Program Support FY 2026

The Cultural Division's Program Support (PS) grant category provides project-based support to arts and culture organizations and non-arts nonprofit organizations in the production and presentation of high-quality artistic activities. These ongoing and one-time projects broaden and deepen audience participation and increase access to the arts for visitors and residents throughout Broward County.

Program Implementation Period: October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

Application Deadline: December 20, 2024, on, or before, 11:59 p.m.

Program Support funded projects must meet the following conditions: 

• Submitted a Funder Report to the Broward Cultural Division from the organization's SMU DataArts Cultural Data Profile (CDP) survey.
• A project may consist of one or more specific events or activities; it may be part of or all of an applicant's regular season or activities. Applicants that undertake a single short-term project in a year - a ten-day jazz festival, for example - could apply for the event, or they could identify certain components (such as the presentation of a key artist and the associated activities) as their project. 
• Projects may be new and untested or ongoing with proven track records. 
• Projects do not need to be large. The Division welcomes small-scale projects that can make a difference in a community or artistic field. 
• Projects may cover a broad range of singular and multiple artistic disciplines.

Eligibility for Program Support 

An organization is eligible to apply for Program Support provided that it meets the following requirements: • 

Nonprofit and tax-exempt status: In “good status” as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Florida and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or be a unit of federal or local government such as a municipal agency. 

• Corporate address in Broward County. 

•  Regional organizations with at least a three-year history of providing programs in Broward may apply for support of a program or programs taking place in Broward County.
•  New Regional organizations, seeking funding from Broward County, will need to demonstrate a three-year history of providing cultural arts programming in Broward County, prior to applying. 

• Local focus: Arts programs and projects must occur in Broward County. 

• Grant Cycle: Arts programs and projects must occur during the applicable grant cycle. 

• The proposed program’s primary purpose must be the creation or utilization of arts and/or culture.

 • The Cultural Division funds ongoing programs and projects. The Division defines a program as a specific, identifiable project, event, or event series that has a distinct and consistent focus, format, and objective. Programs and projects may be large or small, existing, or new, ongoing, or one-time events. They must take place in any publicly accessible venue in Broward County. 

• Programming includes components that allow for audience participation or immersion in an artistic and programmatic focus in the cultural arts, interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary arts including, but not limited to, media, science, history, or diverse cultural heritages. 

• An organization may submit only one application per grant cycle. 

• A first-time applicant to the Cultural Division is eligible to apply only at the $5,000 grant tier regardless of the project budget. 

• o A first-time applicant organization must submit an operating budget for the past year which demonstrates revenues in excess of the amount of the award requested. 
• o A first-time applicant organization must have provided cultural arts programming services in Broward County for a minimum of twelve (12) months following the date of incorporation. 
• o Provided cultural arts programming services, in a given discipline(s), in Broward County for a minimum of one uninterrupted year prior to the date of the application deadline. 

Program Support Grant Tiers / Awards

Eligible organizations can apply for funding in three discrete grant tiers. The maximum amount of funding that an organization can receive from each of these tiers is $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000. The grant tiers are based on the overall program or project cost and require a minimum of a 1:1 cash match. There is no match in the $5,000 grant tier.

Therefore, an organization with project expenses of $30,000 or more can apply for a $15,000 grant and an organization with project expenses of $20,000 or more can apply for a $10,000 grant.

If an applicant has received a Cultural Division grant in the past but has not met the required program expenses or income to be eligible in the grant tier in which they were awarded, the Division may restrict which grant tier an applicant can apply for in future grant applications.

Funding Restrictions – We Do Not Fund 

• Programs, projects, or events not accessible to the public. 

• Grants to individuals, including artists (Individual artists with project ideas should apply to the Division’s Artist Support program). 

• Educational institutions, including schools, childcare centers, colleges, and universities, are ineligible to apply. Organizations that are closely affiliated with such institutions are encouraged to contact Cultural Division staff prior to applying to ensure eligibility. 

• Projects for which the selection of artists or art works is based upon criteria other than artistic excellence and merit. Examples include festivals, exhibitions, publications, or performances for which no jury/audition/curatorial judgment has been applied. 

• Benefits, fundraisers, or awards programs. 

• Organizations whose primary purpose, or mission, is not secular and where the primary effect of funding would be to encourage the preference of a particular religion. 

• Political advocacy. • Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. (Design fees, preparing space for an exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community planning are eligible). 

• Cash reserves or endowments. • Deficit or debt reduction efforts. 

• Tuition assistance. • Costs of receptions and social activities, except when they are incidental and related to arts activities. 

• Public art installations, monuments, statues, or sculpture projects. 

• Note: An organization, or municipality, that has received sponsorship support from the Broward Cultural Division may not also receive Program Support funding within the same fiscal year. 

Contact:
 

• Anthony Torres, Contract Grants Administrator anttorres@broward.org  T: 954-357-7458 
• Janet Ellison, Grants Specialist jmellison@broward.org  T: 954-357-7321

General Operating Support FY 2026

The General Operating Support (GOS) grant category supports Broward-based arts and culture organizations in the production and presentation of ongoing, sustainable, high-quality artistic activities that engage the diversity of Broward County/South Florida residents and visitors. The GOS grant program is the Division’s primary vehicle for supporting and strengthening the organizational capacity of our grantees by providing multi-year, unrestricted operating support. Organizations receiving GOS grants may not also apply in the Program Support category.

Program Implementation Period: October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

Application Deadline: January 10, 2025, on, or before, 11:59 p.m.

GOS funded projects must meet the following conditions: 

Successful applicants will seek to demonstrate the following qualities:

• Submitted a Funder Report to the Broward Cultural Division from the organization's SMU DataArts Cultural Data Profile (CDP) survey.
• A stated and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. 
• Strong administrative oversight and management practices.
• Long-range strategic planning.
• An appropriate level of cash reserves to sustain the organization from year to year.
• A qualified, engaged, and financially supportive board of directors. 
• Strong community support evidenced by earned and contributed revenue and volunteerism.
• Policies and practices that support and engage artists, local and non-local. 
• Marketing strategies that attract local visitors and cultural tourists.
• A commitment to evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Resilience to adapt to internal and external changes.
• Awareness of Broward County and the civic issues that impact the lives and well-being of everyone.

Eligibility for GOS:

Non-profit organizations whose primary mission is arts and culture are eligible to apply for GOS provided that the following criteria are met:

· Non-profit and tax-exempt status: In “good status” as a non-profit corporation in the state of Florida and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

· Non-profit whose primary mission is arts and culture and is incorporated in Broward County, FL.

· Has been operational in its cultural discipline(s) for a minimum of three (3) uninterrupted years immediately preceding the date of application.

· A consecutive three-year history of receiving Cultural Division funding through Program Support.

· A governing board, at least fifty percent (50%) of whom reside in Broward County, which meets regularly and operates under a set of bylaws.

· A majority of the organization’s programming occurs year-round within Broward County.

· Must employ at least one permanent full-time employee or one permanent full-time equivalent (FTE).

· A full-time employee for any calendar month is an employee who has on average, at least 30 hours of service per week during the calendar month, or at least 130 total hours of service during the calendar month.

· An FTE employee is a combination of employees, each of whom individually is not full-time, but who in combination, are equivalent to a full-time employee. 

o Employees receive the IRS Form W-2, whereas independent contractors receive the IRS Form 1099-MISC. The Cultural Division reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify eligibility.

· Contract workers and seasonal employees do not count toward a FTE.

· Has filed IRS Form 990 for at least three years and has average annual operating expenses of $125,001 or more according to the organization’s total functional expenses (IRS Form 990 – Part IX or IRS Form 990 EZ – Part 1-17).

o Organizations that are close to the $125,001 minimum will be considered by Cultural Division staff on a case-by-basis for GOS.

o The majority of the organization’s total functional expenses must be program or service-related expenses (as determined by the organization’s Form 990 or Form 990 EZ).

o The Cultural Division reserves the right to adjust an organization’s annual operating expenses depending on extenuating circumstances including, but not limited to, payments to subsidiary organizations and capital campaigns.

Grant Restrictions – We Do Not Fund

Education institutions including schools, childcare centers, colleges, and universities are ineligible to apply for GOS grants. Organizations that are closely affiliated with such institutions should contact the Cultural Division prior to submitting an application and may be asked to provide additional information. See restrictions on the use of funds (allowable and non-allowable expenses in the guideline)

Restrictions – We Do Not Fund 

· Programs, projects, or events not accessible to the public.

· Grants to individuals, including artists (Individual artists with project ideas should apply to the Division’s Artist Support program).

· Educational institutions, including schools, childcare centers, colleges, and universities, are ineligible to apply. Organizations that are closely affiliated with such institutions are encouraged to contact Cultural Division staff prior to applying to ensure eligibility. 

· Projects for which the selection of artists or art works is based upon criteria other than artistic excellence and merit. Examples include festivals, exhibitions, publications, or performances for which no jury/audition/curatorial judgment has been applied. 

· Benefits, fundraisers, or awards programs.

· Organizations whose primary purpose, or mission, is not secular and where the primary effect of funding would be to encourage the preference of a particular religion.

· Political advocacy.

· Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. (Design fees, preparing space for an exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community planning are eligible).

· Cash reserves or endowments.

· Deficit or debt reduction efforts.

· Tuition assistance.

· Costs of receptions and social activities, except when they are incidental and related to arts activities.

· Public art installations, monuments, statues, or sculpture projects.

· Note: An organization, or municipality, that has received sponsorship support from the Broward Cultural Division may not also receive Program Support funding within the same fiscal year.

     Contact:  

• Anthony Torres, Contract Grants Administrator anttorres@broward.org  T: 954-357-7458 
• Janet Ellison, Grants Specialist jmellison@broward.org  T: 954-357-7321