Introduction
Welcome to the Division of Cultural Affairs Cultural Facilities Program (CF) Guidelines. We're glad you are applying for a Cultural Facilities grant from the Division. These guidelines are incorporated by reference into Rule 1T-1.039, Florida Administrative Code, and they detail the policies and requirements for the application and administration of the Cultural Facilities Program grants.
Purpose of this grant
The Cultural Facilities Program coordinates and guides the State of Florida's support and funding of renovation, new construction, or acquisition of cultural facilities.
The applicant's mission must be to directly conduct arts and cultural programming. By program definition, a cultural facility is a building which shall be used for the programming, production, presentation, exhibition of any of the arts and cultural disciplines (Section 265.283(7), Florida Statutes). These disciplines are music, dance, theatre, creative writing, literature, architecture, painting, sculpture, folk arts, photography, crafts, media arts, visual arts, and programs of museums and must comprise at least 85% of facility use. The Program is intended for bricks and mortar construction, renovation, or for acquisition (not any combination of the three). State funding IS NOT to be used for landscaping, constructing or fabricating exhibits.
Grant Period
Awarded grant funds must be spent on project expenses incurred during the grant period as defined in your grant award agreement.
Request Amount
You may request up to $500,000 for the renovation, acquisition, or construction of a cultural facility. There is no minimum request amount.
Eligibility
All applicants must meet the following requirements. All documentation must be provided by the application deadline unless otherwise noted. In other words, documentation must be submitted with the application and will not be accepted later.
- Have the correct legal status (public entity or not-for-profit, tax-exempt, Florida Corporation)
- Have unrestricted use of the land and buildings associated with the project (for new construction or renovation) which means you MUST be able to file a Restrictive Covenant on the property with the Clerk of Court for ten (10) years. See Unrestricted Use of Land and/or Buildings for additional information
- Retain ownership of all improvements made under the grant (unless the land or buildings are owned by the State of Florida and leased to an eligible applicant)
- If the property is leased, the lease agreement must be dated, signed and submitted by the application deadline
- Provide documentation of Total Support and Revenue (operating budget)for the last completed fiscal year
- Have appropriate matching funds and properly document matching funds at submission
- Provide an 8.5" x 11" reduction of current architectural plans
- Have support of local officials (city and county government) —for this project— documented in writing with the application or submitted at the panel meeting as an update
- Applicants with structures 50 years or older must submit a determination letter from the Division of Historical Resources (DHR) with the application or prior to the Panel Meeting (For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Historic Preservation (BHP) at 850.245-6366)
- Complete an online application form at http://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/grants/grant-programs/cultural-facilities/
Legal Status
All applicant organizations must:
- Be a public entity governed by either a municipality or county, or
- Have been established as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt Florida corporation according to the following definitions:
-
Incorporated as an active not-for-profit Florida corporation, pursuant to Chapter 617, Florida Statutes. Division staff will verify that the applicant was in "active" status with the Division of Corporations at the time of application
-
Designated as a tax-exempt organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and
-
Allowed to receive contributions pursuant to the provisions of s. 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954
-
Documentation of Legal Status
Organizations that are not public entities must provide the organization's IRS determination letter documenting not-for-profit, tax-exempt status with each application. The IRS determination letter must be submitted with the application.
The Division of Cultural Affairs will verify that the applicant is registered with the Division of Corporations as of the application deadline. If the applicant is not registered in Corporations by the application deadline, the application will be ineligible.
For more information on corporate status, visit http://www.sunbiz.org or call the Division of Corporations, profit and nonprofit information line at (850) 245-6054.
Number of applications per deadline
You may only submit one (1) Cultural Facilities application per application deadline, for a single facility, project, site, or phase.
City or county governments may submit Cultural Facilities applications for their divisions or departments that are separate and distinct budgetary units, provided the applications do not address the same facility, project, site, or phase.
Number of applications per project
Applicants may request funding for different phases of the same project over a period of 5 consecutive state fiscal years. These are called multiphase projects, and they must have activity in each year for which funding is requested.
In multiphase projects, matching funds may be expended on the current project phase in advance; however, state funds may only be expended on activity occurring after a Grant Award Agreement is fully executed. You may not use funds expended in earlier phases as match for later phases.
The phase number of the project is equal to the number of applications submitted to the Division of Cultural Affairs over a 5-year period in order to complete the project. See Help: Phase Numbering for more information. All eligibility criteria continue to apply.
Restrictions (State Funds may not be used for…)
- Facilities that provide less than 85% of Cultural Programming
- Specific non-allowable expenses
- Project planning such as feasibility studies and architectural drawings but may be used as match if within 5 years of funding. State funds may be used for shop drawings and field engineering
- Historic Preservation
- Projects or facilities restricted to private or exclusive participation, including restriction of access to programs on the basis of sex, race, creed, national origin, disability, age, or marital status
- Projects funded by the Legislature outside of this grant during the same fiscal year
- Design, fabrication or construction of exhibits
- Commercial property (coffee shops and gifts shops are allowable)
- No project may receive more than $1.5 million during a 5 consecutive state fiscal year period. ("Receive" means measured from July 1 through June 30 of the fiscal year in which grant funds were awarded. This also applies to projects funded by the Legislature outside of the grant application process).
Non-Allowable Expenses
The Grantee agrees to expend all grant funds received under this agreement solely for the purposes for which they were authorized and appropriated. Expenditures shall be in compliance with the state guidelines for allowable project costs as outlined in the Department of Financial Services' Reference Guide for State Expenditures, which are incorporated by reference and are available online at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/aadir/reference_guide/. Grant funds may not be spent on the following:
- General Operating Expenses (GOE). Administrative costs for running the organization (including but not limited to salaries, travel, personnel, office supplies, mortgage or rent, operating overhead or indirect costs, etc.)
- Costs associated with representation, proposal, or grant application preparation
- Costs incurred or obligated outside of the grant period
- Costs for lobbying or attempting to influence federal, state or local legislation, the judicial branch, or any state agency
- Costs for planning, which include those for preliminary and schematic drawings, and design development documents necessary to carry out the project
- Costs associated with bad debts, contingencies (money set aside for possible expenses), fines and penalties, interest, taxes (of any kind), and other financial costs including bank fees and charges and credit card debts
- Costs for travel, private entertainment, food, beverages, plaques, awards, or scholarships
- Projects restricted to private or exclusive participation, including restriction of access to programs on the basis of sex, race, creed, national origin, disability, age, or marital status
- Re-granting, contributions, and donations
- Reimbursement of costs that are paid prior to the execution of the Grant Award Agreement or outside the dates stated in the grant award agreement
- Also refer to Section 216.348, Florida Statutes, Fixed capital outlay grants and aids to certain nonprofit entities
Matching Funds
You must match your request amount with non-state funds. The amount you must provide as match depends on your Total Support and Revenue (annual budget) and for REDI eligibility.
Total Support and Revenue | Required Match |
---|---|
Annual Budget less than $1,000,001 | 1:1 |
Annual Budget of $1,000,001 or more with a REDI waiver | 1:1 |
Annual Budget Over $1,000,001 or more without a REDI waiver | 2:1 |
REDI Waiver
The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) recognizes those rural or economically distressed counties or communities designated pursuant to Sections 288.0656 and 288.06561, Florida Statutes, as REDI qualified. The REDI program is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Applicants in a REDI designated area must only provide $1 of required match for every $1 requested from the state regardless of their Total Support and Revenue.
Applicants that seek a REDI waiver must submit a letter from the county government acknowledging the application and requesting a reduction of the 2:1 match (reduced to 1:1) on behalf of the applicant. This letter must be submitted with the application package. The Division cannot waive all matching funds.
For more information about REDI, including a list of eligible counties and communities, see the official REDI website at http://www.florida-redi.com.
Types of Match
There are four types of match:
- Cash on Hand (Liquid Assets) At Least 25% of total request amount match must be cash-on-hand
- Expenditures (expenditures be made within 5 years before the application deadline) and may not have been used as match in a previous project funded by the Department of State
- Irrevocable Pledges (No more than 50% of the match)
- Documented In-Kind Contributions (No more than 50% of the match)
Non-profit organizations must have all match complete and confirmed at the time of application.
Municipalities and counties (public entities) must submit an executed copy of an approved resolution with the application package. The resolution must include the dollar amount dedicated and available to the project if the grant is awarded and the date the funds will be available. The resolution must be dated and signed by the application deadline. Funding, as indicated by the resolution, must be made available within 90 days of state grant funding notification. A resolution or minutes by a city or county commission will fulfill the cash-on-hand portion of the local match.
Restrictions on Matching Funds
- Funds that are for General Operating Expenses (i.e. the Un-restricted column on the Statement of Activity page of the organization's audit) will not be allowed.
- Revenue from bond issues that have not been passed at the time of application will not be acceptable as match
- Revenue from grants that have not yet been awarded will not be acceptable as match.
- Fundraising costs will not be acceptable as match
- Legal fees or taxes will not be acceptable as match
- Matching funds will be designated only to the project phase presented in this application and may not be used in previous or succeeding applications, or in any other Division or Department of State grant
- Matching funds may have been expended prior to the execution date of the Grant Award Agreement; as long as the funds are clearly a part of the project described and can be documented. However, at least 25% of the matching funds must be Cash-on-Hand at the application deadline
- Interest paid on mortgage The interest paid on the mortgage is considered to be the "cost of doing business," and may not be used as match
- Building or Land as match:
- The value of buildings or land not owned by the applicant may not be used as match.
- The building or land must have been purchased or acquired within 5 years prior to the award of the grant (For the purposes of this program, award means July 1 of the fiscal year in which funds are appropriated by the Florida Legislature for this grant)
- Only the purchase price or documented acquisition date value, not current market value, may be used as match
- Loans may not be used as match. Only unencumbered equity may be counted as match
- Any State of Florida agency funds may not be used as match for this program
Matching Funds Documentation
Documentation of matching funds may include:
- Award letters from third parties
- A list of irrevocable pledges; list of in-kind contributors
- Bank statement confirming Cash-on-Hand
- A list of Liquid Assets dedicated to the project, or other documents that substantiate funds claimed as match
- Expenditures made within five (5) years before the application deadline for Scope of Work as described in the application
Unrestricted Use of Land and/or Buildings
You must provide documentation that the Applicant has either Unrestricted Use (ownership or lease) of the building and the land associated with the proposal/project.
- Ownership. Legal proof of unrestricted ownership of property and building. Unrestricted means unqualified ownership and power of disposition. Property that does not meet the unrestricted ownership criterion will not be eligible for match. Documentation may include a deed, title, or a copy of a recent property tax statement. Provisional sales contracts, binders, or letters of intent are not acceptable documentation of ownership.
OR - Lease for a specific period of time. The lease must be executed/effective at the time of the application deadline and remain in effect for a length of time of not less than ten (10) years from the date the Grant Award Agreement is fully executed. Only leases in which the lessee is a public entity governed by either a municipality or county, or a not-for-profit entity are eligible for a Cultural Facilities grant.
- Documentation must include an executed copy of a lease (see definition of Lease,) and a written explanation of any easements, covenants, or other conditions affecting the use of the site or facility, or both.
- Ownership of Improvements Applicants must retain ownership of all improvements made under the grant unless land or buildings or both are owned by the State of Florida and leased to an eligible applicant.
Total Support and Revenue (Annual Budget)
You must provide documentation of your Total Support and Revenue (annual operating budget) for your last completed fiscal year.
- Not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations Provide an audit to substantiate Total Support and Revenue. If you do not have an audit, provide a review or a compilation signed and certified by the authorizing official, as documentation of Total Support and Revenue (Send the most recent available)
- Municipal or county governments (public entities) — You may submit either an audit or an internally prepared financial statement as documentation of Total Support and Revenue (Upload the most recent available) If an audit or internally prepared financial statement is provided, upload only 1 copy and label accordingly
- If a City or County government owns the building or land or both and is applying on behalf of a not-for-profit organization, then the financial statements (or audit) of both entities are required
Architectural Plans
All applicants must upload an 8 ½" x 11" reduction of current architectural plans for the facility. DO NOT send full size architectural plans or drawings with the application. See below for suggested submissions for each project type:
- New construction
an architectural drawing, artist's rendering, or a "footprint" of the proposed facility - Renovations
an architectural drawing, artist's rendering of the proposed facility if the renovation is an addition; or a "footprint" of the facility with the renovations clearly marked - Land or facility purchases
an architectural drawing, artist's rendering, or a "footprint" of the proposed facility
Historical Review Requirements
Facilities that are 50 years old or older must be reviewed by the Bureau of Historic Preservation (BHP). No later than May 1st, please provide the BHP office with information, see the link below for instructions: http://dos.myflorida.com/media/31392/minimum_review_documentation_requirements.pdf
The applicant must send must send the required information to BHP and copy the Cultural Facilities Grant Manager.
Please note that the review time for projects is approximately thirty days once all required information is received by the Bureau of Historic Preservation office. If you have questions, please contact the Review and Compliance Section at 850.245.6333 or visit BHP web site at http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/.
Local Support
All applicants must submit current letters of support from local officials (City and County Government) and community groups who are lending support to this project. Letters should be from individuals who have actually visited the facility (if a renovation project) or participated in programs (if a new facility). Applicants should avoid form letters; original letters are preferred. Five or six support letters are sufficient.
Support letters will not be accepted after the application deadline. However, support letters may be distributed at the Panel Meeting during the “Update” section of the Panel Meeting.
Submitting the Application
All application information submitted to the Division is open for public inspection and subject to the Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes).
Application Form
The application form must be completed using the Division's online grant application and submitted online by 5:00 pm ET on the application deadline. Deadlines and a link to the application form is posted on the Division's web site. See the Division Website for deadlines and application at http://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/grants/grant-programs/cultural-facilities/
Attachments and Support Materials
Submit your attachments and support materials by uploading through the online system. Acceptable file formats are as follows:
- .pdf, .txt (documents)
- .jpg, .gif, .pdf (images)
- .mp3 (audio excerpts)
- .mp4, .mov, .wmv (video excerpts)
The application must include the following:
- Matching Funds Documentation
- Bank statements, awards, contracts, and/or a list of liquid assets for cash on hand
- Cash receipts for expenditures (must be withing five (5) years)
- A list of irrevocable pledges
- A list of in-kind contributions
- Documentation of Unrestricted Use (construction and renovation projects) or Intent to Sell (acquisitions)
- Deed, title, property tax statement to document unrestricted use, OR
- Executed copy of lease and written explanation of any easements, covenants, or other conditions to document unrestricted use, OR
- Description of facility, purchase price and letter of intent to sell
- Total Support and Revenue Documentation
- Audit, review, or compilation, annual budget (not-for-profit, tax-exempt applicants only)
- Audit or internally prepared financial statement (public entities applicants only)
- Audit of the organization that will be responsible for management of the facility (public entity applicants only)
- 8.5 x 11 inch reduction of current Architectural Plans
- REDI letter requesting reduction of match (if applicable)
- Local Support Documentation
- Up to 6 current letters of support from local officials and community groups, OR
- A list of officials with signatures
- BHP Determination Letter (for buildings 50 years or older)
- Non-profit IRS Letter. Not-for profit tax exempt applicants must also provide one (1) copy of your IRS 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (4) determination letter.
- Support Materials such as:
- Photographs (original or electronic on CD)
- Supplemental or expanded budgets
- Flyers, brochures
- Newspaper articles
- Plans for sustainable design
- Not-for-profit, tax-exempt applicants must also provide one (1) copy of your IRS 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (4) determination letter
- Email from Bureau of Historic Preservation verifying that you have submitted your plans by May 1
Review Process (How your application will be reviewed)
- Division staff will review the applications for basic eligibility. The Division will submit eligible applications to The Florida Council on Arts and Culture which will serve as the grant review panel.
- The panel will evaluate each application on the three review criteria and assign a score
- The Division forward a ranked list to the Secretary of State.
- The Secretary of State approves the ranked list to be submitted to the Legislature for funding recommendations.
Review Criteria and Scoring
Each eligible application will be evaluated on three (3) competitive criteria
Criteria | Application section(s) | Worth |
---|---|---|
Scope of Work | Scope of Work: Project Narrative and Deliverables | up to 20 points |
Project Budget and Matching Funds | Proposal Budget Detail: Expenses Proposal Budget Detail: Income Matching Funds Statement Project Team |
up to 40 points |
Need for Project and Project Impact | Need for Project, Operating Forecast Detail and Project Impact |
up to 40 points |
The total possible number of points the panel can award to an application is 100. The panel's evaluation will be based on the information contained in the application, required attachments and support materials submitted with the application. The panel's individual scores will be averaged to determine a final score for each application.
Applications must receive a minimum average score of 80 or higher to be recommended for funding. Applications receiving an average score of 80 or higher will be recommended to the Secretary of State for approval and will be forwarded to the Florida Legislature for funding consideration.
Applications with a tied average score will be ranked by aplication number order (lowest to highest).
Panel Review Meeting
The panel meeting is a public process and is open to all. All applicants are encouraged, but not required, to attend the panel meeting. The Division will email all eligible applicants pertinent information regarding the panel meeting prior to the meeting.
At the meeting, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture will serve as the review panel. There are two special provisions:
- At no time will any panel member lobby or serve as an advocate for any application or organization and
- All panel members must comply with Section 112.312(8), Florida Statutes, Conflict of Interest; and Section 112.3143, Florida Statutes, Voting Conflicts for all applications
Meeting Procedure
-
The panel Chair will announce the application number and organization name.
-
The organization's representative may provide an update with new information about the project since the application was submitted, if applicable.
-
Any panel member may ask questions about the update or application. The panel will be encouraged to discuss the application, providing observations about the strengths and weaknesses of the application or project, and seek clarification from the applicant in any areas of uncertainty. These observations must be written on the panelist's evaluation sheet. The Division will retain each evaluation sheet as part of the application's permanent public record.
-
The applicant will be permitted time to answer, explain, clarify, or respond to any question from the panel.
-
After all discussion has been concluded and everyone has been heard, the Chair will call on panelists to voice their initial score.
-
Steps 1-5 will be repeated for each application in order until all applications have been reviewed.
-
After all of the applications have been reviewed, the Chair will provide an opportunity for applicants and audience to comment on any application. Applicants are encouraged to speak on behalf of their application at this time.
-
After all discussion has concluded, the Chair will call for panelists to voice scores. The applications will be scored in the order of their review. Panelists may revise their scores at this time. Division staff will calculate and announce the average score for each application. There will be no opportunity to "revisit" the applications at a later time and change scores.
-
After all scores have been announced, the Chair will ask for a motion to accept all scores.
-
The Chair will then ask for general comments from the panel about the program or review process.
-
The Chair will then ask for public comments prior to the conclusion of the meeting.
When all scores are finalized, a list will be created, ranked in order of total average score. The ranked list will include all proposed projects with recommended funding levels for each project.
Florida Council on Arts and Culture Review
The panel chair will submit the recommended funding list, ranked in order of total average score, to the Florida Council on Arts and Culture at the Council's next official meeting. The Council may amend the Committee's recommendations based on the following new or existing pertinent information about the applicant or panel proceedings such as:
- Score calculation errors by the Division
- Applicant noncompliance with administrative requirements of previous grants from the Department of State
- Bankruptcy or other fiscal concerns
- Changes in the applicant's staff that would impair implementation of the proposed grant activity
- Typographical errors in the Committee's recommendations
Funding Process (How applications are funded)
The Secretary of State will provide the Legislature with an approved list, ranked in order of total average score, with funding recommendations for all projects that received a total average score of 80 and above. The Legislature may use this list to make funding decisions.
What if a new application is not funded?
If the Legislature funds some of the applications on the list in a given year, the remaining applications not funded that year are not eligible for "rollover" for the following year. Applicants must submit a new application for the next funding cycle.
If the Legislature does not fund any applicant on the list presented in a given year, the applicants on that list are eligible for “rollover” for the following year (only). Applications may only be on the rollover list once. If your application is not funded on the rollover, you must submit a new application.
Why Rollover?
As a rollover, your application:
- Is guaranteed a place on the next recommended funding list if you submit a Rollover Update
- Will not be re-scored, but will be ranked by the original score on a list that includes new applications
- Will be recommended for the amount of funding that was originally requested
A single list (of both rollover and new applications) ranked in order by average score, highest to lowest, will be submitted to the next session of the Legislature. Rollover application recommendations will be identified as such on the ranked list.
Rollover Update
Applicants wishing to rollover must submit a Rollover Update. The Rollover update should provide updated information pertinent to the application since its original submission in the following application sections:
- Scope of Work (Project Narrative) as recommended by the Council and approved by the Secretary of State
- Project Budgets
- Matching Funds Statement
- Contact information
A specific deadline will be established and posted on the Division's website. When you submit the Rollover Application, Division staff will:
- Verify Basic Eligibility
- Verify that the Project Narrative in the Rollover application has not changed from the Project Narrative in the original application that was recommended by the Council and approved by the Secretary of State
Removal from the Rollover List
An organization will be removed from the rollover list for the following:
- Failing to submit the updated information by the rollover deadline announced on the Division's website
- Failing to maintain basic eligibility, required match, or undisturbed use of the building or land or both
- Changes in Scope of Work (Project Narrative) Note: The project that was recommended for funding by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and approved by the Secretary of State must not change.
Help
For information about the Cultural Facilities Program, contact:
Elsie Rogers
Cultural Facilities Program Administrator
(850) 245-6483
[email protected]
For general information about the Division of Cultural Affairs and to access grant information and resources, visit our website at: http://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/grants/grant-programs/cultural-facilities/