The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning ("DEP"), in conjunction with the Erie County Arts and Cultural Advisory Board ("EACAB"), will be kicking off the 2023 Arts and Cultural Funding Program with an application release on Tuesday, February 22. Applicants can choose one of three funding levels to apply for, similar to last year’s application process, and the process will be completed entirely online.

As established in 2020, Level 1 applications may request a grant of up to $50,000, Level 2 applications may request a grant of more than $50,000 and up to $150,000, and Level 3 applications are for grant requests of over $150,000. Grant requests should not exceed 20% of an organization's operating budget for the most recently completed fiscal year. Please note that funding requests are not guaranteed. All applications will be evaluated based on their financial management, governance, and programming, with funding distributed in accordance with available funds for the 2023 calendar year.

New applicants must register well before the deadline for access to the grant applications at www.erie.gov/CulturalFunding. Only one account is permitted per organization. This account should enable applicants to complete their application in multiple sessions before submission. Prior applicants can continue using their existing accounts to update their 2023 application.

Level 1 applications are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 13. Level 2 and Level 3 applications are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 20. The staggered deadline allows organizations more time to complete their applications and improves submission through the website. Submission assistance is available until 4:30 PM each day.

Eligible nonprofit organizations must have at least one (1) year as a 501c3 organization. All application attachments are required to be consistent with the organizations' federal and state nonprofit reporting requirements.

Organizations meeting the stated Eligibility Requirements must submit their application online at www.erie.gov/CulturalFunding. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the Erie Arts & Cultural Advisory Board and DEP staff. Late or incomplete applications will negatively affect an organization's application score.

Organizations are strongly encouraged to attend an applicant briefing. Two virtual briefings will be provided via Webex; one focusing on new applicants and the second on prior applicants. DEP staff and EACAB Board members will give an overview of the application, a walkthrough of account registration and application completion/submission, and answer questions. Interested persons may attend more than one briefing, however, only one application per organization will be considered for funding. Recordings of these meetings will be available on Erie County's YouTube page. An alternate briefing may be scheduled (depending on demand) for applicants unable to attend the scheduled briefings.

Registration for briefings is open at www.erie.gov/CulturalFunding.

New Applicants Briefing: Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Prior Applicant Briefing: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Contact Mariely Ortiz at 716-858-1916 or mariely.ortiz@erie.gov if your organization cannot attend the briefings or representatives require special accommodations.

    For more information:

    On the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning, visit https://www2.erie.gov/environment/   

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