Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Economic Opportunity Fund Grant

Congratulations to all of our 2009 grant recipients.

Please sign up for our email list to be notified of our 2010 grant application deadline .

2009 Grant Recipients

» Click here for a list of previous grant recipients

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(If you have a question that you think belongs on the FAQ page, contact us at info@culturaleconomy.org.)

LCEF FUNDING FOCUS

1. What is funded by the LCEF-EOF
2. What is a unique economic opportunity?
3. What is not considered a unique economic opportunity
4. How specific do I have to be about my opportunity?
5. Are all qualified opportunities funded?
6. Why don't you fund general operating expenses?
7. What if I collaborate with someone?
8. How soon does my opportunity have to begin?
9. Can my opportunity start before this date?
10. How long can my opportunity last? May I apply for another opportunity during this period?
11. How often can I be awarded a grant from LCEF?
12. If my application was denied in a previous round, may I apply again?
13. Do these grants require a match?

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. What do I have to do to apply for a grant?
2. How can I find out about the next grant deadline?
3. Can I get help if something in the guidelines is unclear?
4. Should I/we be applying as a nonprofit organization/business or as an individual?
5. Are there income guidelines for grant eligibility?
6. Do I need to upload work samples with my online grant application?
   
7. How do I send requested attachments with the online application?
8. What if I do not have a computer or online access?

APPLICATION DEADLINES

1. How does the online application deadline work?
2. How will I know if LCEF receives my application before the deadline?

REVIEW PROCESS

1. Who reviews and approves the grant applications?
2. How will my application be evaluated?

NOTIFICATION PROCESS

1. When and how will I be notified about my application?
2. If my application is rejected, can I find out why?

PAYMENT PROCESS

1. If my application is funded, what do I have to do? How soon will funds be released?

GRANT PERIOD AND REPORTING

1. How do I know what my grant period is?
2. When is my final report due?
3. How do I send a final report?
4. Am I required to submit an interim report?
5. What if I don't send a final report?
6. Why do I have to submit final report?

LCEF FUNDING FOCUS

What is funded by the LCEF-EOF?

The LCEF-EOF awards grants to Louisiana cultural economy workers, businesses and nonprofit organizations for economic development opportunities. Grants are awarded to increase income or earned revenue through a specific, unique opportunity identified by the applicant.. Back to top

What is a unique economic opportunity?

A unique economic opportunity is an innovative way to earn income that is not a part of your regular work or programming. To be considered unique, the opportunity cannot be something that would normally be included in your budget as a business or organization.  Back to top

What is not considered a unique economic opportunity?

If something is a recurring expense that should fall within your normal operating budget, it is not a unique economic opportunity and will not be funded.

The following are some examples of items that are not unique opportunities and should fall within your normal operating budget: general business marketing or marketing for recurring events, fundraisers, membership drives, travel if your business involves travel, update and maintenance of existing websites, expansion expenses, and inventory.

The LCEF-EOF grant does not fund general support dollars for projects or organizations, emergency relief, or efforts that increase contributed income.  Back to top

How specific do I have to be about my opportunity?

Be as specific as possible, while also being concise. The narrative questions have a character maximum, so you will have to choose your words wisely. Reviewers often have difficulty making positive recommendations without specific information.  Back to top

Are all qualified opportunities funded?

No. Unfortunately, requests for LCEF-EOF funding are usually greater than available funds. That is why it is important for you to submit the strongest possible application.  Back to top.

Why doesn’t LCEF fund general operating expenses?

The purpose of the LCEF-EOF grant program is to encourage and enable entrepreneurial risks, innovation and economic growth among the unique cultural industries of Louisiana. The goal is to increase the earning potential of cultural economy individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations.  Back to top.

What if I collaborate with someone?

Applications for collaborative proposals between two or more cultural economy individuals, businesses or nonprofits will be accepted. One of the collaborators will take the lead and their information will be listed in contact information and organization information. The other collaborators should be listed on the application. Members of a collaboration are not eligible to apply on their own.  Back to top

How soon does my opportunity have to begin?

Your opportunity can begin any time after the start date and before the end date of the grant period specified in the current grant guidelines.  Back to top

Can my opportunity start before this date?

No activities for which you're requesting support can take place before the current grant period. LCEF-EOF does not fund opportunities from the past.  Back to top

How long can my opportunity last? May I apply for another opportunity during this period?

Your opportunity must begin during the current grant period specified in the grant guidelines. It should be completed before the end of the grant period, unless it is ongoing. You can only receive one LCEF-EOF grant per year, so you may not apply for another grant during the grant period for which you are awarded, or the grant period that directly follows.  Back to top

How often can I be awarded a grant from LCEF?

All applicants are allowed only one LCEF-EOF grant award per year, and not in consecutive grant rounds.  Back to top

If my application was denied in a previous round, may I apply again?

If your application is denied, you may apply in the next round and should revisit your request and make sure it fits within our guidelines. You may contact LCEF at info@culturaleconomy.org to find out the reason your request was not funded.  Back to top  

Do these grants require a match?

No match is required. However, if your total budget exceeds the maximum grant request, please indicate where you intend to acquire the remaining balance.  Back to top  

APPLICATION PROCESS

What do I have to do to apply for a grant?

All LCEF-EOF grant applications are submitted online. You will be directed to the appropriate application after a brief eligibility quiz. You will be asked to upload supporting documents during the online application process. You are not required or allowed to submit anything by mail.

All applications must be submitted online by the posted deadline. The system will not allow late submissions.  Back to top

How can I find out when new guidelines are released?

To receive email announcements of all of our grant rounds, subscribe to our mailing list.  Back to top

Can I get help if something in the guidelines is unclear?

You can get clarification from LCEF staff by emailing your question to info@culturaleconomy.org. However, we encourage you to consult the guidelines carefully before requesting assistance. Back to top

Should I/we be applying as a nonprofit organization/business or as an individual?

Whose opportunity is it? Who will benefit? If it’s an opportunity managed by and benefiting an organization, then that organization should apply. If you are an individual artist who initiated and will benefit from the opportunity, you should apply as an individual. The eligibility quiz before the EOF online grant application will direct you to the appropriate application.  Back to top

Are there income guidelines for grant eligibility?

No. LCEF-EOF funds are not granted based on financial need, but on uniqueness, innovation, and earned income potential. Back to top

Do I need to upload work samples with my online grant application?

No. There is no request for work samples with your online grant application. Your application is not scored on artistic quality, but on uniqueness, innovation, and earned income potential.  Back to top

How do I send requested attachments with the online application?

All requested attachments should be uploaded from your computer to the online application. There will be a button in the application that will allow you to browse your computer files and select the appropriate attachment. If your file has been uploaded properly, it will appear in the application.

If you have problems uploading required attachments, please click Need Support? at the bottom of the screen.

If you do not already have required attachment documents available in electronic format, (Word, Excel or PDF), please visit your local library or a copy center for assistance in transforming your paper documents into electronic form.

For additional technical assistance, contact LCEF Grant Administrator, Lisa Picone at 504-895-2800 or lisa@culturaleconomy.org.  Back to top

What if I do not have a computer or online access?

If you have technical limitations or other reasons for which submitting an application online is difficult for you, please contact Grant Administrator, Lisa Picone at 504-895-2800 or lisa@culturaleconomy.org to devise a solution. The Foundation is prepared to work with you to help you find a way to utilize our online grant proposal process  Back to top

APPLICATION DEADLINES

How does the online application deadline work?

The application must be submitted online before the specific time of the deadline posted in the grant guidelines. The website will not allow you to submit an application after the specified deadline.  Back to top

How will I know if LCEF receives my application before the deadline?

You will be notified via email when your application is received.  Back to top

REVIEW PROCESS

Who reviews and approves the grant applications?

The LCEF staff and a grant review panel made up cultural economy experts and consultants review the applications and make recommendations for funding. The recommendations of the committee are sent to the LCEF Board of Directors for final approval.  Back to top

How will my application be evaluated?

Your application will be evaluated on the merit of the opportunity and your justification of how the opportunity will increase your earning potential.

The following criteria, as relevant to the application, are used by reviewers to rate applications:

• Clarity and specificity of proposal
• Innovation and creativity
• Potential for increasing applicant’s income or revenue, especially long-term
• Uniqueness of opportunity
• Specificity of budget
• Applicant’s ability to complete opportunity based on budget presented
• Quality of contracted consultants, if applicable
• Potential for advancing recipient's career, business, or organization

Back to top

NOTIFICATION PROCESS

When and how will I be notified about my application?

The grant review process can take anywhere from six to eight weeks. After the final decision is made, all applicants will be notified of funding decisions via email.  Back to top

If my application is rejected, can I find out why?

After notification, applicants who have questions may email LCEF at info@culturaleconomy.org.  Back to top

PAYMENT PROCESS

If my application is funded, what do I have to do? How soon will funds be released?

If your application is funded you will receive an award letter along with a grant agreement outlining the terms of your grant. If you accept the terms of the grant agreement, you are to sign it and return the original to LCEF. Once LCEF receives your signed grant agreement, your check will be mailed. This process usually takes about 7 – 10 business days.  Back to top

GRANT PERIOD AND REPORTING

How do I know what my grant period is?

Your grant period is defined on your grant agreement.  Back to top

When is my final report due?

The final report is due 30 days after the grant period ends. Specific deadline dates for interim and final reports can be found under Grant Guidelines. You will receive an email reminder when these reports are due.  Back to top

How do I send a final report?

The final report will be available online and submitted online, just like the application.  Back to top

Am I required to submit an interim report?

Yes. We would like to hear from you regarding the status of your opportunity before the final report is due. You will receive an email reminder when the interim report is available online.  Back to top

What if I don’t send a final report?

Failure to submit the final report by the required date will result in the applicant becoming ineligible to apply for LCEF funding for two years AND the repayment of the grant award.  Back to top

Why do I have to submit final report?

Detailed updates from our grantees help us secure more dollars from our funders, allowing for continued investment in Louisiana’s cultural workforce. This information also helps us to continue to improve our grant programs and other initiatives that support the Louisiana cultural economy.   Back to top

Guidelines for Economic Opportunity Fund

2009 grants have all been awarded. Please sign up for our email list to be notified as soon as the 2010 Round 1 grant application deadline is announced.

1. Grant Purpose
2. Who can apply?
3. Who is not eligible to apply?
4. Who EOF Supports
5. Who EOF Will Not Support
6. Helpful Hints for Writing A Successful Grant Application
7. Required Attachments
8. Range of Grant Amounts
9. Examples of Fundable Activities
10. Deadlines
11. Current Grant Period
12. Payment
13. Reporting
14. LCEF-EOF Online Application Webinar Training

Grant Purpose

Innovation & Increased Income

The Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Economic Opportunity Fund (LCEF-EOF) is designed to increase the entrepreneurial capacity and economic health of cultural economy stakeholders. Grants through this fund are made to individual cultural workers, nonprofit cultural organizations, and cultural economy businesses to increase income or earned revenue through an innovative, specific, unique opportunity identified by the applicant.

These funds are not intended to be general support dollars for projects or organizations. They are targeted to unique opportunities to earn income that are not a part of the applicant's regular work or programming. (See examples of what these funds support in the EOF Supports and Examples of Fundable Activities sections.)

Louisiana's cultural economy is defined as the people, enterprises, and communities that transform cultural skills, knowledge, and ideas into economically productive goods, services, and places. It includes: visual arts and crafts, performing arts, culinary arts, design, traditional culture bearers, entertainment, literary arts and humanities, and historic preservation.

Who can apply?

Individual Economy Cultural Workers:

Individuals must be professionally active in their discipline (artistic or cultural), earning income through their talents, and reside in Louisiana. If awarded a grant, individuals must provide a valid social security number. Originating and/or interpretive cultural work will be considered. Students are not eligible.

Nonprofit Cultural Economy Organizations:

Organizations must provide evidence of their nonprofit status by submitting their 501 (c) (3) tax identification number and must be based in the state of Louisiana. Organizations may apply through a fiscal agent if necessary.

Fiscal Agent instructions: Organizations lacking 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status must arrange for a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to serve as fiscal agent for the grant. The fiscal agent assumes legal and financial responsibility for the applicant's grant, so it is recommended that organizations applying with a fiscal agent draft an agreement outlining the terms of their relationship. The fiscal agent will receive payment if grant is awarded. A nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status may submit its own application in addition to serving as a fiscal agent for another organization. If you have any questions about applying through a fiscal agent, contact Grant Administrator Lisa Picone at 504-895-2800 or lisa@culturaleconomy.org.

APPLICATION NOTE: If you are applying through a fiscal agent, you will enter the fiscal agents contact information and 501 (c) (3) tax identification number in the "Contact" section of the application and the benefitting organization information in the "Organization" section of the application.

Cultural Economy Small Businesses:

Businesses (i.e. galleries, restaurants, frame shops, music stores, food production, etc.) must provide a valid tax identification number and be based in the state of Louisiana. Further, galleries and collectives must be able to exhibit that the focus of their professional activities benefits Louisiana artists or artisans.

Collaborative applications: Applications for collaborative proposals between two or more cultural economy individuals, businesses or nonprofits will be accepted. As a collaborative, one of the applicants will take the lead and their information will be listed in contact information and organization information. The other collaborators should be listed on the application. If you are planning to apply as a collaborative, please contact Grant Administrator Lisa Picone at 504-895-2800 or lisa@culturaleconomy.org.

NOTE: Members of a collaborative application are not eligible to apply on their own.

Who is not eligible to apply?

• Individuals, businesses, or nonprofit organizations that are not based in Louisiana
• Students
• Government entities/municipalities
• Any individual, business, or nonprofit organization that was awarded an EOF grant in LCEF's previous grant round. (You will be eligible again in our next round of funding.)

Eligibility of Past LCEF Grant Recipients

Individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive a grant award from LCEF one time per year, but not in consecutive grant rounds.

EOF Supports

The following list outlines some, but not all, activities eligible for support:

• activities that can be related directly to a new, specific opportunity and demonstrate the ability to earn income or revenue

• travel and accommodations associated with an imminent, concrete opportunity that will result in earned income or revenue

• materials to make or finish work that is integral to a specific, new opportunity to earn income or revenue

• professional fees and services for a specific opportunity that will directly result in earned income or revenue

• rental or purchase of equipment, instruments, or materials to complete work for a specific, new opportunity to earn income or revenue (NOTE: If any purchases are associated with your opportunity, make sure you justify the need and use of the item(s) purchased.)

• promotional expenses related directly to a specific, new opportunity to earn income

• a new and unique teaching opportunity that will supplement income for a professional artist

EOF Will Not Support

The following list outlines some, but not all, activities ineligible for support:

• regular, recurring expenses involved in establishing, maintaining, or administrating an organization or company; this includes any fees that are part of your normal operations (i.e. subsidies for artist fees are not fundable)

• applicant's own artistic fees

• costs involved in real-estate purchase or new construction

• purchase of equipment not related to a new opportunity to earn income

• fundraising events such as galas and/or dinners

• applications not focused on a specific, new economic opportunity

• funds to finish a project that is not related to a specific, new opportunity to earn income

• a one-time project or event that does not present opportunity for long-term earned income

• teaching opportunities as a main source of income

• business start-ups

Helpful Hints for Writing A Successful Grant Application

Applicants should exercise creativity to develop an innovative solution for generating a new income stream.

• Identify and define the opportunity clearly and concisely.
  

• Justify what makes the opportunity new and unique (describe how is it different from what you normally do).
  

• Address specifically how this unique opportunity will directly increase your income or revenue and how it will continue to earn income or revenue over the long term.
  

• Identify what methods you have in place to capitalize on the earned income opportunity (i.e. distribution and sales channels, established connections, current demand, etc.).
  

• Identify other funding sources if your total opportunity budget exceeds the amount you're requesting from LCEF.

• Clarity and specificity of proposal

• Innovation and creativity

• Potential for increasing applicant's income or revenue, especially long-term

• Uniqueness of opportunity

• Specificity of budget

• Applicant's ability to complete opportunity based on budget presented

• Quality of contracted consultants, if applicable

• Potential for advancing recipient's career, business, or organization

Important Note: Grants will be awarded based on the merit of the unique economic opportunity. Therefore, the applicant's ability to clearly and specifically describe the opportunity and its ability to earn income or generate revenue are essential to a competitive proposal.

Required Attachments

The submitted online application must include the following documents in electronic format (Word, Excel, PDF). Applicants must have these documents ready for upload.

Individual Cultural Workers

• Current resume indicating you are a working artis

• Financial statement or profit and loss statement for most recently completed fiscal year

• Detailed program budget that includes specific line items
• Audited financial statement for most recently completed fiscal year or most recent tax form 990

If you have problems uploading required attachments, please click Need Support? at the bottom of the screen. If you need assistance transforming your paper documents into electronic form, please visit your local library, a copy center, or contact Grant Administrator Lisa Picone at 504-895-2800 or lisa@culturaleconomy.org.

Range of Grant Amounts

• Individual Cultural Workers: $250 - $2,500
• Nonprofit Cultural Organizations: $500 to $5,000
• Cultural Economy Businesses: $500 to $5,000
• Collaborative Applications: $1,000 to $7,500
  

Additional Funding Consideration: All grant amounts are subject to change, depending on availability or restriction of funds by our donors. It is expected that requests will exceed funds available in this round.

Impact Grants

By invitation only. LCEF-EOF grant recipients may be considered for an Impact Grant if the potential to earn income reaches beyond the grant recipient and impacts the broader cultural economy of the state.

Examples of Fundable Activities

The following are very general examples of the types of opportunities that would qualify for funding through this initiative. These examples are by no means comprehensive. Also, if you apply for one of the types of opportunities on this list you are not guaranteed funding. Applicants are encouraged to develop their own unique ideas. EOF grants are very competitive. Usually the most innovative opportunities and the applications that present a strong ability to capitalize on the earned income component are funded.

• Travel and related fees that will result in a new earned income stream for the applicant
  

• Production or development of new cultural products that increase the opportunity for earned income
  

• Creation of e-commerce website or fees to participate in an established online marketplace, if product demand is established
  

• Development of marketing materials directly related to a specific, new opportunity to generate income or revenue

Deadlines

The EOF grant application process is now a completely online system. No applications or supporting documents will be accepted by mail. Your application and supporting documents will all be submitted online. Please sign up for our email list to be notified of the 2010 Round 1 grant application deadline.

Notification:

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within approximately six to eight weeks of the application deadline.

Current Grant Period

The grant period for 2009 Round 2 is August 1, 2009 - March 1, 2010. The opportunity for which you are applying must fall within these dates.

If your opportunity falls after March 1, 2010, you should wait and apply during our first grant cycle of 2010. The grant period for the first grant cycle of 2010 will be March 1, 2010 - September 1, 2010.

If your opportunity falls before August 1, 2009, you are ineligible for this round.

Grants cannot be awarded for opportunities that occurred in the past.

Grant Payment

Grants will be paid in a single payment upon execution of the grant agreement. All grant agreements must be completed and returned within 30 days of award notification to receive payment. The original grant agreement with the original signature of the applicant should be mailed to:

LCEF
5500 Prytania Street #403
New Orleans, LA 70115

Failure to return the grant agreement within that time-frame will result in cancellation of the grant and reallocation of funds. Grant recipients are responsible for all applicable federal taxes. We urge that you keep all receipts and other appropriate records for tax filing purposes.

Reporting

Grant recipients are required to submit an Interim Update and a Final Report to LCEF. You will receive an email reminder when these reports are due. All reports will be submitted online.

A final report must be submitted online within 30 days of the ending date of the grant period specified on your grant agreement (no later than the dates below):

2009 Round 1 Deadlines:

• Interim Report due: July 15, 2009
• Final Report due: October 30, 2009

2009 Round 2 Deadlines:

• Interim Report due: December 1, 2009
• Final Report due: March 31, 2010

Failure to submit the final report by the required date will result in the applicant becoming ineligible to apply for LCEF funding for two years AND the repayment of the grant award.

Free LCEF-EOF Online Application Web Seminars

LCEF hosts free webinars that walk applicants through the online application process. Applicants will call in to a conference call number provided by LCEF and log in online to watch Grant Administrator, Lisa Picone go through the LCEF-EOF applications, provide detailed instructions, and offer tips on how to submit a competitive application. All applicants are encouraged to attend a webinar, especially if you have not previously applied for an LCEF-EOF Grant or have not been successful in the past.

Sign up for our email list to find out the dates for the 2010 Round 1 webinars

Instructions for LCEF Final Report

Remember that Final Reports are due 30 days from the grant completion date.

Please address these questions specifically:

1. Were you able to show an increase in your income through the use of this grant? If so, please tell or estimate the percentage increase. If not, please tell us why and what you anticipate in the future.

2. Did this grant enable you to be in a better position financially-either now or in the future? If so, please tell us how. If not, please explain.

3. Please tell us specifically what expenses you covered with the grant.

Please keep your narrative to one page and send it via e-mail attachment to info@culturaleconomy.org . Please put “Final Report” in the subject line.

Download these instructions (PDF).