Iowa Community Cultural Grant
Before completing the application form, please read these instructions. Print this page for reference before going to the application form.
Application Instructions:
The ICCG application form requires that you use Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 or higher. This will allow you to fill in the form and save it with your changes after you have downloaded it to your computer. Download time for the form may be long depending on your internet connection. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader here.
Before completing the application form, please read these instructions. Print this page for reference before going to the application form.
Step 1) Complete the ICCG Application Form:
A. Applicant Section
Be certain to provide all requested information.
B. Fiscal Agent Section
If you are using a fiscal agent, provide all requested information.
C. Project Information Section
Make sure to answer all questions.
D. Project Budget Section
Expenses:
List all expenses associated with the proposed project. Indicate which expenses are to be met by the Iowa Community Cultural Grant, cash match, and in-kind match. See the Match Requirements for definitions and requirements of matching funds.
Cash Income:
Provide details about your cash match. The total of this section should equal that of the total cash match in the Expenses.
List all earned income, cash contributions, and other cash revenue. Do not include in-kind services, labor or materials.
Funds from Iowa Arts Council, Department of Cultural Affairs, and State Historical Society of Iowa grants are not allowable matches. Do not list them.
Check For Budget Errors:
After completing your budget, click on the “Check For Budget Errors” button to check for compliance with request and matching requirements. If no errors are detected, you will see a green message stating “No errors found.” However, if errors are detected, they will be listed in red below the button. The automated budget checking cannot check for omitted information, so be sure to proofread the section.
E. Narrative Section
Each application is scored based on how well it clearly addresses the following narrative questions. There are 110 points possible, which include up to 10 bonus points for projects not funded in the previous fiscal year. Follow the instructions and respond to the questions listed in the application. The application will force you to stay within the indicated word/character limits.
Project Description (use up to 250 words, no points given specifically for this section)
Describe the main goals and objectives of your project and discuss any details not addressed by specific review criteria. Including and/or attaching a timeline will be helpful for grant reviewers as well as assist in project planning.
Historical, Ethnic, Cultural and Tourism Value and Quality of the Proposed Project (up to 150 words)
How will your project develop Iowa’s cultural, arts, and/or historic resources for the benefit of the public?
- Applicants requesting continued funding for an ICCG project funded the previous year may receive up to 20 points.
- Applicants requesting funding for a new project may receive up to 30 points.
Number and Impact of Full- or Part-time Jobs the Project Creates for Iowans (up to 150 words, up to 20 points)
Describe the number, type and impact of full- or part-time jobs that this project would create for Iowans.
Use of ICCG Funds (up to 150 words, up to 10 points)
Describe specifically how you will use ICCG funds.
Innovation of the Proposed Project (up to 100 words, up to 10 points)
Describe how your project represents innovation for your organization.
Collaboration and Partnerships with other Interested Entities (up to 200 words, up to 20 points)
Describe all partnerships and primary participants and their roles in the project. Explain how the community will be involved. Letters from collaborating partners and community organizations (required) will be considered for scoring in this section.
Financial Need of the Applicant for the Proposed Project (up to 100 words, up to 10 points)
Describe how and why funding is necessary for this project.
Evaluation and Follow-up Activities (up to 150 words, up to 10 points)
Describe any follow-up activities that will occur after the ending date of the project. Consider how you will determine if your project has been successful and what steps you are taking to ensure your project’s or organization’s sustainability. NOTE: Reviewers will consider your evaluation form and/or criteria to score this section.
Please collate your application in the following order:
- Completed ICCG application form, including:
- Parts A-E
- Part F: Signed Sevice Contract (sign in blue ink)
- Part G: Completed and Signed Substitute W-9
- Timeline (While not required, this can be very helpful in enabling panelists to better understand your planning process.)
- Detailed Project Budget (While not required, this can be very helpful in enabling panelists to better understand a complex project's budget.)
- Support letters from collaborating partners and/or beneficiaries (minimum 3, maximum 5)
- Your evaluation form and/or evaluation criteria and process.
- Documentation of applicant’s 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status (IRS) or fiscal agent’s if applicant does not have 501(c)(3) status. NOT required for applicant cities, counties and tribal councils
- Documentation of Iowa non-profit status (Iowa Secretary of State) for applicant organization and fiscal agent. If you are using a fiscal agent, agreement signed by both fiscal agent and nonprofit organization detailing the responsibilities of each party
Do NOT include any other support materials; the panel will not review these. Any additional support materials we receive will be discarded and not returned to applicants. Incomplete applications are ineligible and will not be reviewed.
The application form has buttons for both printing and emailing the application. The printed, signed, dated, collated application, including listed support materials only, must be in our office by 4:30 p.m. February 1. This is NOT a postmark deadline. Please also e-mail your application to the DCA for speedy processing.
Please send your application to:
Iowa Community Cultural Grant Program
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
600 E Locust St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0290
Note: Do NOT address grant proposals to a particular staff person.
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