates area-wide cultural involvement, and is not an internal program. Schools may apply for innovative arts education projects. Organizations located outside Catawba County may apply if the proposed project takes place within Catawba County. Individual artists are not eligible applicants, although funded organizations may contract with individual artists whose services fall within the project's scope. Projects must be open to a broad segment of the community, directly benefit Catawba County, and not duplicate programming available through other agencies. Projects should encourage participation by the general public in addition to an organization's membership. Projects generally must be new and innovative, although existing projects and regular season or subscription offerings that need assistance may qualify when they meet program guidelines. An existing program seeking funding must demonstrate a clear expansion or innovation. Priority considerations include community support, professional artist involvement, cooperation among arts and community organizations, responsiveness to community needs, outreach to traditionally underserved audiences, artistic excellence, innovation, audience development, organizational stability, fiscal accountability, organizational infrastructure, and investment in leadership and talent. Applicants may request a maximum of $10,000. Grassroots funds require a dollar-for-dollar cash match raised locally and spent on the same project during the same fiscal year. Matching funds may be anticipated and do not need to be in hand when the application is submitted. In-kind contributions may document additional support but cannot replace the required cash match. Projects Pool funds cannot match another North Carolina Arts Council grant, and the same matching funds cannot be used for more than one Projects Pool or Arts Culture Catawba grant. Funds cannot support deficits, permanent personnel, permanent equipment, construction or facility renovation, logo development and design, cash awards, food and beverages for entertaining, tuition for academic studies, or fundraising events. An organization may submit no more than two applications per granting period. Applications are submitted through the online application form on the Arts Culture Catawba website. Applicants must create or log into a user account to save an application in progress. Required attachments include a complete income and expense statement for the applicant's last fiscal year, for which an audit may be substituted, plus complete operating budgets for the current and next fiscal years. After submission, applicants should receive confirmation that the application was received and is complete. Applicants whose proposals meet Projects Pool guidelines must participate in a committee interview and send at least one representative. For the upcoming cycle, applications open February 8, 2027, an applicant webinar is scheduled for February 15, 2027, applications are due April 5, 2027, and the panel presentation date is May 12, 2027. Applications are reviewed by the Projects Pool Committee. The committee may designate funding for specific elements of a proposed project. Review priorities include strong community support, involvement of professional artists, organizational cooperation, responsiveness to community needs, outreach to underserved audiences, involvement of racial minorities, older adults, and people with disabilities, artistic excellence, non-traditional art forms, visibility, innovation, opportunities for artists, audience development, outreach programs, programming for preschool children, innovative arts education, organizational infrastructure, leadership, resiliency, and investment in BIPOC-led organizations or relationships and programming with artists. If either the committee or applicant modifies a proposed project, a revised budget and program description must be submitted before funds are disbursed. Funded organizations must sign a contract with Arts Culture Catawba and use the required credit line in publicity, promotions, and printed programs. A cash request form is required to receive funds. One half of the award may be requested before the project date, and the remaining half may be requested after project completion with submission of the final report. A final report, including a summary page for the Projects Pool Committee, is mandatory, and failure to submit it can jeopardize future applications. Questions may be directed to Chris Coffey, Grants and Resources Coordinator, at grants@artscatawba.org or (828) 419-1522, ext 306.

Demonstrate strong community support, professional artist involvement, collaboration, responsiveness to community needs, outreach to traditionally underserved audiences, artistic excellence, innovation, opportunities for artists, audience development, organizational stability and fiscal accountability. Clearly show how the project directly benefits Catawba County, invites broad public participation, avoids duplication, and represents a new or expanded innovative effort. Ensure the required financial attachments are complete and send at least one representative to the panel interview.