Flexible Support Grant Program

The Flexible Support grant provides funding to help organizations/groups create and sustain Minnesotans’ access to the arts.
Donor Name: Metro Regional Arts Council
State: Minnesota
County: Anoka County (MN), Carver County (MN), Dakota County (MN), Hennepin County (MN), Ramsey County (MN), Scott County (MN), Washington County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/21/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Eligible projects include operations, and/or organizational capacity, and/or arts programming:

Activities that support the operations of an organization/group (such as paying staff salaries or rent on a space) to provide arts access to Minnesotans.
Organizational capacity activities, meaning ​​a coordinated management effort that bolsters an organization/group’s ability to do its work (like rebranding, building a website, or overhauling financial tracking systems) to enhance Minnesotans’ access to the arts. This could also be the purchase of equipment and/or making facilities improvements to provide arts access.
Arts Programming activities in Minnesota, whether a single event (such as a theater production) or a series (such as a series of music workshops).

There is approximately $4 million available in funding for this year’s Flexible Support program. MRAC has set aside a portion specifically for groups whose Leadership is majority people who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); and/or disabled people/people with disabilities; and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+).
Funding Information

These groups may request up to $25,000. Other eligible groups may request up to $15,000.
Eligible Funding Period May 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026

Eligiblity Criteria
All organizations/groups must have a primary address in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington county.
In addition to geography eligibility, organizations/groups must be one of the following:

Arts 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization: Federally recognized tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations with total annual cash expenses of $400,000 or less during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). If total cash expenses from your most recently completed fiscal year were more than $400,000, your organization/group is ineligible.
Cultural 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization: Federally recognized tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organizations with annual cash arts programming expenses of $400,000 or less during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). Cultural nonprofit organizations must isolate their arts programming expenses from non-arts financial activity. If total arts programming expenses from your most recently completed fiscal year were more than $400,000 your organization/group is ineligible.
Non-arts & Non-cultural 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization: Federally recognized tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with annual cash arts programming expenses of $400,000 or less during its during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). Non-arts & non-cultural nonprofit organizations must isolate their arts programming expenses from non-arts & noncultural financial activity. If total arts programming expenses from your most recently completed fiscal year were more than $400,000, your organization/group is ineligible.
Public entities: A public entity such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government with annual cash arts programming expenses of $400,000 or less during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). The public entity must isolate their arts programming expenses from non-arts financial activity. If total arts programming expenses from your most recently completed fiscal year were more than $400,000, your public entity is ineligible.
Community education units: Community education units of a school district with annual cash arts programming expenses of any size during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). Community education units must isolate their arts programming expenses from non-arts financial activity.
Fiscally sponsored group with arts projects: Groups with arts projects not registered as a federally recognized tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization must apply with an eligible fiscal sponsor. Fiscally sponsored groups must consist of at least 3 people who are on the Leadership team and have total annual cash expenses of $400,000 or less during its most recently completed fiscal year (not the fiscal year you are currently in). If total arts programming expenses from your most recently completed fiscal year were more than $400,000, your group is ineligible.

For more information, visit MRAC.