Grants

Applicant must be a Colorado-based nonprofit organization, or a PK-12 school.

• School applicants must engage an artist or arts organization as a partner. 
• Organizational applicants must:
  • Be engaged with a school partner or have a strong history of working with youth
  • Be registered with Colorado Secretary of State with an address in Colorado
  • Have a Colorado-based staff person who will be actively engaged in the project

Funded projects may take place at schools (during the school day or after school), community centers, libraries, nonprofit arts sites, and other locations that are highly accessible to youth.

Projects may involve any arts & culture discipline or genre, such as theater, dance, music, visual arts, media arts, literary arts, folk and traditional arts, or interdisciplinary art forms. Arts integration projects (connecting an art form with another subject area) are encouraged. Projects should:

1. Take place over a period of time that allows for depth of learning and relationship building. Ideally, projects take place over the course of six weeks or longer. 
2. Center the identities and needs of youth. Youth should be consulted in the project’s design and be able to influence the project’s evolution along the way.
3. Fill a clear gap in the school or community. The rationale for the project should be informed by the stated needs of the student and community.
4. Engage experienced artists and culture bearers. Teaching artists should have a successful record of working with youth, and whose identities reflect the youth participants. 
5. Be highly accessible to youth participants. A fee may not be charged for participation, and it must take place in a setting that youth are able to easily get to. 
6. Allow for time and resources to measure and communicate the project’s value and impact. Evaluation results will be collectively shared.

The following ARE eligible for EAL funding: 

• An artist residency in which students create a mural reflecting their school culture.
• A visiting musician works with youth at a local community center to create songs expressing their cultural identities.
• A media artist supports youth in creating a podcast featuring interviews with community elders.
• Youth write and produce a one-act play with guidance from a theater teaching artist using vignettes from their daily lives.

The following NOT eligible for EAL funding:

• Programs that charge a fee to participants
• PreK-12 Teacher salaries (Teacher stipends are allowable)
• General operating costs not directly related to the project
• Capital improvement projects

• Click HERE to download the English PDF version of the EAL Full Application Rubric

• Click HERE to download the Spanish PDF version of the EAL Full Application Rubric

Can individual artists apply for this grant?

No, individual artists are not eligible to apply for this grant. Individual artists are encouraged to partner with schools or nonprofit organizations as the artistic partners, with the school or nonprofit being the formal applicant.

Are past EAL grantees eligible?

Yes

Do you accept Fiscal Sponsorship for projects?

No, though we encourage deep community partnerships and innovative collaborations. Organizations eligible to apply are listed in the grant guidelines.

What's your funding rate? 

For full applications, our funding rate last year was 46%. The previous year was 27%. On average, that's 35% for applicants invited to complete the second phase of the grant application.

What Teacher Stipends are allowable?

While K-12 teacher salaries are not allowable as it is a duplication of public funds, extra duty stipends for time spent outside of contract hours may be included in the budget.

Can I apply for this grant to pay for staff salaries at a nonprofit organization?

We understand that for many arts nonprofits, the majority of the project costs will apply toward the direct implementation of the project, which will likely include artist and administrator time. Personnel expenses included in EAL projects must be directly associated with the delivery of the program.

Can this grant go toward hiring a new staff member?

As grantees will vary from year to year, we would discourage nonprofit organizations from applying to EAL to fund new hires. However, it is not a disqualification.

As an applicant, why do I have to have a staff member in Colorado in order to apply?

Staff presence in Colorado is important to us, as it shows a level of investment and authentic commitment to and understanding of our arts community. Proposals that engage Colorado artists are a top priority of this initiative.

Can I request less than $10,000?

We encourage you to build a budget that includes artist fees, supplies, transportation, marketing costs, and staff time, if applicable. If you have considered these costs and the project is less than $10,000, yes you may apply for an award less than $10,000. An amount requested below $10,000 might also reflect an opportunity to expand an existing program that has some funding in place.

Can I request funding for a program that already exists?

Yes, this does not need to be a new project.

Am I eligible to apply if I already receive funding from one of the funding partners?

Yes, as long as you can demonstrate the need for additional resources for the project proposal.

Can grant funds support supplies, transportation, or other program expenses?

Yes. Grant funds may support reasonable expenses directly related to delivering the proposed project, including artist fees, project supplies, transportation, accessibility accommodations, evaluation, and directly related administrative or personnel time. General operating expenses unrelated to the project are not eligible.

I’ve also applied to the Arts in Society Colorado Art Grant. Can I also apply for EAL Funding? 

Yes. Applicants may apply to both programs if their proposed project aligns with each program’s purpose and eligibility requirements. Before applying to either grant, we encourage you to review the linked Arts in Society and Equity in Arts Learning Eligibility Comparison Guide, which outlines the major differences and includes examples of projects that may qualify for either or both programs.

Can EAL programs serve college students, since the ages listed are 4-21 years old?

Youth enrolled in Colorado PK-12 schools can be as old as 21, including, but not limited to, those in 18-21 programs and alternative pathway schools. EAL projects are not intended to support programming at the higher education level.

Does a project have to last at least six weeks?

Not necessarily. Six weeks or longer is recommended because EAL prioritizes sustained learning, meaningful skill development, and relationship-building. Shorter projects may still be considered. Generally speaking, one-time events, performances, or assemblies are generally not a strong fit.

Do nonprofit applicants need to partner with a school?

Not always. Nonprofit organizations may propose projects taking place in schools or in other settings that are accessible to youth, including libraries, community centers, and nonprofit arts spaces. Applicants that are not partnering with a school should demonstrate a strong history of working with youth and explain how participants will be reached and engaged.

Does the project have to take place during the school day?

No. Projects may take place during or after school, on weekends, or during school breaks. They may be offered at schools or other accessible community locations. Regardless of the setting, participation must be free for youth.

Do I need to have my teaching artist and project partners confirmed before submitting a Letter of Intent?

Applicants should identify their anticipated teaching artist and key partners in the Letter of Intent whenever possible. If invited to submit a full application, applicants will need to provide additional information about the artist’s qualifications and letters of commitment from project partners.

What do you mean by “professional artist” or “culture bearer”?

Generally speaking, professional artists and culture bearers are individuals with demonstrated experience in their artistic or cultural practice and the ability to lead meaningful learning experiences with youth. A formal arts degree is not required. Applicants should provide materials demonstrating the artist’s qualifications, relevant experience, and history of working with youth.

While both the Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth and Arts in Society Colorado Art grant programs both support arts-based projects in Colorado, they are designed to achieve different outcomes. The Arts in Society Grant funds cross-sector community impact, while the Equity in Arts Learning Grant funds sustained arts education for youth.

This Arts in Society and Equity in Arts Learning Eligibility Comparison Guide includes a side-by-side comparison that illustrates how a project may be eligible under each funding opportunity. Applicants can then use it to position, frame, and articulate their projects to best align with each grant's eligibility requirements, goals and funding priorities.