Cultural Sustainability: FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my operating expenses were over $500,000 for one of the past years?

To be eligible, your organization must have had annual operating expenses under $500,000 in each of the two most recent fiscal years as per your tax filings. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Audrey Seraphin at aseraphin@nefa.org. Exceptions may be made for organizations whose budgets were inflated by COVID-19 relief funding in a recent years.

How much can I request for my grant amount? Would a smaller request amount make my application more competitive? 

Your request should be based on your organization’s annual operating expenses:

• For organizations with budgets under $100,000: up to $25,000.
• For organizations with budgets between $100,001 and $250,000: up to $50,000.
• For organizations with budgets between $250,001 and $500,000: up to $100,000.

Please note that the minimum grant amount will be $20,000. All applications are reviewed based on merit and alignment with our funding criteria, regardless of the amount requested.  There is no request amount that will make your application more competitive or increase your likelihood of receiving funding. Please request the amount you would like to receive.  For organizations with budgets over $125,000, we recommend requesting 20% of your annual operating expenses.

What will the learning cohort look like? Am I required to participate in the learning cohort if I am a grantee? 

Grantees are required to participate in a learning cohort of around 20 grantees which includes monthly virtual meetings and one in-person meeting at the NEFA office. This cohort will provide organizational support, networking opportunities, and tailored curriculum based on grantee needs.

Can I request ADA accommodations?

Yes, please request ADA accommodations by contacting Saejin Yoo on or before November 1, 2024, at syoo@nefa.org.

Can a NEFA staff member look over my application? 

NEFA staff may look over your application on a case-by-case basis, depending on capacity and timing. Please email Audrey Seraphin at aseraphin@nefa.org or schedule time on the Regional Grants & Initiatives team’s Calend.ly. All written review requests must be sent by close of business on Friday, November 15.

Are organizations that work with colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Colleges and universities are ineligible for this grant program, but organizations that are fiscally sponsored by colleges/universities may be eligible to apply.

What if my organization serves communities outside of New England? Can we still apply?

If your organization is based in one of the New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) and has significant presence in New England, your organization can apply for Cultural Sustainability through NEFA. If you meet other eligibility criteria, but are located in another U.S. region, you can visit usregionalarts.org to find the Cultural Sustainability opportunity in your area. Please note: only one application is permitted across all Cultural Sustainability programs, so organizations who work in multiple regions may not apply through multiple Regional Arts Organizations.

Can I preview the application? 

Yes, you can preview the narrative questions in the Cultural Sustainability application.

What is CreativeGround and why is having a profile there important for my application?

CreativeGround is NEFA’s regional arts and culture directory. Having an up-to-date profile on CreativeGround is a requirement for all applicants as it demonstrates your organization’s work in the creative economy relevant to this grant program. Follow the instructions on the CreativeGround requirements page to learn which fields must be completed in order to be eligible for Cultural Sustainability.

Will this grant program be available in the future?

Currently, this is a one-time opportunity with no additional funding cycle planned.

What document should I submit and pull my annual operating expenses from?

Organizations should utilize the following tax forms and specified fields to verify their annual operating expenses.

Nonprofits and Tribal Governments*

• Form 990
• Line 18 for Total expenses (Form 990) / Line 17 for Total expenses (Form 990-EZ)

Single-member LLCs

• Form 1040, Schedule C 
• Line 28 for Total expenses

Multiple-member LLCs (Partnership)

• Form 1065
• Line 22 for Total deductions 

S Corporation

• Form 1120
• Line 21 for Total deductions

Corporation

• Form 1120
• Line 27 for Total deductions

Fiscally sponsored organizations

Please provide any budgetary information outlining your organization’s revenue and expenses from the last two fiscal years, separate from your fiscal sponsor. If this documentation does not exist for your organization, please submit your fiscal sponsor’s tax filings (Form 990, Form 1065, or Form 1120) for the past two fiscal years. 

*If your tribal government is not state or federally recognized and you do not have tax-exempt status, please send us your most relevant tax information that clearly shows total profit and loss.