City Announces New Arts & Culture Capacity Building Grant Program

April 2, 2024

The City of Dubuque Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs announced today a new Capacity Building Grant Program. The City plans to alternate Capacity Building grants and Special Projects grants every other fiscal year, beginning with Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

The decision to modify the annual grant programs to include capacity-building support was based on input received through a survey of past Arts and Culture grant applicants. The collected feedback was strategically used to guide the Arts and Culture Grants Committee in supporting initiatives that aim to create more sustainable and effective organizations.

Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to $8,000 to support capacity-building initiatives. Examples of capacity-building include but are not limited to: 

• strategic planning
• creating a development plan and/or fundraising strategy
• marketing/communications
• donor experience improvements
• staff and/or board member nonprofit training
• leadership development
• project or program development
• volunteer management
• Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) training

A total of $35,000 in funding is available. Applications are now being accepted from eligible parties for the FY25 funding period, which runs July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024.  All information related to the application guidelines, scoring rubric, and access to the online application portal is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artsgrants.

Since the Arts and Culture funding programs began in 2005, the City has invested over $4.6 million in organizations and activities that increase the community’s access to a wide range of diverse arts and cultural experiences, utilizing the power of the arts, creative expression, and cultural offerings to foster economic activity, promote citizen engagement, and cultivate an equitable community of choice.

“A community with a thriving arts and culture sector is a community that thrives overall,” said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. “The City Council continues to prioritize investment in arts and culture as an investment in our community’s well-being because access to diverse arts and culture experiences supports brain health, attracts tourism dollars, and helps us to retain the workforce our region needs to grow and prosper.”

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MEDIA CONTACT

Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager
563-690-6059, bspurlin@cityofdubuque.org