Opportunity Information: Apply for 2014NEA01CAFT
Apply for 2014NEA01CAFT
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Challenge America Fast Track, FY 2015" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.024 Promotion of the ArtsGrants to Organizations and Individuals.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 6, 2014 and posted on Jan 6, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 8, 2014 The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted application no later than 1159 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 8, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Special district governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Meet the Arts Endowments Legal Requirements including nonprofit, tax exempt status at the time of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf. Applications through a fiscal sponsor are not allowed. See more information on fiscal sponsors.) Have a three year history of programming prior to the application deadline. Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts Endowment grant(s) previously received. Starting with grants that were awarded in FY 2011 (as indicated by a grant letter dated on or after October 1, 2010, and a grant number beginning with 11 78), an organization that receives Challenge America Fast Track grants for three years in a row is not eligible to apply to the Fast Track category for the following one year period. Therefore, an organization that has received grants in FY 2012, 2013, and 2014 may not apply under these FY 2015 guidelines. That organization may apply for FY 2015 support under other Arts Endowment funding opportunities including Art Works. The organization would be able to apply to the Challenge America Fast Track category again in FY 2016.
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Opportunity Summary:
Challenge America Fast Track, FY 2015 was a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed mainly for small and mid-sized organizations that want to bring high-quality arts experiences to underserved populations. In this program, "underserved" had a specific meaning: people whose access to the arts is limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The guidelines were explicit that age by itself (for example, youth programs or senior programs) did not automatically qualify a group as underserved unless at least one of the listed barriers also applied. The overall intent was to help organizations reach communities that have fewer chances to experience the arts and to support work that connects arts activity to broader community goals.
The program emphasized outcomes and asked applicants to align their proposed project with the outcome that best fit what they intended to accomplish. NEA described two headline outcomes for the category: Engagement, meaning engaging the public with diverse and excellent art, and Livability, meaning strengthening communities through the arts. Applicants had to pick the outcome most relevant to their project and, if funded, were expected to provide evidence showing what was achieved. Even though the broader category referenced both outcomes, the Fast Track project types described in the announcement were tied specifically to the Engagement outcome, and applicants were instructed to present a single, clear project that fit one eligible project type.
Funding under Challenge America Fast Track was intentionally simple and standardized. Awards were fixed at $10,000, with an exact minimum match requirement of $10,000, meaning cost sharing was mandatory and the total project budget had to show at least $20,000 in combined federal and non-federal support. The program also offered an expedited review timeline compared with some other NEA opportunities: organizations typically learned whether they were recommended for funding about six months after submitting an application, and projects could begin shortly after that decision.
Only certain kinds of projects were eligible, and each application had to focus on just one. The first eligible project type was an arts event or series of events featuring one or more guest artists. This could include things like a festival, exhibition, recital, reading, performance, screening, broadcast, or lecture, but the key requirement was that the event include guest artist participation. The guidelines clarified that the applicant organization’s own artistic staff or resident artists did not count as guest artists. Budgets could include artist fees and other event-related costs that were integral to delivering the public program, such as publicity, professional documentation, and specific program enhancements. Examples of eligible enhancements included interpretive materials, transportation supports, accessibility accommodations (such as sign language interpretation, audio description, Braille materials, or tactile tours), and publications like brochures or catalogs. Related activities such as pre- or post-event talks, lecture-demonstrations, or workshops were also allowable as long as they were directly relevant to the arts event. A notable restriction was that curriculum-based arts instruction was not eligible in this Fast Track category; those kinds of education-focused projects were directed to other NEA funding areas (specifically Arts Education within the Arts Works category at that time).
The second eligible project type focused on unified promotion of community-wide arts activities and resources, with the goal of strengthening cultural tourism or supporting activities in cultural districts, including efforts that promote access for underserved populations. The intent here was not to fund marketing for a single organization, but to support professional, collaborative promotion that benefits multiple local arts entities. "Unified promotion" was defined in practical terms as the professional assessment, design, and/or distribution of shared public relations tools such as calendars, websites, brochures, rack cards, or signage that collectively advertise arts opportunities across a community or district.
The third eligible project type was the development of professionally directed public art projects, limited to visual arts (for example, murals, sculptures, or environmental art). These projects had to be developed through community engagement, and the application needed to show real evidence that community members were involved in planning, design, or fabrication. Because public art can intersect with protected sites or environmental considerations, the announcement cautioned that some projects might trigger federal compliance responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and/or the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), meaning applicants could be required to provide additional information if those laws applied.
Eligibility for applicants was broad in terms of organization type but firm in terms of compliance and track record. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), public and private institutions of higher education, and various government entities including cities or townships, counties, states, special district governments, independent school districts, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. However, all applicants had to meet the NEA’s legal requirements, including being nonprofit and tax-exempt at the time of application where applicable. The program also required a documented three-year history of arts programming prior to the application deadline. Applications had to be submitted directly by the applying organization; using a fiscal sponsor was not allowed. In addition, any organization with prior NEA awards had to be current on required final reports, with acceptable Final Report packages submitted by their due dates.
The program also included a repeat-funding limitation intended to spread access to the expedited Fast Track awards. Beginning with grants awarded in FY 2011 and later, an organization that received Challenge America Fast Track funding for three consecutive years became ineligible to apply to Fast Track for the following year. As an example provided in the notice, an organization funded in FY 2012, FY 2013, and FY 2014 could not apply for Fast Track in FY 2015, but could pursue other NEA opportunities (including Art Works) and would become eligible to return to Fast Track in FY 2016.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number 2014NEA01CAFT and CFDA 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals). It was posted January 6, 2014, with an application deadline of May 8, 2014. Applications had to be validated and accepted by Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. The award amount was both the floor and the ceiling at $10,000, reinforcing that the program was meant to be straightforward, comparable across applicants, and focused on concrete projects that could quickly reach underserved communities with professional arts experiences.
Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2015) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What was Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2015)?
Challenge America Fast Track, FY 2015 was a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). It was designed mainly for small and mid-sized organizations to bring high-quality arts experiences to underserved populations and to support projects that connect arts activity to broader community goals.
2) Who was this grant primarily designed to serve?
The program was aimed at projects reaching "underserved" populations, meaning people whose access to the arts is limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
3) What did "underserved" mean in this program?
In this program, "underserved" had a specific definition: people whose access to the arts is limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
4) Do youth-only or senior-only programs automatically count as serving an underserved population?
No. The guidelines stated that age by itself (for example, youth programs or senior programs) did not automatically qualify as underserved unless at least one of the listed barriers also applied (geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability).
5) What outcomes did NEA emphasize for this category?
NEA described two headline outcomes: Engagement (engaging the public with diverse and excellent art) and Livability (strengthening communities through the arts).
6) Did applicants have to choose an outcome for their proposal?
Yes. Applicants were required to align their proposed project with the outcome that best fit what they intended to accomplish and, if funded, were expected to provide evidence showing what was achieved.
7) Were all Fast Track project types tied to both outcomes?
No. Although the broader category referenced both Engagement and Livability, the Fast Track project types described in the announcement were tied specifically to the Engagement outcome.
8) Did the application need to describe one project or could it include multiple separate projects?
Each application was instructed to present a single, clear project that fit one eligible project type.
9) How much funding was available per award?
Awards were fixed at $10,000. The funding amount was both the floor and the ceiling, meaning every award was for the same amount.
10) Was matching funding (cost share) required?
Yes. There was an exact minimum match requirement of $10,000, meaning cost sharing was mandatory. The total project budget needed to show at least $20,000 in combined federal and non-federal support.
11) What was the expected review timeline?
The program offered an expedited review timeline. Organizations typically learned whether they were recommended for funding about six months after submitting an application, and projects could begin shortly after that decision.
12) What were the eligible project types?
Only certain kinds of projects were eligible, and each application had to focus on just one. The eligible project types were: (1) an arts event or series featuring one or more guest artists; (2) unified promotion of community-wide arts activities and resources; or (3) development of professionally directed public art projects limited to visual arts.
13) What qualified as an eligible arts event or series?
An eligible arts event or series could include a festival, exhibition, recital, reading, performance, screening, broadcast, or lecture, as long as the event included guest artist participation.
14) Do an organization’s resident artists or artistic staff count as "guest artists"?
No. The guidelines clarified that the applicant organization’s own artistic staff or resident artists did not count as guest artists.
15) What kinds of costs could be included in the budget for an arts event/series project?
Budgets could include artist fees and other event-related costs integral to delivering the public program, such as publicity, professional documentation, and specific program enhancements.
16) What were examples of eligible program enhancements for an arts event?
Examples listed included interpretive materials, transportation supports, accessibility accommodations (such as sign language interpretation, audio description, Braille materials, or tactile tours), and publications like brochures or catalogs.
17) Were related activities like talks or workshops allowed?
Yes. Related activities such as pre- or post-event talks, lecture-demonstrations, or workshops were allowable as long as they were directly relevant to the arts event.
18) Were curriculum-based arts instruction projects eligible under Fast Track?
No. Curriculum-based arts instruction was not eligible in this Fast Track category. The guidelines directed those education-focused projects to other NEA funding areas (specifically Arts Education within the Arts Works category at that time).
19) What did "unified promotion" mean as an eligible project type?
"Unified promotion" referred to professional assessment, design, and/or distribution of shared public relations tools that collectively advertise arts opportunities across a community or district.
20) Was the unified promotion project type meant to market a single organization?
No. The intent was not to fund marketing for a single organization, but to support professional, collaborative promotion that benefits multiple local arts entities.
21) What were examples of unified promotion tools?
Examples included calendars, websites, brochures, rack cards, or signage that promote community-wide arts activities and resources, including in cultural districts and cultural tourism contexts.
22) What types of public art projects were eligible?
The third eligible project type was the development of professionally directed public art projects, limited to visual arts, such as murals, sculptures, or environmental art.
23) Did public art projects have to include community engagement?
Yes. Public art projects had to be developed through community engagement, and the application needed to show evidence that community members were involved in planning, design, or fabrication.
24) Were there any federal compliance considerations for public art?
Yes. The announcement cautioned that some projects might trigger federal compliance responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and/or the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). If applicable, applicants could be required to provide additional information.
25) What types of applicants were eligible?
Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), public and private institutions of higher education, and government entities such as cities or townships, counties, states, special district governments, independent school districts, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
26) Were there compliance and legal requirements applicants had to meet?
Yes. Applicants had to meet the NEA’s legal requirements, including being nonprofit and tax-exempt at the time of application where applicable.
27) Was a history of arts programming required?
Yes. The program required a documented three-year history of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
28) Could an organization apply using a fiscal sponsor?
No. Applications had to be submitted directly by the applying organization; using a fiscal sponsor was not allowed.
29) Did prior NEA grantees need to be up to date on reporting to be eligible?
Yes. Any organization with prior NEA awards had to be current on required final reports, with acceptable Final Report packages submitted by their due dates.
30) Was there a limitation on applying if an organization had been funded multiple years in a row?
Yes. Beginning with grants awarded in FY 2011 and later, an organization that received Challenge America Fast Track funding for three consecutive years became ineligible to apply to Fast Track for the following year.
31) Can you provide the example of the repeat-funding limitation described in the notice?
The notice explained that an organization funded in FY 2012, FY 2013, and FY 2014 could not apply for Fast Track in FY 2015, but could pursue other NEA opportunities (including Art Works) and would become eligible to return to Fast Track in FY 2016.
32) What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number 2014NEA01CAFT.
33) What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided was 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals).
34) When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?
It was posted January 6, 2014, and had an application deadline of May 8, 2014.
35) Where did applications need to be submitted and by what time?
Applications had to be validated and accepted by Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
36) What was the basic intent behind the standardized $10,000 award structure?
The award structure reinforced that the program was meant to be straightforward, comparable across applicants, and focused on concrete projects that could quickly reach underserved communities with professional arts experiences.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
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Previous opportunity: Art Works FY 2015
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| NEA GAP Art Works II, FY 2015 Apply for 2014NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2014NEA01AW2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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| NEA Research Art Works, FY 2015 Apply for 2015NEAORA Funding Number: 2015NEAORA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $30,000 |
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| Nez Perce Cultural Community Art Exposition Apply for P14AS00346 Funding Number: P14AS00346 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $36,384 |
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