Grant Details
Bravo’s Operating Grant program provides general operating support to eligible arts, culture and heritage organizations in the Greater Des Moines region. Operating grants support the administrative expenses and day-to-day costs of running an organization which is essential to supporting an organization’s work and mission.
Eligible Operating Grant Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a 501(c) organization exempt from tax under the Internal Revenue Code with at least 6 months of active programming history under the 501(c) designation OR be an agency, division or department of the State of Iowa which operates a facility open to the public.
- Have headquarters in and conduct most of its activities within one of Bravo’s partner local governments.
- Demonstrate a primary organizational purpose of arts, culture, interpretative science, and/or heritage that focuses on the collection, preservation, production, presentation and/or promotion of artistic expression, traditions, customs, or stories within creative, educational, or historic contexts. Mission language, programming, public access, support materials, partnerships, and budget must all clearly illustrate arts, culture, interpretative science or heritage as the organization’s primary purpose (at least 60%) in Greater Des Moines.
Note: Eligibility does not guarantee funding. Specific eligibility requirements may be waived at Bravo’s discretion.
Ineligible applicants for operating support include, but are not limited to:
- Individual artists
- Fiscally sponsored organizations
- Private organizations, clubs or groups that do not offer public programming
- Political, religious, or academic organizations
- Public libraries
- Public or private schools or higher education institutions
- Those formed with the express purpose of fundraising on behalf of, supporting and/or promoting applicants that are not otherwise eligible for funding (e.g. friends societies, etc. for libraries, political, religious or academic organizations)
- Nonprofit organizations whose primary mission and work advances other sectors such as social services (food, housing, childcare, schools, mental health and wellness, etc.), economic development, business and entrepreneurship, financial services, sports and recreation, technology, etc., even if arts and culture programming is used to deliver some of the organization’s mission.
Important Dates
Expected timeline for GC25 Operating Support Grants:
- August 19, 2024 Applications & resources available on Bravo’s website and SurveyMonkeyApply at 10:00 a.m.
- September 13, 2024 IF APPLICABLE – The SMU DataArts Cultural Data Profile must be updated and a Funder Report with data from the last 3 completed fiscal years must be generated with Bravo as the recipient. Find detailed instructions HERE.
- September 13, 2024 Deadline for new applicants to meet with staff
- September 27, 2024 Applications due by 3:00 pm
- December 5, 2024 Award notifications sent via email by noon
- December 20, 2024 Signed grant agreements due by 3:00 pm
- January 1, 2025 Funding term starts
- December 31, 2025 Funding term ends
QUESTIONS?
Contact Bravo staff at grants@bravogreaterdesmoines.org or 515.243.0388 with any questions.
ADDITIONAL GRANT RESOURCES
For FAQs, other funding opportunities, trainings for nonprofits, visit Bravo’s resources page.
2024 Operating Grant Recipients
- Alex Brown Foundation
- Ankeny Area Historical Society
- Ankeny Art Center
- Ankeny Community Chorus
- Ankeny Community Theatre
- Art on the Lake
- ArtForce Iowa
- ASAP – After School Arts Program
- Ballet Des Moines
- Big Creek Historical Society
- Blank Park Zoo
- Capital City Pride
- Carlisle Area Historical Society
- Carousel Theatre of Indianola
- Central Iowa Blues Society
- Central Iowa Jazz Association (Turner Center Jazz Orchestra)
- Central Iowa Wind Ensemble
- City Sounds
- City Voices
- Civic Music Association
- Class Act Productions
- Clive Historical Society
- CultureALL
- Dance Without Limits
- Des Moines African Youth Festival Awards
- Des Moines Art Center
- Des Moines Arts Festival
- Des Moines Children’s Museum
- Des Moines Choral Society
- Des Moines Community Orchestra
- Des Moines Community Playhouse
- Des Moines Community Radio Foundation (KFMG-LP)
- Des Moines Concert Handbells
- Des Moines Diversity Chorus
- Des Moines Film Society
- Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra
- Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
- Des Moines Metro Opera
- Des Moines Performing Arts
- Des Moines Symphony & Academy
- The Des Moines Urban Experience
- Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble
- Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre
- Downtown Events Group
- Filipino American Society
- Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center
- Girls Rock! Des Moines
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Greater Des Moines Community Band
- Greater Des Moines Music Coalition
- Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
- Harmony Central Chorus
- Heart of Iowa Classical Guitar Society
- Heartland Youth Choir
- Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation
- I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa
- Iowa Architectural Foundation
- Iowa Asian Alliance
- Iowa European Culture Connection
- Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
- Iowa Jewish Historical Society
- Iowa Latino Community Center
- Iowa Stage Theatre Co.
- Iowa Youth Chorus
- Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp
- Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa
- Japan Society of Iowa
- Johnston Historical Society
- Latino Resources (Latino Heritage Festival)
- Living History Farms
- Mainframe Studios
- Music Under the Stars
- North River Arts Council
- Pyramid Theatre Company
- Salisbury House Foundation
- Science Center of Iowa
- SEEDS
- State Historical Museum of Iowa
- Tallgrass Theatre Company
- Taste of the Junction
- Urbandale Community Theatre
- Urbandale Historical Society
- Waukee Area Historical Society
- West Des Moines Historical Society
- White Eagle Seventh Generation Multicultural Pow Wow