Opportunity Information: Apply for 2010NEA01CAFT
Apply for 2010NEA01CAFT
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Challenge America Fast Track, FY 2011" 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 12, 2010 and posted on Jan 12, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 2010 May 27, 2010, Application Deadline January 1, 2011, Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support. (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: State governments Special district governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts.
- APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY Nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations units of state or local government or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the goals of the Arts Endowment. To be eligible, the applicant organization must 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 agent are not allowed.) 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NEA Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2011) grant opportunity was a National Endowment for the Arts discretionary grant program designed mainly for small and mid-sized organizations that want to bring high-quality arts experiences to people who do not typically have strong access to the arts. The central purpose was to expand “access to artistic excellence” at the local level by funding projects that can make a noticeable difference in a community, especially when they reach groups whose arts opportunities are limited due to geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The program made it clear that age by itself (such as serving only youth or only seniors) was not enough to qualify a population as underserved; at least one of the listed access barriers also needed to be present.
Awards under this category were fixed at $10,000 per grant (both the ceiling and the floor were $10,000), and they required cost sharing or matching funds. The NEA emphasized that these awards supported professional arts programming as well as projects that highlight the role of the arts in community development. While partnerships were not mandatory, the announcement strongly encouraged organizations to consider working with partners when it would strengthen the project. Partnerships could include other arts groups, local agencies, schools, or organizations outside the arts, as long as the collaboration helped reach underserved communities effectively.
The “Fast Track” aspect referred to an expedited review timeline compared to some other NEA categories. Applicants were generally notified about six months after submission whether their application was recommended for funding, and funded projects could begin soon after. For this FY 2011 cycle, the earliest start date for NEA-supported activities was January 1, 2011, even though the application deadline fell earlier.
A key restriction in the overall Grants for Arts Projects structure was that an organization could submit only one application across three FY 2011 categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. In other words, applicants had to choose the single best-fitting track and could not apply to multiple categories in the same cycle.
Eligibility covered a broad range of U.S.-based entities, including nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (other than higher education institutions in that specific nonprofit category listing), units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal governments or communities. Eligible applicants could include arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, school districts, and other organizations capable of advancing NEA goals. However, there were several firm requirements: the applicant had to meet the NEA’s legal requirements (including having nonprofit tax-exempt status at the time of application, where applicable), must apply on its own behalf (applications through a fiscal agent were not allowed), needed a three-year history of programming prior to the deadline, and had to be up to date with acceptable final reports for any prior NEA awards.
The announcement also introduced an important policy change aimed at spreading funding opportunities to more new organizations over time. Beginning with grants awarded in FY 2011 (from applications due May 27, 2010), any organization that received Challenge America Fast Track funding for three consecutive years would become ineligible to apply to the Fast Track category for the following one-year period. The guidance provided a practical example: an organization funded in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011 could not apply to Fast Track in FY 2012, but could still pursue other NEA opportunities (including Access to Artistic Excellence or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth) during that off year, and would be able to return to Fast Track in FY 2013.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted January 12, 2010, with an application deadline of May 27, 2010. It was cataloged under CFDA 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts - Grants to Organizations and Individuals). Overall, the program offered a relatively straightforward $10,000 matching grant with a quicker review process, targeted to practical, community-rooted arts projects that expand access for underserved populations and encourage meaningful local impact.
NEA Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2011) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEA Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2011) grant?
Challenge America Fast Track (FY 2011) was a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) discretionary grant opportunity intended primarily for small and mid-sized organizations. It supported projects that expand local access to high-quality arts experiences, especially for people with limited opportunities to participate in the arts.
What was the main purpose of this grant program?
The central purpose was to expand "access to artistic excellence" at the local level by funding community-based projects that make a noticeable difference, particularly by reaching underserved groups.
Who was the program designed to serve?
The program focused on reaching people who do not typically have strong access to the arts. The opportunity specifically highlighted populations whose access is limited due to geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
What does "underserved" mean for this opportunity?
For this grant, underserved populations were those with limited arts opportunities due to one or more barriers such as geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
Does serving only youth or only seniors qualify as serving an underserved population?
Not by itself. The program stated that age alone (for example, serving only youth or only seniors) was not enough to qualify a population as underserved. At least one additional access barrier (geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability) also needed to be present.
How much funding was available per award?
Awards were fixed at $10,000 per grant. Both the minimum and maximum award amount were $10,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The $10,000 award required cost sharing or matching funds.
What kinds of projects were supported?
The NEA emphasized support for professional arts programming and for projects that highlight the role of the arts in community development, with an overall focus on expanding access to artistic excellence in the community.
Were partnerships required?
No. Partnerships were not mandatory, but the announcement strongly encouraged applicants to work with partners when a partnership would strengthen the project.
What kinds of partners could be involved?
Partnerships could include other arts organizations, local agencies, schools, or organizations outside the arts, as long as the collaboration helped reach underserved communities effectively.
Why was it called "Fast Track"?
"Fast Track" referred to an expedited review timeline compared to some other NEA categories. Applicants were generally notified about six months after submission whether their application was recommended for funding.
How soon could funded projects begin?
Funded projects could begin soon after notification. For the FY 2011 cycle described, the earliest start date for NEA-supported activities was January 1, 2011.
What was the application deadline for this cycle?
The application deadline listed for this opportunity was May 27, 2010.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on January 12, 2010.
Can an organization apply to multiple NEA categories in the same FY 2011 cycle?
No. Under the overall Grants for Arts Projects structure for FY 2011, an organization could submit only one application across three categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. Applicants had to choose the single best-fitting track.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included a broad range of U.S.-based entities, including nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (other than higher education institutions in that specific nonprofit category listing), units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal governments or communities.
What types of organizations could be eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants could include arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, school districts, and other organizations capable of advancing NEA goals, as long as they met the program requirements.
Did applicants need to have nonprofit status at the time of application?
Yes, where applicable. The applicant had to meet the NEA's legal requirements, including having nonprofit tax-exempt status at the time of application when required.
Could an organization apply through a fiscal agent?
No. The rules specified that the organization had to apply on its own behalf; applications submitted through a fiscal agent were not allowed.
Was there a minimum history requirement for programming?
Yes. The applicant needed a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
Did prior NEA grantees have additional compliance requirements?
Yes. Applicants had to be up to date with acceptable final reports for any prior NEA awards.
Was there a limit on how many consecutive years an organization could receive Fast Track funding?
Yes. Beginning with grants awarded in FY 2011 (from applications due May 27, 2010), an organization that received Challenge America Fast Track funding for three consecutive years would become ineligible to apply to the Fast Track category for the following one-year period.
How did the three-consecutive-years rule work in practice?
The guidance provided an example: if an organization was funded in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011, it could not apply to Fast Track in FY 2012. It could still pursue other NEA opportunities during that off year (including Access to Artistic Excellence or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth) and could return to Fast Track in FY 2013.
Could an organization apply to other NEA categories during the one-year ineligibility period?
Yes. The example stated that organizations could still pursue other NEA opportunities (including Access to Artistic Excellence or Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth) during the Fast Track off year.
What was the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity was cataloged under CFDA 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts - Grants to Organizations and Individuals).
What kind of impact was the NEA looking for?
The program emphasized practical, community-rooted arts projects that could make a noticeable difference locally, especially by expanding access for underserved populations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
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Previous opportunity: NEA Access to Artistic Excellence, FY 2011
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (2010NEA01CAFT) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NEA Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth, FY 2011 Apply for 2010NEA01LITA Funding Number: 2010NEA01LITA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships Creative Writing, FY 2011 Apply for 2010NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2010NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Mayors Institute on City Design 25th Anniversary Statement of Interest Apply for 2010NEAMICD Funding Number: 2010NEAMICD Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Official U.S. Presentation at the 12th Cairo International Biennale, Cairo, Egypt Apply for S LMAQM 10 RFA 003 Funding Number: S LMAQM 10 RFA 003 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEA Access to Artistic Excellence, FY 2011 Apply for 2010NEA01AAE2 Funding Number: 2010NEA01AAE2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Lowell Folk Festival Apply for NPS 10 NERO 0006 Funding Number: NPS 10 NERO 0006 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $88,500 |
| NEA Project 20/20 Apply for NEAPS1004 Funding Number: NEAPS1004 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| NEA Arts on Radio and Television, FY 2011 Apply for 2010NEA01ARTV Funding Number: 2010NEA01ARTV Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Art and Conservation Stewardship Program Apply for NPS 10 NERO 0013 Funding Number: NPS 10 NERO 0013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $54,000 |
| NEA Creativity and Aging in America, FY 2010 Apply for NEAPS1005 Funding Number: NEAPS1005 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Cataloging Archeological Collections Apply for NPS NOI J8158100901 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8158100901 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $39,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships Translation Projects, FY 2012 Apply for 2011NEA03LFTP Funding Number: 2011NEA03LFTP Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships Fiction and Creative Non fiction, FY2012 Apply for 2011NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2011NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Official U.S. Presentation at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition, (2012), Venice, Italy Apply for S LMAQM 11 RFGP ECA 001 Funding Number: S LMAQM 11 RFGP ECA 001 Agency: OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS MANAGEMENT Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Process and Catalog Archives Collections Apply for NPS NOI J8158110402 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8158110402 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| Maine Acadian Culture Project Apply for NPS 11 NERO 0029 Funding Number: NPS 11 NERO 0029 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Cataloging Archeological Backlog Apply for NPS NOI P11AT00568 Funding Number: NPS NOI P11AT00568 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,907 |
| NEA Arts in Media, FY2012 Apply for 2011NEA01AIM Funding Number: 2011NEA01AIM Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Project Management Services for Architectural and Engineering Design of the New National Museum in Kabul, Afghanistan Apply for SCAPPD 11 CA 130 SCA 060511 Funding Number: SCAPPD 11 CA 130 SCA 060511 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Official U.S. Representation at the 13th Cairo International Biennale, Cairo, Egypt Apply for S LMAQM 12 ECA EGYPT Funding Number: S LMAQM 12 ECA EGYPT Agency: OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS MANAGEMENT Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $135,000 |
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