Non-profit arts organizations and for-profit arts businesses with annual revenue of $2.5 million or less are eligible for the State of California Relief Program, which offers grants of $5,000 to $25,000, based upon budget size. The deadline to apply is January 13th. Apply at this link & select CLICK HERE TO APPLY on left to register, obtain a user ID and set up a password. Upon returning, NONPROFITS use the application link in the RIGHT SIDE box, while for profits use the LEFT. This application portal is made available by CalNonprofits, which has a staff member assigned to assist with questions Sue Sigler.  

This week, Governor Newsom announced a plan to augment November's $500 million Small Business Relief Program with and additional $575 million, including a carve out of $25 million "for small cultural institutions, such as museums and art galleries, that have been constrained by the pandemic in their ability to educate the community and remain financially viable." His plan would offer grants up to $25,000.  Also this week, a bi-partisan coalition of legislators introduced SB 74, the "Keep California Working Act," which seeks to provide $2.6 Billion in relief grants to small businesses AND nonprofits. The Legislative plan would offer grants up to $75,000. Details are forthcoming on these efforts. 

At year end, Congress approved and the President signed a $900 Billion relief bill that included provisions to assist individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. The package included an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program--the program for which businesses and nonprofits were provided loans that would be forgiven if the conditions were met. The extension will allow past recipients to apply for additional funding, but has modified eligibility and reduced maximum loan amounts. Also, the "Save Our Stages" Act was included in the package: this will provide $15 Billion in relief grants to commercial and nonprofit entertainment, arts and culture venues. For individuals, stimulus payments of $600 were included for those under a certain income threshhold and unemployment benefits were extended and increased, though not to the prior relief package level. Details on all of these are still forthcoming as the guidelines are being prepared by the administration. Additionally, the new Congress and Administration have both stated publicly that they plan to introduce more generous relief legislation in the weeks ahead. 

California Arts Council (CAC) has opened its grant programs for 2021 applications with deadlines in February. There are very significant changes to the programs, including the consolidation of several different project grant programs (arts education, veterans, local impact) into a single Impact Project category and the addition of a General Operating Support category designed for COVID-19 relief. Also, priority will be given to organizations with budgets under $250,000, although larger organizations are eligible to apply. All applicants (as well as current grantees) must now include in their organizational profiles a racial equity statement. Full details may be found here.