Applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed by ArtsWA staff for completion and eligibility. Complete and eligible applications are sent to scoring panel for evaluation.

Evaluation and Scoring Panel

A panel of arts professionals, ArtsWA commissioners and staff evaluate eligible applications. Panelists use scoring criteria to give a numerical score to each application. An application’s final score is the combined average of all panelists scores.

Panel Recommendations and Board Approval

• The Scoring Panel makes funding recommendations based on numerical scores.
• Funding recommendations are presented to the ArtsWA Executive Director for approval.

Notification of Award

Notifications are sent to applicants approximately four to six weeks of application submission.

• Financial Need, Planning and Strategy (10 points)
• Arts and Cultural Programming (10 points)
• Communities Served (10 points)

Financial Need, Planning and Strategy: The organization demonstrates financial need and thoughtful strategy and planning for moving forward.

Describe how the pandemic has impacted your organization’s operations and services (make sure your response is succinct).

Examples:

• Loss of, or difficulty preserving or compensating staff and/or contracted professionals.
• Loss of venue or workspace.
• Difficulty paying insurance premiums and utilities.
• Significant and ongoing loss of revenue including inability to hold fundraisers.
• Financial setbacks resulting from cancelled or postponed public programming.
• Challenges sustaining operations due to pandemic mitigation restrictions including costs associated with necessary health and safety modifications.
• Plans to move programming online and related costs including time spent training staff, technology expenses, programming modification, etc.

Tell the Scoring Panel how receiving funding will help you move forward.

Arts and Cultural Programming: The organization’s mission, programs, and services are focused on arts and/or cultural programing.

Provide your organization or group’s mission statement and list all programs/services that demonstrate:

• Access to arts and culture experiences for the public including arts/culture education programs.
• Services culturally relevant to communities the organization serves – be specific in your response.

Communities Served: The community served by the organization is reflective of Washington’s diverse populations including cultural diversity, artistic disciplines, geographic locations, and underserved populations.

Describe the communities your organization serves. Application narrative examples can include (but are not limited to):

• Participation of underserved populations as leads, presenters, participants, and audiences. Include people of color, LGBTQ+, people who live in rural areas, people with disabilities, people who identify as immigrants or refugees, and people whose first (or only) language is not English and people most impacted by social/economic inequities. (This is not an exhaustive list.)

The best responses will describe inclusive practices in the areas of organization or group’s daily operations, participant demographics, and how your organization’s work is reflective of Washington’s diverse populations including cultural diversity, artistic disciplines, geographic locations, and underserved populations. Include any efforts to increase community access to the services your organization provides.

• Current nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service
• Your last completed year’s operating budget
• SWV registration with the State of Washington
• DUNS number

Relief Grants for Small Organizations Guidelines (PDF)

Relief Grants for Small Organizations – Application Guide – Includes Application Questions (PDF)

Operating Budget Template (XLSX)

Fiscal Sponsorship Responsibilities  (PDF)

Allowable Expenses (PDF)