- Support for operations and/or organizational capacity to directly provide access to the arts to Minnesotans
- Facility improvements and/or equipment purchases (with some restrictions)
- Arts programming activities in Minnesota, whether a single event or a series
Flexible Support: The Basics
Have an idea for an arts project or proposal that fits the description above? First review a few basics with these frequently asked questions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible organizations/groups must meet the following requirements:
- Maintain a primary address in one of the seven metro area counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington.
- Be a arts, cultural, or non-arts/non-cultural 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a community education unit of a school district, a public entity (such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government), or apply with a fiscal sponsor.
- Meet eligibility rules for annual expenses limits and leadership.
What if my group needs a fiscal sponsor?
If your group doesn’t have federally tax-exempt status, you can apply for Flexible Support with an eligible fiscal sponsor.
It is the group’s responsibility to research potential fiscal sponsors and secure the sponsorship. We strongly recommend reaching out to potential sponsors and reaching a sponsorship agreement before starting your Flexible Support application.
You can find out more about this process on our Fiscal Sponsorship page.
What are some examples of eligible funding requests?
For operations and/or organizational capacity, examples of eligible requests include: paying rent or utilities for a space, software subscriptions, website updates, salaries or benefits for staff, insurance.
For capital expenses, including facility improvements and/or equipment purchases, examples include: new chairs for theater audience members, specialized printing equipment, ADA accessibility improvements. Note: there are restrictions on capital expense eligibility.
For arts programming or the purchase of art supplies, examples include: theater production, series of music concerts, arts day for kids, paint and paintbrushes for arts day.
This is not an exhaustive list. If you have questions about expense eligibility, please reach out to flexiblesupport@mrac.org.
Important Dates for 2027
| Grant Round | Application Window Opens | Application Assistance Ends | Application Deadline |
| Round 1 | July 13, 2026 | August 7, 2026, 5 pm | August 7, 2026, 11:59 pm |
| Round 2 | January 11, 2027 | February 5, 2027, 5 pm | February 5, 2027, 11:59 pm |
Grant Program Overview and Full Eligibility Requirements
View and Download the Grant Overview
To submit an application, you’ll need to be very familiar with the requirements for Flexible Support. Read through the Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions. View and download the version that works best for you!
Branded PDF
Great for viewing on your phone or computer, or for printing a hard copy. This PDF opens in a new window.
Flexible Support Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions (PDF version opens in a new window)
Interactive Word Document
Created for screen readers and other assistive technologies. Also a good choice if you like a standard, clickable table of contents. This Word file downloads directly to your computer.
Flexible Support Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions (Word version downloads directly to your computer)
Apply on Submittable
Start Your Flexible Support App
Application Assistance
We provide the following resources to help you complete your application.
Pre-recorded Informational Webinar
Hosted by grant program staff, this webinar reviews the information in our Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions, available above. Staff go through each section step by step, including what happens after you submit your application. Helpful to use if you take in information better by listening or by seeing it laid out on slides!
Public Q&A Sessions
Still have questions after reading the Grant Program Overview or watching the Webinar? Sign up for one of our Q&As, hosted by program staff. They will answer questions related to eligibility, using Submittable, and more!
Sign up links not working for you? Send an email to flexiblesupport@mrac.org to get added to the list.
| Date | Time | Location | RSVP Link |
| Wed, July 22, 2026 | 6–7 pm | Virtual, on Zoom | Now Passed |
| Mon, Aug 3, 2026 | 6–7 pm | Virtual, on Zoom | Now Passed |
| Thu, Aug 6, 2026 | 1–2 pm | Virtual, on Zoom | RSVP for Aug 6 |
One-on-One Assistance
If you would like to meet with a program staff member with specific questions related to your eligibility or the eligibility of your proposal, please fill out this meeting request form. A staff member will be in touch shortly!
Please note that application assistance ends at 5 pm on August 7, 2026.
Application Assistance Request Form
Instructional Guides
The following guides provide instructions on filling out different parts of the Flexible Support application.
Fiscal Sponsorship for MRAC Grants: Submittable Guide for Sponsors and Applicants
An overview of the process when using Submittable to apply for a grant with a fiscal sponsor at MRAC. You can also find out more on our Fiscal Sponsorship page.
Download the Fiscal Sponsorship Submittable Guide (This PDF opens in a new window)
Instructions: Filling Out Your Budget Plan Spreadsheets
A walk-through of Part 3: Budget Plan in your 2027 Flexible Support application.
Download the Budget Plan Instructions (This PDF opens in a new window)
Instructions: Filling Out Your Leadership Information Section
A walk-through of Part 1, Section 4: Leadership Information in your 2027 Flexible Support application.
Download the Leadership Information Section Instructions (This PDF opens in a new window)
Additional Planning and Rough Draft Resources
You can download and use the following resources to help you prepare and plan your application.
Application Scoring Guide for Reviewers
Review panelists use these criteria when they are scoring Flexible Support applications.
Download the Scoring Guide (This PDF opens in a new window)
Application Questions and Explanations
This document presents all the parts, sections, and questions in MRAC’s 2027 Flexible Support grant, and describes the reasons behind many of the questions. The instructions and explanations are also on Submittable. This is not the Flexible Support application. You cannot upload this document to Submittable and MRAC staff will not accept it via email.
Download the Application Questions and Explanations guide (This PDF opens in a new window)
Proposal Drafting Document
Use this document to work on rough drafts of your answers to the 2027 Flexible Support Proposal Description questions. You will have to copy and paste your answers into the application in Submittable. You cannot upload this document to Submittable and staff will not accept it via email. It is for your own personal use only.
Download the Proposal Drafting Document (This Word document downloads directly to your computer)
Budget Plan Drafting Sheet
Use this document to work on your estimated budget for your 2027 Flexible Support proposal. You will have to input your answers into the Budget Plan Spreadsheet in Submittable. You cannot upload this document to Submittable and staff will not accept it via email. It is for your own personal use only.
Download the Budget Plan Drafting Sheet (This Excel file downloads directly to your computer)