Creative Resiliency Grant

The deadline to apply for the Creative Resiliency grant has passed. Downloads below are available to offer reference to recent program guidelines.

The City of Dubuque, through the Creative Resiliency Grant Program, offers limited, flexible support to arts, humanities, and cultural nonprofit organizations operating within Dubuque city limits to undertake activities that expand organizational capacity, increase financial stability, promote equity and inclusion, and enhance programmatic offerings in response to COVID-19 and inequity concerns exacerbated in 2020.

• Guidelines and Rubric (downloadable PDF)
• Application Questions (downloadable Word Doc or PDF)
• Budget Worksheet (downloadable Excel file)
• Online Application Form

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Dubuque-based nonprofit organizations who have a primary mission to provide the general public with programs or activities in areas directly concerned with arts, arts education, or cultural heritage. Eligible applicants must have operated as a nonprofit, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of IRS code for at least two years prior to the application date.

INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• For-profit organizations or businesses;
• Nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is focused on religious, political, social service, or athletic activities;
• Organization that uses a fiscal agent or the nonprofit or federal tax-exempt status of another organization; 
• Educational institutions including K-12 schools, universities, and community colleges;
• An organization with an outstanding Final Report associated with previous grant awards from FY20 or prior Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs funding opportunities.

FUNDING GUIDELINES

Grant amounts will be awarded based on an organization’s annual cash operating expenses, taken as an average of the organization’s reported operating expenses from the 2 fiscal cycles prior to March 17, 2020.

Funding levels can be impacted by the number of eligible applicants and how an application scores against the scoring rubric.

Applicants are required to demonstrate matching funds for the direct costs that support the proposed activities in an amount that is equal to or greater than the total grant amount requested. The required match may be in-kind, cash, or a combination of the two. Other grant funds from the City of Dubuque may not be used as matching funds.

TIMELINE

• Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - Applications available.
• Friday, June 11, 2021 from 2-3PM - Informational virtual webinar on Creative Resiliency grant program via GoToWebinar. Click here to access the webinar recording.
• Friday, July 9, 2021 by 11:59PM - Creative Resiliency grant applications due
• August, 2021 - Notifications and contracts released
• September, 2021 - Anticipated disbursement of funds

By offering Creative Resiliency funding, we support the Dubuque's City Council's goal to provide "Diverse Arts, Culture, Parks and Recreation Experiences and Activities" as well as playing a key role in realizing the City of Dubuque's Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan to foster Social + Cultural Vibrancy.  The program is funding through the City of Dubuque's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs within the Department of Economic Development.