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