Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQs below provide quick answers to common questions about eligibility, the application process, and other available services of the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Program. Questions not found here may be submitted to [email protected].

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Agreements
Application
Application Review Committee (ARC)
Eligibility
Fiscal-Sponsorship
Funding
General

Agreements

Question	Answer
What specific insurance coverage will be required for youth serving programs?	Insurance requirements are determined at the time of grant agreement. Typically, projects serving youth will require additional insurance including sexual misconduct liability (SAM) insurance.
Does the requirement to complete a risk assessment apply only to fiscal sponsors, or to all applicants?	The risk assessment requirement applies to the fiscal sponsor who is considered the applicant.

Application

Question	Answer
I submitted wrong information, how do I get back into my application or eligibility screening form?	If your application or eligibility screening form has already been submitted, please email [email protected] and request that your form be reopened so you can make the necessary corrections. If you have not yet submitted your form, it will be saved automatically as a draft, and you can return to it at any time to make updates before submitting.

Application Review Committee (ARC)

Question	Answer
How can I apply to be part of the Application Review Committee (ARC)?	The PARCS Department will notify the community when the application period for the ARC opens through a mass email, social media posts, and other relevant communication channels. If you would like to be added to the email list for these updates, please contact [email protected]. You can also follow us on social media to stay informed: www.facebook.com/parcsfresno www.instagram.com/parcsfresno

Eligibility

Question	Answer
Who can apply?	Please review page 10 of the grant guidelines for eligibility requirements.
We were awarded Cycle 2 General Operating Support based on our Candid profile. Is that sufficient for Cycle 3 or do you need something additional from us?	If this is in relation to NTEE code or another standing, please provide documentation from Candid as part of the eligibility screening process. The City does not currently subscribe to Candid, but will review documentation submitted. The City is using the IRS documents to verify NTEE codes. If there is an issue with the IRS documents please email [email protected] with additional information.
What counts as “another state or federal designation”?	This language was included to provide maximum flexibility. If the applicant has an example of another state or federal designation that identifies their organization as an arts or culture organization, applicants are encouraged to submit documentation for review as part of the eligibility screening.
What specifically in our articles or bylaws would qualify as demonstrating arts/cultural status, if the NTEE code alone does not?	For General Operating Support: The bylaws would need to state that the organization is an arts or cultural organization. This may be achieved through a mission or purpose statement included in the bylaws which recognizes the organizational purpose as one that is tied to arts or culture. IRS NTEE activity codes provide numerous examples of arts and culture organizations and can be found here: https://urbaninstitute.github.io/nccs-legacy/ntee/ntee.html
Could any Measure P funds be used toward a “workshop” for Nonprofit funding / how to operate for success?	Please refer to page 11 of the grant guidelines: Costs associated with a nonprofit organization providing technical assistance to develop, strengthen, or establish arts and cultural organizations may be eligible for project support funding, provided the primary purpose of the project demonstrably increases access to arts and cultural programming for Fresno residents. Technical assistance may include training, mentoring, consulting and other capacity-building services designed to improve an organization’s ability to provide arts and cultural programming. Such services may include, but are not limited to, board development, strategic planning, fundraising, grant writing, budgeting, financial management and controls, program evaluation, regulatory compliance, marketing, and volunteer development.
If our organization recently became independent after previously operating under a fiscal sponsor, can we use our former sponsor’s Form 990 to demonstrate past funding?	Please refer to page 8 and 9 of the grant guidelines. If the most recent tax return has not yet been filed, the immediately preceding tax year tax return may be accepted. Emerging non-profit applicants or fiscally sponsored applicants that do not yet have filed tax returns shall be eligible to apply for no more than $75,000 for project support and $50,000 for general operating support.

Fiscal Sponsorship

Question	Answer
To help us best prepare for the next step in the application process, and to better support our fiscal sponsees as they prepare their applications, may we receive a copy of the application questions?	Applicants are welcome to begin the application at their convenience, save their progress as a draft, and return to any questions they need additional time to complete. After completing the eligibility screening, a link will be provided for the application. Applicants will be able to add fiscal sponsees as collaborators to view the questions in the application.
If our organization is both serving as a fiscal sponsor and also applying as an organization, which option should we select? Do we need to submit the eligibility form twice, one for each scenario?	If your organization is both serving as a fiscal sponsor and also applying independently, you will need to submit an eligibility screening for each grant you are applying for. This means completing one eligibility form for each fiscally sponsored organization, and an additional eligibility form for your own organization if you are also applying.
The form requests the “Name of person, group or organization being fiscally sponsored” If we are sponsoring multiple persons/organizations, should we submit a separate eligibility form for each sponsee?	If you are serving as the fiscal sponsor for multiple individuals or organizations, a separate eligibility screening form will need to be completed for each individual or organization.

Funding

Question	Answer
Can you please confirm whether 90% of awarded funds will be disbursed upfront? For example, if an applicant is awarded $100,000, would $90,000 be provided at the start of the grant period?	The grant funds will be disbursed in a 90% / 10% structure. This means that 90% of the awarded amount will be provided upfront to support the completion of the scope of work. The remaining 10% will be released upon successful completion of the full scope of work and once all required reporting, documentation, and expenditure verification have been submitted and reviewed.

General

Question	Answer
Could you clarify the Measure P acknowledgement requirements?	Measure P acknowledgement requirements refer to the requirement to use the Measure P logo and include a brief funding statement on materials/events/facilities funded, in-part, by Measure P. More information about these requirements will be provided in grant agreements.