Grant Program "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ)

Below you'll find answers to some frequently asked questions regarding Wisconsin Arts Board grants.

What is a Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) grant?

A grant is a financial award given by the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) for a specific project or purpose linked to public benefit and does not need to be repaid. Grants are funded with taxpayer dollars through the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

What are the WAB's grant programs, and when should organizations apply?

WAB grant programs and their deadlines are described in the following links:

Can individuals apply?

As of now, with the exception of the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program, individuals may not apply for a WAB grant. However, some WAB Regranting Program partners do use WAB funding to award grants to individual artists. Artists and creative entrepreurs may also want to explore funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Otherwise, we support individual creatives indirectly through many of our grants and technical assistance activities.

Technical assistance activities include the support, encouragement, and skill building that our staff provides through phone calls, emails, virtual meetings, webinars, and in person activities like grant proposal writing workshops and board development sessions.

Is our organization/project eligible for funding?

We reccommend reading through the full elibility requirements specific to each grant program. Generally speaking;

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must:

have a record of consistent artistic activities for at least three consecutive years prior to application;
have as a primary purpose the creation/production or presentation of artistic programming (performances, exhibits, events) that benefits the general interested public;
demonstrate community participation in the program planning;
match each dollar of WAB support with at least one dollar of public (non-state) or private funds;
have an average of at least $10,000 in organizational revenue for each of the past three years (however, depending on the project, some exceptions can be made);
be incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin;
be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in good standing OR be a nonprofit corporation using a fiscal receiver*;
have a federally required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) (to obtain a UEI, follow the instructions at SAM.gov). If a grant applicant can show that it has applied for a UEI prior to submitting its application — even if that UEI has not yet been received — then the application will be accepted for review.

For Colleges, Universities, and Units of Tribal or Local Government including Public Schools:

WAB supports programs that fall under the auspices of these organizations, provided those programs involve the local community in planning, execution, and participation. These applicants must demonstrate that their programming reaches the general public in addition to an academic audience.
Performing Arts Series, Galleries/Museums and Art Film Series that are ongoing and a part of colleges, universities, or public schools are eligible. Grants are based on the arts program's budget, not the overall university/college/school budget.

*A fiscal receiver is an 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides administrative and financial services for projects initiated by nonprofit corporations - or by 501c3 organizations that do not have financial/administrative capability or meet the 3-year requirement. The fiscal receiver accepts responsibility for administering paperwork and project funds throughout WAB's grants process, not for completing the project activities.

Does the WAB require a grant match?

Yes. Each dollar of WAB support must be matched with at least one dollar of public (non-state), private funds (or in some cases in-kind contributions).

Are there any funding restrictions?

Yes. In general, the Arts Board does not fund the following nor can the direct dollar for dollar match for WAB funds be used for these expenses:

Capital equipment (items costing more than $5,000 with a useful life of more than one year) or capital expenditures, e.g., renovation of existing facilities;
Food or beverage;
Building/space rental for administrative purposes;
Benefit/fundraiser activities;
Cash prizes or awards;
Competitions;
Deficits incurred from past activities;
Individual tuition;
Activities for which academic credit is given;
Curriculum expansion;
Out-of-state travel;
Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties, gallery openings;
Activities that have already been completed by the beginning of the grant period;
Activities that have a religious purpose;
Lobbyists’ payments;
Activities not open to the general public.

How accessible must our organization or project be for people with disabilities?

The WAB is committed to ensuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and advocating for full access to the arts. Activites that receive funding from the WAB must be accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. Please visit our accessibility information page. If you have further questions, please contact the WAB's Accessibility Coordinator, Amelia Schaetzke (608-264-8191).

What accomodations are available for applicants with disabilities?

The WAB is committed to making sure our services are accessible to people with disabilities. To request accommodation related to WAB grants, please contact the WAB's Accessibility Coordinator, Amelia Schaetzke (608-264-8191).

WAB staff can arrange to meet applicants with disabilities virtually, in the WAB offices, or in another location that may be more convenient.

How does the WAB determine what grant requests are funded?

Funding policies begin with the WAB's legislation and administrative rules. The rules and guidance of the National Endowment for the Arts also inform our funding policies. From there, we work with our board, arts groups, artists, and others to create funding goals, criteria, guidelines, and the grant programs themselves.

Our board approves the grant programs and their guidelines. WAB staff members bring their own experience and expertise throughout the process, too. Evaluations by staff, panels, applicants, and grant recipients occur annually. Occasionally, the board approves any major adjustments in the guidelines that arise from our annual evaluations.

The WAB empanels groups of people to review, discuss, and make recommendations regarding funding for grant requests. Our board then meets to consider those recommendations, either approving or denying them.

Panels insulate the distribution of money from the political process, and bring a helpful level of expertise, perspective, and experience to the application review and to the feedback that the applicants receive during and after the panel meetings.

After our organization receives a grant, what happens next?

Specific toolkits for WAB Creative Communities and Creation and Presentation grant recipients:

Creation and Presentation Grant Recipient Resources Toolkit

Creative Communities Grant Recipient Resources Toolkit