Grants

• Fill out the application completely. If needed, applicants may use an extra page to describe the project and goals.

• Applications may be typed or handwritten. Ten (10) copies of the completed application must be submitted to the Cultural Commission office, either by mail or in person during office hours.

• Applications must be received two weeks prior to that month's meeting.

• The applicant (or a representative) must appear in person at a DCC meeting and be prepared to answer questions regarding the application.

Grant Eligibility Rules. An applicant must be:

• An arts organization that is defined as one whose core mission, vision, focus and legal purpose, as stated in its Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, articulate a commitment to create, perform, present or promote artistic or cultural activities* AND at least 51 percent of its annual fiscal expenditures are allocated specifically to support artistic activities, arts programs/services and arts-based initiatives.

OR

• A cultural organization that is defined as one whose core mission, vision, focus and legal purpose, as stated in its Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, articulate a commitment to promote a specific cultural awareness* AND at least 51 percent of its annual fiscal expenditures are allocated specifically to support cultural activities, cultural programs/services and cultural-based initiatives.

OR

• An individual, group, association, school, or business which will create, perform, present, promote, or study artistic or cultural activities or awareness*.

*Artistic activities include, but are not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, literature, films, and allied arts and crafts. Cultural activities or awareness includes but is not limited to heritage, history, ethnic promotion, or social changes.

1. Danbury Cultural Commission funds cannot be used for construction/renovations of buildings or as payments of administrative salaries. No Capital projects will be funded.

2. Applications can be made for sustaining or new projects serving Danbury residents, regardless of the reach of the entire project scope.

3. The Danbury Cultural Commission will only provide funds if other funding sources have been or will be solicited.

4. Appropriate credit must be given to the Danbury Cultural Commission in all distributed material, physical and electronic, including but not limited to: programs, flyers, publicity releases and verbal announcements.

5. A notice of funding support must be placed at any event partially or entirely funded by the Danbury Cultural Commission. A sign(s) may be provided, with the grantee responsible for pickup, posting, and return of the sign to the commission office.

6. A notice of the event(s) and a copy of the program or brochure, must be submitted to the Danbury Cultural Commission.

7. Unused funds must be returned to the Danbury Cultural Commission, and the commission must be immediately informed.

8. Grants will not be awarded for an event after it has taken place. 

9. Only one grant will be awarded to any eligible entity during the Danbury Cultural Commission fiscal year, July - June. 

10.  A final report must be submitted, either in writing or in person, to the Danbury Cultural Commission within 30 days after completion of the project by using the Follow-up Report form.

11. The Danbury Cultural Commission is the sole arbiter of the rules and regulations. Rules and regulations may be changed at any time by the Danbury Cultural Commission. 

12. New Works Grants may be awarded to the same applicant or project for up to three consecutive years. Following a one year hiatus another 3 year round may begin. No more than 2 rounds will be awarded. First time Applicants are requested to provide a CV, resume, an/or business plan to accompany the application.

To be eligible for New works Grant status an applicant must 

• Raise 5%, or more, of the Danbury Cultural Commission grant award in donor contributions from private-sector, non-governmental sources*

13. Sustaining Grants may be awarded to those who have been awarded grants through the Cultural Commission for at least consecutive 3 years.

To be eligible for Sustaining Grant status an applicant must have

• Raised 10%, or more, of the Danbury Cultural Commission grant award in donor contributions from private-sector, non-governmental sources* for two (2) consecutive fiscal years, one of which is the organization's most recently completed fiscal year;

• Be registered with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection or received an exemption from registration, or have a pending application, in Connecticut as a Public Charity or equivalent school or government entity for at least two (2) years prior to the application due date; or 

• Have tax-exempt status such as Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or equivalent;

• Filed, prior to the grant application due date, an IRS Form 990 or IRS Form 990-EZ or equivalent, that substantiates total donor contributions or income/expenses including the granted project;

• Primary place of business or some operations in Danbury, Connecticut;

• Must demonstrate that more than ½ of the entire project budget is used for the defined core mission.

* A non-governmental source is a private-sector organization, foundation, corporation, partnership, single proprietorship or association or person making a contribution to an organization.