Elevate

Elevate Panels

All panels will begin for public viewing at 10 AM Central Time. Breaks will be 15 minutes long and there will be a one hour lunch break scheduled around Noon-1PM each panel day.

*All times are subject to change

 

Panel Videos

2024 Elevate Grant Panels: Individual Artists and Creative Businesses

 

2024  Thrive/Elevate Grant Panels: Non-Profit Organizations

Elevate for Individuals & Creative Businesses 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 1

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96610535835

Monday, August 26 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 2

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91664069696

Tuesday, August 27 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 3

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94429740060

Wednesday, August 28 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 4

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96894672300

Thursday, August 29 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 5

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93066999634

Wednesday, September 4 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 6

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98134792260

Thursday, September 5 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 7

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94316711448

Friday, September 6 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 8

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99736774636

Saturday, September 7 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 9

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94024617988

Monday, September 9 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Individuals & Creative Businesses 10

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96374347280

Tuesday, September 10 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Elevate for Non-Profits

Thrive/Elevate Panel 1

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93687625872

Monday, August 26 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Thrive/Elevate Panel 2

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99368269742

Wednesday, August 28 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Thrive/Elevate Panel 3

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99349731176

Thursday, August 29 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

*RESCHEDULED*  Thursday, September 12 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

 

Thrive/Elevate Panel 4

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98019941922

Wednesday, September 4 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Thrive/Elevate Panel 5

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91206583687

Thursday, September 5 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Thrive/Elevate Panel 6

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96937133530

Friday, September 6 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Elevate Non-Profit Panel 1

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91639425681

Saturday, September 7 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Elevate Non-Profit Panel 2

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98570386241

Monday, September 9 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 

Elevate Non-Profit Panel 3

Applications to be reviewed

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97202185456

Tuesday, September 10 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

 

Application Assistance

The Economic Development Department is offering various ways for the community to learn about the Elevate Grant application process and eligibility. 

 

View an Information Session:

Videos

• Elevate Grant for Individual Artists & Creative Businesses | Information Session in English
• Subvención Elevate para Artistas Individuales y Empresas Creativas | Sesión informativa en Español
• Thrive and Elevate Nonprofit | Information Session in English
• Subvención Thrive/Elevate para Organizaciones Sin Fines de Lucro | Sesión informativa en Español

Presentations

• Elevate Grant for Individual Artists and Creative Businesses in English
• Subvención Elevate para artistas individuales y empresas creativas en Español 
• Thrive/Elevate Grant for Non-Profits​ in English
• Subvención Thrive/Elevate para organizaciones sin fines de lucro en Español 

 

Attend Cultural Arts Virtual Open Office Hours

• Every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon June 25 through July 23 on Zoom. Please email culturalarts@austintexas.gov to set-up an in-person appointment during these office hours.

RSVP for an online application info session with question-and-answer session.

• The session for nonprofits is on Wednesday, June 26 · 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.*
• The session for individual artists and creative businesses is on Thursday, June 27  · 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.*

RSVP for In-person Application Information Sessions

• The in-person session for nonprofits is on
  • Wednesday, July 10  · 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.*
• The in-person session for individual artists and creative businesses is on
  • Wednesday, July 17 · 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. *

              *Spanish Language Assistance Available 

RSVP for In-person Application Assistance 1:1

• Saturday, July 20 ·12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

 

Additional Assistance:

Community Navigators: 

• Austin Revitalization Authority - Email Brandy Davidson at bdavidson@austinrev.org or call (512) 469-1705. 
• On the Money Finance – Email Catalina Landon at catalina@onthemoneyfinance.com or call (512) 839-8462 for Spanish-speaking assistance.

Third-Party Administrator - Create Austin at the Long Center: for Spanish and English application support Email ApplicationHelp@thelongcenter.org or call 512-457-5161, Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Funding Timeline

Grant Guidelines

• Download the Elevate Grant Guidelines in English (PDF, 637KB)
• Download the Elevate Grant Guidelines in Spanish (PDF, 615KB) 

Eligible Applicants

Eligible Applicants

• 501(c) non-profit arts organization.
  • 501c non-profits arts organizations a minimum 5 years of operating history may also apply for Thrive. View the Thrive Guidelines for details.  
• An individual aged 18 or older with an annual operating budget below $500,000. * +  
• A creative business with an annual operating budget below $500,000. * +  
• Your artistic goals or creative mission is the production of arts and culture activities. This includes organizations that provide professional support to creatives.  
• Minimum of one year of operating history in the Austin metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes:                                                          
  • Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson Counties.  
• Over 50% of your creative production is within the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).  
• Proposed activity meets all program requirements as outlined by the Hotel Occupancy Tax.  
  • All events are open to the public  
  • Occur within Austin or the Austin ETJ  
  • Marketed to tourists  
  • Or applicant is an arts service organization  

* May apply directly or with a Fiscal Sponsor. See the Guide to Fiscal Sponsorship in English or Guide to Fiscal Sponsorship in Spanish prior to starting your application.

+ Individual Artists and Creative Businesses, which include unincorporated arts groups, may apply for up to $30,000. 

 

Ineligible Applicants

• 501(c) non-profit organizations or that are not primarily an arts organization.
• Individuals or creative businesses with annual operating budgets above $500,000.  
• Applicant organizations outside of the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
• City of Austin Full-Time Employees
• Applicants who have accepted grant funding from the Cultural Arts Fund (Thrive, Elevate, or Austin Live Music Fund) in the current City of Austin Fiscal Year 2024 grant funding cycle 

Eligible Activities and Expenses

See Additional Program Details in English (PDF,518 KB), Additional Program Details in Spanish (PDF,519 KB) for a more detailed list of eligible and ineligible activities and expenses. 

Eligible Activities

• Operations related to the applicant’s ability to produce public events
• Exhibitions
• Performances
• Workshops and classes that include a performance or exhibition that is open to and marketed to tourists.
• Public art projects that are installed on public or private property and accessible by the public (Applicants must obtain written permission from the property owner prior to submitting an application. See page 6 of the Additional Program Details in English (PDF,518KB), Additional Program Details in Spanish (PDF,519 KB) for more information). 

Eligible Expenses 

• Administrative and creative costs incurred in the preparation and implementation of cultural activities that are open to and marketed to tourist (including staff hours, contractor costs, and artist salaries)
• Space rentals
• Equipment rentals (not purchases)
• Supplies and materials
• Marketing and promotion expenses
• Insurance costs
• Subscription costs or license fees for software needed to complete contracted activities
• Fiscal sponsor fee, if applicable (cannot exceed 10% of award)
• See pages 4-6 of the Additional Program Details in English (PDF,518KB), Additional Program Details in Spanish (PDF,519 KB) for more information). 

Application Details 

Preview the application questions to help prepare. Applications will not be accepted via email or mail. The application must be submitted through the Submittable application home page only (link will be added on June 25 at 10 a.m.). 

Eligibility Questions

• Is 51% or more of your work produced or presented within the City of Austin Council Districts or extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ)?  

• If yes, has your work been produced or presented within the City of Austin Council Districts or extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) for one or more years?

• Are activities in your proposal open to and marketed to tourists? If you are an arts service organization that supports artists and arts organizations with their own public activities, answer “yes.”  

• If you are currently receiving funding through any other City of Austin department or program (excluding pandemic relief programs), please disclose.  

• If you are an Individual Artist or Creative Business, your budget history lists most recently completed fiscal year’s budget $150,000 or less 

Application Questions and Points

Criteria	Available Points
Key Constituencies & Creative Mission    Identify your key constituencies. How do you serve them through your artistic goals, creative mission, and experience producing public events?    For the purposes of this program, key constituencies that will be prioritized are community groups that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.    Key constituencies are not necessarily just your audience. They may also include others who are deeply impacted by your work, like participating artists, staff, creative advisors and/or community groups, etc.    Answer must include:      Identify your key constituencies (see Additional Program Details (PDF,362 KB), Detalles adicionales del programa (PDF,519 KB) for definition) Artistic goals and/or creative mission   Operationalized equity work within your creative practice/organization	Up to 15 Points
History of Service    How have you met the needs of your key constituencies?     Your answer should include: Your specific history in service to key constituencies Your founding history and community service goals Description of how you have directly improved access to opportunities for your key constituencies Examples of opportunity creation:  leadership roles  jobs  social services  career development  networking  education  mentoring or partnerships  providing free or low-cost spaces	Up to 10 Points
Cultural Leadership     Who holds decision-making power in your creative practice and how do you/they represent your key constituencies?       Your answer could include:    You, the individual artist applicant   Executive and Creative Leadership   Advisory Board    Creative Advisors	Up to 15 Points
Cultural Activities     What are your proposed public activities?     Your answer should address:  Description of proposed activities (who, what, when, where) Desired outcome or impact of your proposed activities, including how equity is centered. How key constituencies are involved in the development of the activities	Up to 10 Points
Intersectionality And Inclusion       Describe how intersectionality is incorporated into your activities?       The City values intersectionality and inclusion.     The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. Intersectionality is where different parts of an individual’s identity, like their race, class, and gender, can overlap and result in that person experiencing special challenges or discrimination that's unique to their lived experience.     Your answer should include:   Identify the intersectional identities participating in your activities  How those identities are included in the creation and presentation of your activities	Up to 10 Points
Accessibility    Describe the specialized accommodations and/or programming for individuals with disabilities that you intend to provide at your proposed activities, if any.    Your answer should address: Specific services or adaptations you will provide  Name(s) of service provider and/or participation of a trained professional in administering services or adaptations    Accessibility accommodations that are “upon-request only” are not considered to be specialized.      Hosting activities in an ADA accessible facility, by itself, is also not considered to be specialized.     See Additional Program Details (PDF,362 KB), Detalles adicionales del programa (PDF,519 KB) for more information on Accessibility resources	Up to 10 Points
Language Accessibility     Describe the specialized language access accommodations or programming for non-English speaking communities that you intend to provide at your proposed activities, if any.      Your answer should address:  Specific services or adaptations you will provide (including the language(s) they will be provided in)  Name(s) of service providers and/or participation of a trained professional in administering services or adaptations    Accessibility accommodations that are “upon-request only” are not considered to be specialized.	Up to 10 Points
Marketing      Describe how you will market your proposed activities.     Your answer should include your marketing platforms (ex: social media, web, newsletter, print, radio/tv, etc.) and specialized marketing efforts to reach:      Audiences within your key constituencies  New audiences within the City of Austin’s Priority Key Constituencies  Audience members with disabilities and/or audience members whose primary language is not English  Tourists    An applicant’s key constituencies are NOT required to align with the City’s priority key constituencies (as defined in the Additional Program Details (PDF,362 KB), Detalles adicionales del programa (PDF,519 KB)) to receive points for Item 1. HOWEVER, Item 2 requires the applicant to reach NEW audiences within the City’s priority key constituencies that are not reached through Item 1.    Utilizing two or more forms of social media (ex: Facebook and Instagram) will only count as ONE marketing platform.	Up to 10 Points
Budget (NOT A NARRATIVE - Just the budget table)    How will you use this grant to produce your proposed activities?     Your answer should address payment to artists and/or administrators and: Estimated expenses related to providing specialized accessibility and/or language access services Estimated expenses related to marketing to current or new audiences Explanation of expenses to produce your activities Budget should be reflective of this application	Up to 10 Points
Total	100 Points

Application Materials

Upload the following required documents to the Elevate application.  

Eligible Applicant Type	Required Application Uploads
All Applicants	3 Work Samples (templates below) 3 Work Samples in English (PowerPoint, 55 KB) or 3 Work Samples in English (PDF, 148 KB) 3 Work Samples in Spanish (PowerPoint, 96 KB or  3 Work Samples in Spanish (PDF, 76 KB)  2 Letters of Support (Each letter can be up to one page or links to videos up to 5 minutes TOTAL are accepted)
501(c) nonprofit arts organization	IRS Determination Letter  Most recently completed 990. If you are a new 501c and do not have a 990 or 990 EZ, you can submit your most recent financial statement
An individual aged 18 or older applying with a Fiscal Sponsor	Signed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement
Creative Business applying with a Fiscal Sponsor	Signed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement

Glossary of Important Terms

Here are just a few important definitions for helpful reference in understanding goals and priorities. For a full list of definitions please see the glossary of terms and definitions beginning on page 19 of the Additional Program Details. 

 

Creative Business 

A creative business is an individual or a group whose primary activities are arts- and culture-based and does not have a 501c non-profit status. Creative businesses with annual operating budgets below $500,000 can apply as an individual or arts group in Nexus and Elevate. 

 

Cultural Displacement 

Cultural displacement occurs through changes in the aspects of a neighborhood that have provided long-time residents with a sense of belonging and allowed residents to live their lives in familiar ways.   

As the scale of residential change advances, and shops and services shift to focus on new residents, remaining residents may feel a sense of dislocation despite physically remaining in the neighborhood. This may also reflect the changing racial or ethnic character of the neighborhood—not just its class composition.  

 

Cultural Erasure 

Cultural erasure is when, because of cultural displacement, key aspects of neighborhoods that allow both current and future residents to feel at home go missing. Current and future residents lose access to opportunities in the neighborhood and the scale of change erases key aspects of the neighborhood that allows residents to feel at home.  

 

Content was developed in collaboration with the City of Austin's Equity Office and industry resources. 

 

Fiscal Sponsor 

A nonprofit corporation with 501(c) status that applies for financial support on behalf of another organization or individual in order to enable the latter to receive the benefits of tax-exempt status. There are several forms that fiscal sponsorship can take, but in every case, the fiscal sponsor takes responsibility for external parties that the funding will be utilized for tax-exempt, charitable purposes as defined in the internal revenue code. See The Long Center’s 

 

Intersectionality 

The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw to highlight the overlapping vulnerabilities that are at play in shaping the life chances of some of society's most vulnerable populations, for example: women who are poor, of color, or who are undocumented.   
 
Intersectionality describes the many ways in which various forms of discriminations can intersect, creating special vulnerabilities for some. Vulnerabilities related to systemic and institutional racism are an integral part of intersectionality. 

 

Key Constituencies 

The people deeply impacted by your work, which may include your audience, community members, and/or participating artists and administrators. These ‘key constituencies’ are identified and named by the applicant.

For the purposes of this program, key constituencies that will be prioritized are community groups that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. Any reference to ‘key constituencies’ in a program application and scoring rubric will be referring to the community groups that meet this definition and that has been directly identified by the applicant.

This may refer to Black/African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander, the LGBTQIA, and disability communities.

NOTE: Audience served is NOT the same as ‘key constituencies’ as the audience served may or may not include communities that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized. 

Application Scoring

Applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel.  Panels will be available for public viewing, and applicants may request reviewer comments after awards have been announced. Applicants will only receive points that apply to their proposal based on the scoring rubric; we anticipate that most applications will not receive the maximum number of points available. The number of awards that are approved is subject to the availability of funds. We expect to award approximately 225 grants per cycle

 

Elevate for Nonprofits Rubric

• Detailed Scoring Rubric in English (PDF, 887 KB)
• Detailed Scoring Rubric in Spanish (PDF, 558 KB)

 

Elevate for Individuals and Creative Businesses Rubric  

• Detailed Scoring Rubric in English (PDF, 861KB)
• Detailed Scoring Rubric in Spanish (PDF, 531KB) 

 

Grant Awardee Commitments

In addition to application proposals, the following information will also be required.  

Reporting Requirements

A final report is due within thirty days of the final activity date. Videos on how to complete your report will be made available and supporting materials can be found in the Contractor Library.    

 

The report will require but is not limited to:  

• Proof of award monies expended  
• Audience attendance
• Proof the funded activities were executed  
• Proof that marketing requirements were met 

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2024 Elevate Grant Awardees

See the full list of Nonprofit grant recipients.  

See the full list of Individual and Creative Business grant recipients.

 

2023-2024 Elevate Grant Awardees

Download the Elevate Grant Awardee list (PDF, 182 KB).

With almost 500 applicants, over 300 of the top scoring applications were reviewed and scored by a panel. After the panel review, the top 200 scoring applications were recommended for funding. Final award amounts were based on the requested amount and panel score. Read more about the grant in the Elevate Grant Guidelines (PDF, 550 KB) .

Thrive, Elevate, and Nexus cultural funding programs were developed in consultation with Austin’s creative community over the past 3 years. Funding will prioritize equity through a combination of seed funding, broad sector support, and targeted investment. Read the Cultural Funding Report (PDF, 1.8 MB), El camino hacia la equidad cultural (PDF, 2.2 MB). 

2023 Awardees should contact The Long Center with questions about their grants at cityofaustingrants@thelongcenter.org.

 

Elevate Grant Dashboard

View a summary dashboard of demographics for the 2023 Elevate Grant applicants and awardees.

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For FY23 Elevate Awardees

Find last year's FY23 Elevate Grant Program materials below.

Grant Guidelines

Download the Elevate Grant Guidelines (PDF, 550 KB)

Eligible Applicants:

• 501(c) non-profit arts organization.
• An individual aged 18 or older with an annual operating budget below $500,000. * + 
• A creative business with an annual operating budget below $500,000. * + 
• Applicant’s primary mission and over 51% of their body of work is the production, presentation, or promotion of arts and culture. This includes organizations that provide professional support to creatives. 
• One year of operating history in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which includes Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson Counties.
• 51% or more of the applicant’s creative production is within the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and a minimum of 1 year of creative production within Austin. 
• Proposed activity meets all program requirements as outlined by the Hotel Occupancy Tax. All events are open to the public and marketed to tourists, or applicant is an arts service organization. 
• Applicants who are not receiving City funding for the same activities in the fiscal year in which they are applying.

* May apply directly or with a fiscal sponsor.

+ Individual Artists and Creative Businesses, which include unincorporated arts groups, may apply for up to $25,000.

 

Ineligible Applicants:

• 501(c) non-profit organizations or that are not primarily an arts organization.
• Individuals or creative businesses with annual operating budgets above $500,000. 
• Applicant organizations outside of the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). 

 

See Additional Program Details (PDF, 372 KB) for a more detailed list of eligible and ineligible activities and expenses.

Eligible Activities

• Operations related to the applicant’s ability to produce public events
• Exhibitions 
• Performances 
• Workshops, classes, and camps that include a performance or exhibition that is open to and marketed to tourists 
• Public art projects that are installed on public or private property and accessible to the public

 

Eligible Expenses

• Administrative and creative costs incurred in the preparation and implementation of cultural activities that are open to and marketed to tourists (including artists’ salaries)
• Costs related to improving the applicant’s ability to produce cultural events
• Insurance costs
• Subscription costs or license fees for software needed to complete contracted activities
• Fiscal sponsor fee, if applicable

Application Preview

Preview the application questions to help prepare. Applications will not be accepted via email or mail. The application must be submitted through the application home page only.

 

Eligibility Questions

• What is your organization type?
• In what year did your operations providing goods and services to the public begin?
• Is 51% or more of your work produced or presented within the Austin 10-1 districts or extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) for one (1) or more years?
• Do the activities in your proposal culminate in an event or events that are open to and marketed to tourists?
• Are you currently receiving any funding through any of the following programs? Live Music Fund, Heritage Tourism, other City of Austin programs
• If yes, is your Cultural Funding application for the same activities that are funded by one of the programs above?

 

Application Questions

• What is your mission, vision, and primary production history?  Identify your key constituencies and provide information about your service to them.
• In what ways have you maintained a responsive approach to the needs of your key constituencies? 
• Who holds power in your organization and how do they represent your community?
• In what ways are the voices from the community amplified and involved in the creative direction of your project?    
• What are your proposed activities and how is your proposal relevant to the current social and cultural needs of the community?  
• In what ways is intersectionality a key component of your activities?  
• Describe the non-financial ways that your community supports your creative work, and how that support has short and long-term impact on your success.
• Describe the ways that your community financially supports your creative work and how that support has had a short and long-term impact on your success. If your community does not financially support your creative work, please explain why.   
• Describe the ways your creative work invests in your community. Include information on the systemic and long-term benefits your programming has for the community.  
• Does your proposal include specialized programming or accommodations for individuals with disabilities? 
• Does your proposal include specialized language access accommodations or programming for non-English speaking communities?
• How will the requested funding help you expand your programmatic reach and amplify Austin’s diverse arts and cultural sector?
• How will you use these funds to produce your events? 

Application Materials

Upload the following required documents to the Elevate Application. Acceptable file formats include: .csv, .doc, .docx, .odt, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, .wpd, .wpf, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .svg, .tif, .tiff. Max file upload: 10MB

• Organization and Project Budget Form -
  • Project Budget Template (XLS, 25 KB) or
  • Project Budget Template (PDF, 123 KB)
  • Formulario del presupuesto propuesto (PDF, 125 KB) o
  • Formulario del presupuesto propuesto (XLS, 26 KB) 

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• Work Samples Template
  • 3 Work Samples (PowerPoint, 55 KB) or
  • 3 Work Samples (PDF, 148 KB)
  • Plantilla de Muestra de Trabajo (PowerPoint, 96 KB) o
  • Plantilla de Muestra de Trrabajo (PDF, 76 KB)

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• 2 Letters of Support (Each letter can be up to one page) 

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• IRS Determination Letter  (Required for 501c nonprofit organizations)

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• Most recent 990 if applicable. (Required for 501c nonprofit organizations. If you do not have a 990 or 990EZ you can submit your nonprofit's most recent financial statement.)

Glossary of Important Terms

Here are just a few important definitions for helpful reference in understanding goals and priorities. For a full list of definitions please see the glossary of terms and definitions beginning on page 20 of the Additional Program Details (PDF, 372 KB).

 

Creative Business

A creative business is an individual or a group whose primary activities are arts and culture based, and does not have a 501c non-profit status. Creative businesses with annual operating budgets below $500,000 can apply as an individual or arts group in Nexus and Elevate.

 

Cultural Displacement

Cultural displacement occurs through changes in the aspects of a neighborhood that have provided long-time residents with a sense of belonging and allowed residents to live their lives in familiar ways.   

As the scale of residential change advances, and shops and services shift to focus on new residents, remaining residents may feel a sense of dislocation despite physically remaining in the neighborhood. This may also reflect the changing racial or ethnic character of the neighborhood—not just its class composition.  

 

Cultural Erasure

Cultural erasure is when, because of cultural displacement, key aspects of neighborhoods that allow both current and future residents to feel at home go missing. Current and future residents lose access to opportunities in the neighborhood and the scale of change erases key aspects of the neighborhood that allows residents to feel at home. Content was developed in collaboration with the City of Austin's Equity Office and industry resources.

 

Fiscal Sponsor

A nonprofit corporation with 501(c) status that applies for financial support on behalf of another organization or individual in order to enable the latter to receive the benefits of tax-exempt status. There are several forms that fiscal sponsorship can take, but in every case, the fiscal sponsor takes responsibility for external parties that the funding will be utilized for tax-exempt, charitable purposes as defined in the internal revenue code.

 

Intersectionality

The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw to highlight the overlapping vulnerabilities that are at play in shaping the life chances of some of society's most vulnerable populations, for example: women who are poor, of color, or who are undocumented.   
 
Intersectionality describes the many ways in which various forms of discriminations can intersect, creating special vulnerabilities for some. Vulnerabilities related to systemic and institutional racism are an integral part of intersectionality.  

Application Scoring

Applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel. Applicants will only receive points that apply to their project. Up to 100 points available: Operations – Up to 45 Points, Cultural and Social Impact – Up to 55 Points

View Elevate Panelist Training Materials

 

Operations

Criteria	Available Points
Mission and Key Constituencies What is your mission, vision, and primary production history? Identify your key constituencies and provide information about applicant’s service to them. For the purposes of this program, key constituencies that will be prioritized are community groups that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. Mission, vision, and production history will be used to verify this answer. Individual applicants and creative businesses, please provide creative mission, artistic vision, and production history for this response.	Up to 15 Points
History of Service  In what ways have you maintained a responsive approach to the needs of your key constituencies? Your answer should include: Your work or practice has a specific history in direct service to key constituencies Your founding history and community service goals Description of how the applicant has directly improved access to opportunities for key constituencies	Up to 10 Points
Cultural Leadership Who holds power in your organization and how do they represent your community? Your answer could include:  Executive and creative leadership  Board of Directors and/or Advisory Board Creative Advisors	Up to 15 Points
Community Voice  In what ways are the voices from the community amplified and involved in the creative direction of your project? Your answer may include:  How stages of the project will include opportunity for input by the community. How community is involved in the development of the project. Operationalized equity work within an organization. Any successes as a representative of community voices.	Up to 5 Points
Total	45 Points

Cultural and Social Impact

Criteria	Available Points
Cultural Activities Relevance and Responsiveness What are your proposed activities and how is your proposal relevant to the current social and cultural needs of the community? Your answer could address: Tourist accessible activities that you produce Description of proposed activities, participant(s), etc. Working with diverse communities How equity work is centered in your proposal	Up to 15 Points
Intersectionality and Inclusion In what ways is intersectionality a key component of your activities?  The City values intersectionality. The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. Intersectionality is where race, class, gender, and other vulnerabilities overlap. It describes the many ways in which various forms of discriminations can intersect, creating special vulnerabilities for some. See Additional Program Details (PDF, 372 KB) for the full definition of Intersectionality.	Up to 5 Points
Community Relationships Describe the non-financial ways that your community supports your creative work, and how that support has short and long-term impact on your success. Examples of non-financial community support include but are not limited to:  Volunteers  Mentorships or Partnerships  Collaborations with Community Members/Leaders  Audience Participation  Describe the ways that your community financially supports your creative work and how that support has had a short and long-term impact on your success. If your community does not financially support your creative work, please explain why.   Examples of financial support include but are not limited to:  Cash Donations  Paid Services  Ticket Sales  Donations of Goods	Up to 5 Points
Opportunity Creation / Community Benefits Describe the ways your creative work invests in your community. Include information on the systemic and long-term benefits your programming has for the community.   Examples of investment into the communities can include but are not limited to: Leadership Roles Jobs Social Services Career Development Networking Education Mentoring or Partnerships Providing free or low-cost spaces Other (describe)	Up to 10 Points
Accessibility Does your proposal include specialized programming or accommodations for individuals with disabilities?  Does your proposal include specialized language access accommodations or programming for non-English speaking communities?  The panel will consider how these options are represented in your budget. Accessibility accommodations that are “upon-request only” are admirable but will not be considered a specialized service	Up to 10 Points
Programmatic Reach How will the requested funding help you expand your programmatic reach and amplify Austin’s diverse arts and cultural sector? Your answer could address: Marketing / Audience Development Information on how funding will directly support the diversity of the City's cultural/arts community	Up to 5 Points
Budget How will you use these funds to produce your events? Your answer could address: Explanation of expenses in production of activities Uploaded Budget Form should be reflective of this narrative Panelists will review this response in addition to the uploaded Budget Form to review the applicant's financial history and financial practices.	Up to 5 Points
Total	Up to 55 Points

FY23 Elevate Grant Panels

Watch the FY23 Elevate Grant Review Panels on the EDD YouTube Channel.

Grant Awardee Commitments

In addition to application proposals, the following information will also be required.  

Reporting Requirements

A final report is due within thirty days of the final activity date. Workshops on how to complete your report will be made available and supporting materials can be found in the Contractor Library.   

The report will require but is not limited to: 

• Proof of award monies expended 
• Audience data 
• Proof the funded activities were executed  
• Proof that marketing requirements were met 

Funding Timeline

Elevate operates on an annual cycle:

The program application opens to the public on May 23, 2023. Applications are reviewed for eligibility. Eligible and complete applications are scored during a panel review process. Award amounts of approved applications are then determined using a funding matrix.  

• May 23, 2023 - Application opens  
• June 30, 2023 - Application deadline  
• August 2023 - Panel reviews begin  
• September 2023 - Notification of award decision