Operating Grants

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 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
• 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.

Applications and requirements are designed to acknowledge the breadth of organizations Bravo serves. Applications will be submitted through SurveyMonkey Apply, Bravo’s grant management software. All eligible applicants will apply for general operating support using the most appropriate application for their organization:

• ‘New to Bravo’ Applicants For organizations of annual operating budgets over $1,000 that have not received annual operating support from Bravo. New applicants are required to meet with Bravo staff to verify eligibility at least two weeks prior to the application deadline.
• Organizations with $1,000 – $50,000 Annual Operating Budgets must have received Bravo funding in at least one previous grant year.
• Organizations with $50,000 – $200,000 Annual Operating Budgets must have received Bravo funding in at least one previous grant year.
• Organizations with $200,000 – $2,000,000 Annual Operating Budgets must have at least one year-round, full-time employee or full-time equivalent; a completed, current SMU DataArts Funder Report; AND at least three years of consecutive Bravo funding.
• Organizations with $2,000,000+ Annual Operating Budgets must have at least 5 full-time employees; a completed, current SMU DataArts Funder Report; AND at least five years of consecutive Bravo funding.

Depending on the application your organization completes, you may be asked to provide some or all of the following documents:

• Current fiscal year budget
• Board approved summary of final actual revenue and expenses for the most recently completed fiscal year
• Current SMU DataArts Streamlined Funder Report
• Organizational goals/strategic plan; and
• Up to 3 support materials (images, annual report, audio/video clips, etc).