Local Government Challenge Grant
Application Preview

For your convenience, the Oklahoma Arts Council has provided a "preview" of the Local Government Challenge Grant Application. Please remember that to actually submit an application or a final report, applicants must login to the e-grant system.

Narrative questions - Remember each narrative response is limited to 4000 characters. Narratives over the 4000 character limit will not be saved due to programming limitations of the database. To avoid frustration with this limitation, OAC strongly recommends formulating your response in a word processing program which will allow spell check and character counts. After proofing your responses copy and paste the responses into the required application narratives. DO NOT use bullets, underlining, italics, etc as this adds to the overall character count total.

Community Description:

1. Briefly describe your city/community and include information concerning population, geographic location, demographics, economic considerations, etc.
2. What specific cultural or arts development goals does your local government have that will be facilitated by this grant?
3. What amount is the Local Government's match from local tax revenues?
4. What is the amount requested from the Oklahoma Arts Council? This amount must be match at least 1:1 with local tax revenues and CAN NOT exceed $5000.
5. What is the date you anticipate cityís match will be distributed to the recipient arts organization(s).
6. Please list the name(s) of the city personnel that will directly oversee the management of this grant and their office contact phone number.

NOTE: grant funds will not be issued from the Oklahoma Arts Council until OAC receives verification that the cityís matching funds have been distributed to the arts organizations. Generally, a copy of the check made payable to the arts organization will provide verification. The Oklahoma Arts Council will also require verification that any awarded OAC grant funds have been distributed to the recipient arts organizations.

General Information

1. Please estimate the total number of individuals that will directly benefit from this funding, include artists, non-artist project participants or audience members.
2. Please estimate the total number of children and youth (under 18) benefiting directly from the grant. This figure should reflect a portion of the total number reporting in the previous individuals benefiting.
3. Please estimate the total number of artists directly involved in providing art or artistic services specifically identified with this grant application.
4. Have you been awarded a Local Government Challenge Grant in previous years?

Arts Organization Information

1. List each 501(c)(3) arts organization that will be recipients of any approved funding. Also list their mailing address(s), a contact person, contact phone number, and the amount to be distributed to each organization. Remember that the total amount to be distributed must equal the local governments match plus the grant amount requested.
2. List the mission of each 501(c)(3) arts organization, (include the name of the arts organization).
3. Describe how each arts organization will make use of the funds made available through this grant program. List each organization separately and clearly define the planned project(s), timeline(s), goal(s) and population(s) served. NOTE: Matching funds and/or Granted Funds CAN NOT BE USED for improvements to city owned property or to support city employee salaries and CAN NOT BE USED to match other OAC grant requests.
4. Please describe the process used to select the 501(c)(3) arts organizations as recipients of this funding. Include the criteria used in the selection process and the individuals responsible for making the selections.
5. Describe the system used to monitor the success of the proposed activities funded through this process.

Support Materials

1. A notarized affidavit signed by the local government's executive officer (usually the Mayor or City Manager) indicating that upon budget approval, local tax revenues will be used to match the requested amount and distributed as indicated in the application. Note: This affidavit is required support material. Applications will not be considered for funding without it.
2. A copy of each recipient arts organization's IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. Note: This is required support material. Applications will not be considered for funding without the IRS letter(s) of determination.

Optional Support Material

1. Any publications or other materials provided by the arts organization(s) to demonstrate the type of programming or services that it provides to the community.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The following questions will be asked on the grant application indicating that the applicant is aware of and agrees to the following requirements.

1. I understand that proof of payment to the recipient arts organization(s) of the MATCHING FUNDS must be submitted to the Oklahoma Arts Council before OAC grants funds can be distributed to the Local Government. (See Local Government Challenge Grant guidelines ñ there is no DUE date, however, grant funds will not be issued until verification of payment of the MATCHING FUNDS has been submitted to the Oklahoma Arts Council and grant funds will be canceled if verification is not received prior to June 1.)
2. I understand that proof of payment to the recipient arts organization(s) of the OAC GRANT FUNDS must also be submitted to the Oklahoma Arts Council no later than June 1, 2009 as well as the electronic final report. (Failure to submit verification of payment of grant funds to the recipient arts organization will jeopardize funding of future applications. The Oklahoma Arts Council reserves the right to audit any grant application and disbursement of funds.)