Dakota West Arts Council Grant
FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS

GENERAL GUIDELINES
This Grant Program is a partnership between the City of Bismarck and Dakota West Arts Council. The Arts Council manages the program. This grant program is intended to invest in the overall health and success of the Capital City's high-quality arts and culture organizations and other non-profits proposing arts-and-culture focused projects.  The City and the Arts Council’s Board of Directors place a priority on programs and projects that best reflect the Arts Council’s mission and serve the residents of Bismarck. The Arts Council’s mission is:

                                                                                           To advance arts and culture in North Dakota’s Capital City
                                              through advocacy, community engagement, partnerships and collaboration.

The Arts Council’s Grant program is designed to provide financial support for arts and cultural activities held in Bismarck that merit public funding.  Please Note:
  • All applicants must comply with  the Arts Council's 2017-18 Grant Schedule:
    Grant Applications Available Online:    Wednesday, September 13, 2017
    Grant Applications Due to Dakota West Arts Council:         Wednesday, October 11, 2017
    Arts Council Grant Evaluation Committee Pre-Review Meeting:     Thursday, October 19, 2017
    Grand Application Reviews:   Thursday, November 9, 2017
    Grant Recipient Notification by Email:   Friday, December 1, 2017
  • Applicants must be current members of Dakota West Arts Council. MEMBERSHIP can be acquired through this website. 
  • Your organization must be a registered non-profit organization or you may be fiscally sponsored by a non-profit organization. Either way, we will need a tax-exempt  ID number (EIN).
    Fiscal sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which a 501(c)(3) public charity sponsors a project or program related to the organization's missions that may lack exempt status. This is an alternative to starting your own nonprofit and allows you to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under your sponsor's  legal and tax-exempt status. You must provide the Arts Council with a copy of the written agreement between both organizations.
  • This Grant Program can support only those programs, projects and activities that take place within Bismarck's city limits.
  • The award of Grants funds is made at the discretion of the Dakota West Arts Council's Evaluation Committee  and approved by the Arts Council board. The decision of the board is final.
  • To apply, you must fill out the NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION GRANT APPLICATION and BUDGET FORM below. Please be articulate in your responses. If the fill-able form does not work for you, type your answers on a separate sheet. Please number each response and make sure your organization or individual information is on each page.
  • Funds cannot be re-granted or redistributed (e.g. as a pass-through or fiscal sponsorship) to any other person, organization, or entity. However, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations can allow the use of their non-profit status for other projects and programs that help fulfill their mission.
  • Funds cannot be used for debt reduction/elimination, student loans, penalties or litigation.
  • Grantees must submit an EVALUATION FORM within 30 days after their program/project.  Failure to do so will deem the organization/individual ineligible for future Arts Council grant funding.
  • If you have questions, email us at dwac4arts@hotmil.com. Please title your message GRANT QUESTION and flag the email as important. The same goes for when you submit you application, title your message GRAND SUBMISSION and flag it.