National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Fast-Track Grant: Extending Arts to Underserved Communities

The Arts Endowment’s support of a project may start on or after January 1, 2014.

Applicant Eligibility

Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the goals of the Arts Endowment.

To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
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Meet the Arts Endowment’s "Legal Requirements" including nonprofit, tax-exempt status at the time of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf. Applications through a fiscal agent are not allowed.)

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Have a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.

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Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts Endowment grant(s) previously received.

The Arts Endowment’s support of a project may start on or after January 1, 2014

The Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations — those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development.

This category encourages and supports the following two outcomes:
•Engagement: Engaging the public with diverse and excellent art.
•Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts.

You will be asked to select the outcome that is most relevant to your project (you also will be able to select a secondary outcome). When making selections, you should identify the outcome(s) that reflect the results expected to be achieved by your project. If you receive a grant, you also will be asked to provide evidence of those results.

Challenge America Fast-Track grants:
•Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
•Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below.
•Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match.
•Receive an expedited application review. Organizations are notified whether they have been recommended for a grant approximately six months after they apply; projects may start shortly thereafter.