CITY OF SHREVEPORT REGRANT  

OPERATING SUPPORT GUIDELINES 

DEADLINE: Friday, JUNE 27, 2025 – 5:00 PM via Submittable

The Operating Support Program provides general operating grants to Nonprofit Arts organizations with 501(c)3 designations domiciled in Shreveport whose programming has a major impact on enriching the cultural environment of the City of Shreveport. An Arts Organization is one that includes in its mission statement, as adopted by the board of directors, that providing arts activities to the public is primary to its mission, and it is defined as a private organization whose purpose, programs, and services are primarily arts related.  

An Arts Organization should be established with at least two years of programming documentation and two Form 990s, audited compilation statements, or external audits. First-time applicants should contact Shreveport Regional Arts Council for guidance before applying. All questions should be directed to Karen@shrevearts.org.  

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 

All applications must be submitted through Submittable by Friday, June 27,2025 at 5:00 pm.  No applications will be accepted after the deadline.  

SRAC ASSISTANCE: 

A. Technical Assistance: Applicants may request assistance in the review and revision of the grant SRAC cannot write grants for applicants. Applicants interested in technical assistance  should call 318-673-6500 or email karen@shrevearts.org for an appointment before June 24,  2025 by 4pm. Sorry, assistance may not be available after that date.

B. COMPUTER: Applicants may use the computers in the Artist Resource Room at the Central ARTSTATION (801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, LA) during regular business hours to complete their applications.  

FUNDING LEVEL 

This category provides support for organizations whose annual cash income budget for mission related activities is more than $25,000 and less than $500,000. Applicants may submit requests for general programming/support purposes, not to exceed the following: 5% OF YOUR ORGANIZATION’S   PRIOR YEAR ACTUAL INCOME BEFORE THE SRAC GRANT IS AWARDED. DUE TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY, THE MAXIMUM OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AMOUNT IS $15,000. For Example: Your organization's actual income the year prior to this request was $200,000, your total eligibility is $10,000.  

Grant funds are available to cover overhead operating expenses, such as personnel salaries, rental space, utilities, general marketing expenses, and supplies. 

GRANTING PERIOD: 

Applications for Arts Operating Support should cover expenses between September 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

GRANTING PERIOD: 

Applications for Arts Operating Support should cover expenses between September 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:  

• The organization must be officially domiciled and operating in the City of Shreveport. The organization’s official address is registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State and located in Caddo Parish, as indicated on the Certificate of Incorporation.  

• All nonprofit organizations must be in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State and Louisiana Legislative Auditor to be considered eligible. 

• Nonprofit tax-exempt organizations registered as nonprofit with the Louisiana Secretary of State, or with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS are eligible. Nonprofit status must be current and in good standing at the time of the application deadline.  

• The Arts Organization must have an active registration in SAM.gov AND a UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFER (UEI) at the time of application.  

REQUIREMENTS: 

● Applicants must provide, with the application, a complete copy of an independent financial

audit for the organization's prior year, a copy of the prior year IRS Form 990, or a CPA Certified

Compilation of the prior year. 

● IRS Letter determining tax exemption under 501(c)3 of the federal tax code

● The Arts Organization must have an active registration in SAM.gov AND a UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFER (UEI) at the time of application.  

● Mission Statement 

● Narrative of your agency's programming and service scope addressing evaluation criteria 

3,000 Characters Maximum  

● List of programming for the current and projected year to include dates, location, and audience size/demographics. 

● Supplemental materials, including documents of recent projects, artist samples, brochures, marketing materials, and sample evaluation methods/results. 

 ● Names of your agency's governing board, indicating race/ethnicity for each.

 ● If an education program takes place directly in a school or with school students, a letter of support from the School Principal or Superintendent must be included. 

APPLICANT REVIEW PROCEDURE:

Evaluation Criteria Points

Artistic Excellence 30

Administrative competence evidenced in evaluation, fundraising and long-range planning procedures; includes effective fundraising efforts reflecting a balanced base of financial support and an appropriate and effective evaluation plan for programs 30

Quality and thoroughness of planning and implementation of programs reflecting depth of public participation, including participation by a diverse Board of Directors; evidence of significant attention to special constituencies and strength of agency's outreach activities for underserved populations 30

Effort to design and produce programs which reflect educational intent 10

FINAL REPORT: Organizations will be required to submit a Final Report consisting of a full accounting of all grant income and expenditures, along with a written report and evaluation that gives a detailed description of all activities, projects and services, no later than June 30, 2026, in order to receive final grant payment. Grant awardees also will provide copies of promotional materials and newspaper accounts and/or other written evidence that programs took place with the final report. 

PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 

Each grantee must give credit for grant-supported activities in all printed and broadcast promotion, publicity, advertising, and printed programs by including a copy of SRAC and the City of Shreveport’s current logo and the following credit line: "Supported by a grant from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, with funds from the City of Shreveport.” Failure to provide such acknowledgement will be considered  a non-compliance issue and will be noted as such.  

GRANTS REVIEW PROCEDURE: 

PANEL COMPOSITION: The Grant Review Panel is a diverse group of individuals reflective of the area’s ethnic, demographic, artistic and community diversity. In addition, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council appoints Panel members that demonstrate specific skills or expertise in the determination of artistic criteria, administrative and budgeting areas, and/or community outreach areas of the evaluation of the applications. SRAC seeks nominations for PANELISTS to the Grant Review Panel from the Grant Applicants, Arts Administrators, Juried Roster Artists, and elected officials in each Parish.  Generally, panelists are encouraged to serve at least two and up to three consecutive terms.  Panel orientation for FY25 will be June 5th. It is held via Zoom.

DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS: At least two weeks prior to the date of the grants panel, each panelist receives a packet with all grant applications.  

ORIENTATION: Prior to the Panel Review date, each Panel member attends an orientation to receive training on the review process.  Panel orientation for FY25 will be June 5th. It is held via Zoom. 

REVIEW PROCESS: SRAC Regrant Applications will be reviewed by an advisory panel at the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Applicants are encouraged to attend the Panel review, as they may be asked questions regarding their application. The purpose of the questions is to clarify concerns, questions, or points of confusion about the application for the panelists. The panel review is  open to the public and is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2024, from 8:00AM to 5:30PM. 

The Panel Recommendations are submitted to the Board of Directors of SRAC for consideration. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council board votes to approve or amend the recommendations of the Panel.  

PANELISTS  

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: 

Affiliations that constitute a conflict of interest include the following: 

1. Receipt of direct financial benefit from the applicant, organization, or project being reviewed. 

2. Serving as an employee or governing board member of an applicant organization being reviewed. 

3. Serving with or without payments as a consultant to applicants on the application being reviewed.

Panelists who have a conflict must abstain from discussion and voting on the application in question.  Also, panelists who feel they have an affiliation with an applicant that might appear to constitute a  conflict of interest may abstain from discussion and voting on the application review. Panelists are  asked to use their best judgment in determining whether or not there is a conflict. When a panelist  abstains from the review, he/she is asked to leave the room. 

CONTACT WITH APPLICANTS: 

Panel members must not permit themselves to be lobbied by applicants regarding their applications, prior to or following the review meetings. Panel members should advise applicants that they are unable to discuss applications outside the review meeting. 

Panel members should advise applicants to contact the SRAC staff if there is additional information that should be provided to the panel members at the review meeting. This does not preclude attendance by panelists at arts events for the purpose of participating as an audience member. 

APPEALS PROCESS: 

Any applicant who wishes to dispute the decisions of the Panel, regarding his or her grant application on any issue other than artistic quality or merit may appeal the decision of the Panel within ten days of written notification of the application results. 

Appeals must contain a justification, indicating that actions of the Advisory Panel, staff, or SRAC Board were based on insufficient or incorrect information, resulting from something other than the fault of the applicant. Written requests for re-evaluation should be directed to the executive director of SRAC. 

An Appeal requires a majority vote of the SRAC Board to change the previous recommendation. The Board will review the application and approve or reject the application, based on the review criteria.  Funding will then be amended appropriately. 

STANDARD FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: 

A grantee shall use an accounting system that is in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards and principles when managing funds relevant to a SRAC grant. Specifically, the grantee's financial management system shall provide for: 

1. Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of the grant support services in accordance with SRAC's reporting requirements. 

2. An accounting system that clearly separates grant funds from other revenues and maintains records which identify adequately the source and use of funds for grant-support activities. 

3. Effective internal control over and accountability for all funds, property, and other assets. 

4. Comparison of actual, with budgeted amounts of each grant. Also, the relation of financial information with performance or productivity date when appropriate and required.

5. Accounting records that are supported by source documentation. Supporting documentation of all expenditures authorized under the grant shall be itemized in sufficient detail to show the exact nature of each expenditure. Each expenditure should be cross referenced with supporting documents that contain the signature of the individual authorized to approve such expenditure. Each payment shall be supported by a substantiating document, in the form of a canceled check, or if a cash disbursement, by a dated and signed receipt. If requested by SRAC, copies of the documents supporting all expenditures of SRAC grant funds must be submitted to SRAC within 30 days of request. 

RETENTION OF RECORDS: 

SRAC or any duly authorized representatives shall have access to any books, documents, papers, and records pertaining to accounting for funds expended under the terms and conditions of this grant for the purpose of making audit, examination, excerpts, and transcripts. Grantee's records shall be retained for three years from the date of submission for the final expenditure report or until an audit finding that the records have been resolved, whichever is the longer period. 

COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS: 

When accepting a grant approved by SRAC, grantees are required to comply with all state laws applicable to SRAC's grant program and those federal laws required by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) summarized as follows: 

1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and, where applicable, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title VI and Section 504 bar discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or personal handicap in federally assisted projects. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally assisted education programs and activities. 

2. Part 505, Chapter V of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which specifies that organizations must compensate all professional personnel, laborers and mechanics on Arts  Endowment supported projects in accordance with applicable labor standards as recognized by the  appropriate union and that no part of any project or production will be performed or engaged in  under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of  those engaged in such activities. 

PENALTIES: 

Grant recipients should make note that if SRAC determines a grantee fails or has failed to comply  with the terms and/or conditions set forth in SRAC's Grant Agreement, a grantee shall become  ineligible to receive any remaining payments under such SRAC Grant Agreements and/or make the  grantee ineligible to receive any new grants from SRAC during the first complete grant year following  the determination of non-compliance. Subsequent failure of a grantee to meet the council's requirements for the timely and appropriate resolution of non-compliance findings and recommendations shall result in legal action and that grantee shall thereafter become ineligible to receive future grants from SRAC.

  Grant Guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14RWYUajvwYSoK-moxMmEJ-3o0Ck83LKR/view?usp=drive_link