Equity Response Grant Program Eligibility
All applicant groups and project activities must be located within the seven-county (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington) Twin Cities metro area.
The applicant group must implement and manage the proposed project.
This program is only available to groups and organizations led by individuals who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Disabled/have a disability, and/or are LGBTQIA2+. To qualify as “led-by,” the applicant group’s leadership must be made up of at least 50% or more BIPOC individuals, LGBTQIA2+ people, and/or People with Disabilities (PWD).
Applicant groups must fit the priority leadership listed above and be one of the following:
1. Arts groups and organizations
a. Federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations with annual operating expenses of $400,000 or less.
b. MRAC may ask for more information, such as an audit or a board approved financial statement, if the organization appears to have been approaching the $400,000 limit in their previous year. If a previous year’s audit is not yet finished, a contingency may be placed on that award until the audit or board approved financial statement proves eligibility.
2. Cultural groups and organizations
a. Federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) culturally-specific nonprofit organizations that provide arts and non-arts programming with annual arts programming expenses of $400,000 or less.
3. Fiscally sponsored groups with arts projects and annual operating expenses of $400,000 or less.
a. A fiscally sponsored group must be comprised of at least three people.
b. The group must have an advisory committee of at least three people that is responsible for oversight of project and grant funds.
c. Groups must have a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a Minnesota address and have an active registration with the Minnesota Secretary of State as a nonprofit organization.
4. Non-arts and non-cultural nonprofit organizations
a. Non-arts and non-cultural 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations with annual arts programming expenses less than $400,000. Non-arts and non-cultural nonprofit organizations must be able to isolate their arts programming revenues and expenses from non-arts and non-cultural financial activity.
b. A public entity such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government with arts expenses of $400,000 or less.
c. Community education units of a school district in the seven-county metro area with arts budgets of any size.
d. Eligible nonprofit, non-arts and non-cultural organizations must describe how this request will create access to the arts and ensure connection to audiences across the seven-county metro.