ArtsBuild supports local arts organizations whose mission is to create and provide year-round arts programs and experiences that are vital to the cultural life of the community. Mission Support grants provide general operating funds to eligible organizations. The grants are designed to support access to the arts and to supplement other earned revenue and contributed income generated by the organization. Mission Support grant recipients enrich Chattanooga and Hamilton County making it a better place to live, work, and visit. Detailed guidelines can be found within the application.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
Organizations must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Mission Support grant funding:
The nonprofit organization must have a primary written mission of year-round arts and cultural programming.
Organization must be in existence for at least 3 years with a 501(c)3 fiscal status with primary place of business in Hamilton County, TN.
Organizations must demonstrate broad, diverse, and inclusive community access to their programs and operations.
Minimum operating budget of $50,000 in the last completed fiscal year.
Bylaws approved by the Board of Directors of the organization.
Professional, qualified, and current staff to manage the day-to-day operations and personnel to ensure high quality programs to constituents.
An active and financially (including in-kind) supportive Board of Directors representing our culturally diverse community and operating under a Board-approved rotation policy with specified terms.
A Board of Directors that is accountable for:
Leadership: Ensuring the organization is leading the charge to create as much positive impact as possible, on behalf of the community served by the organization.
Legal: Keeping the organization in compliance with all laws that relate to its activities, including the organization’s conflict of interest policy.
Operational: Ensuring the organization’s work is getting done in all program/operational areas, and that all work is being done ethically, legally, and effectively.
Fiduciary Oversight: Acquiring sufficient resources for the organization’s operations and accounting to the public for its services and the expenditure of its funds.
Strategic Planning: Approving and keeping current a multi-year strategic plan that addresses program excellence, institutional stability, educational and outreach programs, audience development and audience, staff, and board diversity goals and objectives.
Who is NOT eligible to apply?
The following entities are not eligible for Mission Support grant funding:
Arts organizations with annual budgets less than $50,000 in their last completed fiscal year.
501(c)3 organizations that do not state the arts or a particular arts discipline within their primary mission.
Institutions of higher education or individual departments of colleges and universities.
Public broadcasting media, radio, and television stations.
Churches or church-affiliated programs.
Governmental institutions, i.e., public libraries, park and recreation facilities, schools, etc.