Initial goals for this program were developed in 2020 by a 36-person working group representing arts and culture and culturally specific organizations from around the state of Rhode Island. They were revised in 2025/26, taking into account community feedback, emerging practices nationwide, organizational capacity, and the public funding landscape. They are:

1. Provide multi-year operating support for arts and culture organizations throughout the state through a competitive grant program. 
2. Include organizations that are evaluated by peer review panels as being responsive and accountable to the cultural needs of the communities they serve.
3. Ensure distribution of funds across the state of Rhode Island.
4. Ensure distribution of funds across organizations of a broad range of budget sizes.

In order to accomplish these goals, 14 awards will be reserved for the highest scoring eligible applicants in each of 3 budget categories. The remaining 8 awards will be allocated to the highest scoring remaining applications regardless of budget size that allow RISCA to ensure distribution of funds across the state.

• This organization has a Unique Entity ID (UEI). If not, please reach out to RISCA’s program director.   
• This organization is not receiving direct funding from another RISCA grant, with the following exceptions:
  • A State Cultural Facilities Grant.
  • An Arts and Health Grant or Arts and Health Incubator Grant awarded at the April 1, 2026 application due date.
  • A Project Grant for Organizations awarded at the April 1, 2026 application due date to an organization that was not a recipient of General Operating Support in its last funding cycle.
• This organization is not applying for another RISCA grant at the same deadline.
• This organization’s programming occurs in spaces that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. See the NEA’s Accessibility: Publications, Checklists, & Resourcesfor more information. 
• This organization’s funded activities take place in Rhode Island for the benefit of Rhode Islanders. 
• This organization is not delinquent on any final reports for previous RISCA grants.  
• This organization fits RISCA’s definition of an arts and culture organization or a culturally specific organization (see glossary). If the organization fits the definition of a culturally specific organization, a significant portion of your organization’s programming must be arts and culture programming.
• This organization has been in continuous operation and exhibiting or producing arts and culture programming in Rhode Island for each of the past five years. The organization does not need to have had 501(c)3 status for that entire period.

The organization must be one of the following:

A nonprofit organization. 

• Conducting business and be incorporated in the State of Rhode Island as a 501(c)(3) with tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
• Registered with the R.I. Secretary of State.
• Governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the community at large and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization.
• If not 501(c)(3) tax exempt, a Rhode Island-based organization using a Fiscal Sponsor* that fits the above requirements.
• To confirm nonprofit status with the state, visit R.I. Secretary of State’s online database. 

A semi-independent cultural entity that is either (a) associated with a university or (b) a subdivision of a larger nonprofit, only if they meet the following additional eligibility criteria:

• Manage their own budget. 
• Have at least one full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) compensated administrative staff position dedicated solely to the operation of the cultural entity. 
• Have an advisory board that meets regularly to discuss policy, strategic direction, and resource development plans to ensure long-term sustainability.

• If not 501(c)(3) tax exempt, a Rhode Island-based organization can apply via a Fiscal Sponsor if they have an average annual budget under $50,000. A Fiscal Sponsor is an organization registered with R.I.’s Secretary of State Office and can accept a grant on your behalf. The Sponsor must be financially, administratively, and programmatically responsible for all conditions of the grant. 
• Organizations interested in using a Fiscal Sponsor must contact RISCA’s deputy director prior to beginning an application for approval and to request a grant profile that links the organization to the Fiscal Sponsor. 
• Nonprofit organizations acting as Fiscal Sponsors can also apply for grants for their own programs or be awardees.

When submitting a grant via a Fiscal Sponsor, a letter of agreement between the applicant and the Fiscal Sponsor must be provided. Download the fiscal sponsorship letter template. Typically, Fiscal Sponsor will charge an administrative fee ranging from 0-12 percent depending on the degree of administrative support and bookkeeping required. This fee can be factored into the budget.

Fiscal Sponsor Requirements

A Fiscal Sponsor:

• Must fit RISCA’s definition of a nonprofit organization as stated above. 
• Is responsible for signing any grant documents and ensuring that the sponsored organization follows the rules of the grant program and submits their final report.

• All grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funds from the Rhode Island State General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
• RISCA anticipates awarding $10,000 per year for three years to all awardees. Award amounts may vary cycle to cycle depending on available funds. The anticipated award amount does not represent a guaranteed funding level after the first year. For more information, visit our Applicant Resources web page.
• No partial awards will be granted.
• Grant applications are considered on a competitive basis. 
• You have the option of declining the grant award with no penalties.
• If you receive a grant, you must credit RISCA on all marketing materials. See Acknowledging RISCA.   
• Substantive changes to an organization’s mission, scope of programming, or organizational structure may necessitate a review at any time by RISCA staff to determine ongoing eligibility. It is the responsibility of the organization to inform RISCA of such changes when they occur. Financial malfeasance (meaning intentional deception or fraud) will result in immediate ejection from the program.  

Grant funding cannot be used for the following:

• Capital improvement projects, like the construction or renovation of buildings or major permanent equipment purchases. 
• Addressing, eliminating, or reducing existing debt or for contributions to an endowment fund. 
• Development or fundraising, such as social events or benefits or any fundraising expenses. 
• Entertainment and hospitality, including expenses for activities such as receptions, parties, galas, etc. Specific costs that have a core programmatic purpose and are included in your budget may be allowable.
• Prizes and awards for an event, person, and/or organization. 
• Regranting the funds to other artists or organizations through an application or award process. 
• Activities that are associated with a graduate or undergraduate degree program or for which academic credit is received. 
• Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities, or which take place as part of a religious service. 
• Programming, performances, and exhibitions unavailable and/or inaccessible to the public. This includes programming that occurs in a space that does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
• Expenses incurred or activity happening outside of the award period.
• Programs or activity happening outside of Rhode Island.

It is the policy of RISCA that no qualified individual, based on disability, shall be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of the agency or the agency’s grantees, or be subjected to discrimination. 

For questions on accommodations, contact Seamus Hames, Arts Education Program Director and 504 Accessibility Coordinator, at 401-222-6994 or seamus.hames@arts.ri.gov. 

Applications for General Operating Support for Organizations are now being processed through the Euna Grants Portal. 

If you have questions about the portal, such as: 

• If you already have a profile in the system. 
• Regarding logging in. 
• Or other questions. 

Contact: Deputy Director: sara.leonard@arts.ri.gov 

Log in or set up an applicant profile. (Link TBD)

Application 

Section 1: For RISCA staff review. Staff determine if the applicant meets the eligibility requirements to move to panel review. Applications must include an eligibility checklist and required uploads. 
Section 2: For Panel review. This purpose of this section is for the panel to learn about your organization and to review and score your application based on the evaluation criteria. There are three parts. 

• Organizational Overview – Short-answer and narrative questions, check boxes and uploads about the mission, key activities, and metrics for success. 
• Artistic Vibrancy and Impact – Narrative questions to explain how your organization will provide a positive and purposeful impact for participants, and how the organization creates access for or engages underserved communities as identified by the NEA. Uploads of support materials showing the artistic/cultural programming of your organization.
• Program Specific – Narrative question(s) and testimonial upload to demonstrate how this project aligns with the specific grant program. For General Operating Support for Organizations, these questions will focus on Community Engagement and Responsiveness.

Panel reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate and recommend applications for funding.

Organizational Overview

• The application clearly states the organization’s mission.
• Arts and cultural programming are central to fulfilling this organization’s mission.
• The application indicates relevant metrics to measure the organization’s progress/success in the coming year.

Artistic Vibrancy and Impact

• The organization has a clear approach to providing positive and purposeful experiences for the participants. 
• The organization demonstrates a track record of successfully implementing artistic and/or cultural programming clearly related to its mission. 
• This organization purposefully provides access for or engages underserved communities as identified by the NEA. 

Community Engagement

• The applicant can clearly define the audiences or community/ies it serves, with data to support its claims.
• Organizational programming and operations are responsive to the needs and priorities of the audiences or community/ies the organization serves.
• Organization can demonstrate a track record of intentional and collaborative community engagement.

Note: Per NEA’s enabling legislation, the federal agency requires that state arts agencies include artistic merit and artistic excellence in their evaluative criteria. However, the NEA allows state arts agencies to define artistic merit and excellence for themselves and in conversation with their communities. For this grant program, artistic merit and artistic excellence is defined as “artistic vibrancy and impact.”

Required Documentation for Determining Applicant Eligibility

• 501(c)(3) Determination Letter.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI, a 12-character Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned by the federal System for Awards Management (SAM), must be submitted by any entity receiving federal funds. Visit the SAM.GOV website to learn how to get a UEI for your organization.
• 990s from your organizations 2022, 2023, and 2024 fiscal years. A 990 is the type of annual tax return 501(c)3 nonprofits file. 
• Board approved budget from your current or most recently completed fiscal year.
• If you are using a Fiscal Sponsor, you need your Fiscal Sponsor’s 501(c)(3) Determination Letter, UEI, a 990 from their 2024 fiscal year, and a Fiscal Sponsor letter. Use the Fiscal Sponsor Template for your letter.

Support Materials for Panel Review

• Optional: Organizational Chart or Diagram
• Required: Up to four support materials from the past three years showing the artistic and/or cultural programming of the organization (video, images, resume, short bios with links to social media/Vimeo/YouTube, CVs, resumes, etc). Remember: the panel is reading up to 25 applications – keep your support materials targeted to what you want panelists to see, hear, and know. 
• Required: Work Sample List on RISCA’s template. Describe each work sample/example in 1-3 sentences to orient the panel to what they will see when reviewing your support materials.
• Required: Testimonial.
• Note: You must upload support materials to a Google Drive folder, open to everyone with the link or link and password.

Special thanks to our colleagues at the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and Grantmakers in the Arts whose work informed some of the definitions in this glossary.  

Arts and Culture organization: Nonprofit organizations that regular cultural programs or services as their primary purpose and mission. This may include producing or presenting a series or regular program of performances, educational programming, exhibitions, media presentations, festivals, readings, or literary publications. Producing is defined as direct creation, production, performance or exhibition of arts; presenting is defined as organizing, selecting or curating and contracting a series, season or festival of performances or events created by other artists and producing groups. 

Culturally specific organization: A culturally specific organization serves a particular cultural community and is founded, led by, and staffed with people who are members of that community.  

These nonprofits and community-based organizations help people thrive by starting on a foundation of shared cultural identities, histories, languages, and experiences. Often beginning as grassroots efforts, these organizations remain embedded in the fabric of their communities as they grow. Source: Community Foundation of Southwest Washington. 

Fiscal Sponsorship: An organization that fits RISCA’s definition of a nonprofit organization that accepts a grant on behalf of the sponsored organization and is financially, administratively, and programmatically responsible for all conditions of the grant. The Fiscal Sponsor is also responsible for signing any grant documents and ensuring that the sponsored organization follows the rules of the grant program and submits its final report.

Nonprofit Organization: Is incorporated in and conducting business in the State of Rhode Island, with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the community at large and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization.

Organizational Community: the people who comprise the audiences or communities your organization engages through their programming. This community should include audience members, artists, students, and other groups that are significant to the organization. Descriptions of the community could include demographic and geographic makeup, including information about relevant socioeconomic factors, as well as diversity of age, ethnicity, race, gender, ability, education, etc.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The federal government requires all organizations to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Organizations applying for grants from us will need a UEI to submit the application. We recommend you request a UEI as soon as possible to ensure you have it by the application deadline. Visit the sam.gov website for the latest information and instructions on how to obtain a UEI.

Note: To obtain a “Unique Entity ID” does not require a full registration. This registration is free – but there are many scammers out there. Make sure you complete this process through a .gov website and only trust communications that come from sam.gov regarding registration and annual renewals.

Underserved communities. The National Endowment for the Arts defines “underserved” communities as “ones in which individuals lack access to arts programs due to geography, economic conditions, ethnic background, or disability.” 

Frequently Asked Questions