This one-time grant program is closed and no longer accepting grant applications.

Overview

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to announce the GRIT Grants program, a one-time funding program made possible through the generosity of the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) American Rescue Plan. The Arts Council is serving as a subgranting agency for $200,000 in federal funds to be distributed to individual artists and nonprofit arts and cultural organizations based in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties.

Purpose

Gaining Recovery in Transition (GRIT) Grants serve as an opportunity for the Greater Lansing Region to fuel the grit we are known for – especially the arts and culture community thriving here. Those that are creating or organizing in the arts can apply for funds to gain, recover or transition into a new echelon of their GRIT.

Individuals – Grants will be awarded to individuals that demonstrate the drive and knowledge to create and enhance their artistic abilities. Stipends will be provided for new projects developing the artist’s main body of work, projects that get at the core of their artistic practice or projects they haven’t had the support or capacity for during the pandemic.

Organizations – Grants are given in the form of operational support and are intended to provide financial assistance and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to Greater Lansing’s arts and culture community.

Awards for both will be competitive.

Grant Basics

Grant Funds Available: $200,000Awards: $1,000 for individual artists and $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 for organizations

Funding Use: Projects for individual artists & operational support for organizations

Grant Coverage Area: Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties in Central Michigan

Timeline

Funding Priorities

Projects/Organizations led by and that serve underserved communities and persons, whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by factors such as age, culture, disability, ethnicity, economics, geography, gender identity, language, nationality, race, religion and sexual orientation will be given weighted priority in the granting process.
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Artists/Organizations who demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their artistic practice/operations will be given weighted priority in the granting process.

Organizations applying with a match to grant funds, while not required, will be given weighted priority in the granting process.

SAM Registration (A Note for Nonprofits)

Due to the federal origins of this grant (National Endowment for the Arts), all nonprofit organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to be eligible for funding. On April 4, 2022, the unique entity identifier used across the federal government changed from the DUNS Number to the Unique Entity ID.

Organizations without a SAM registration:
You can register for a UEI without registering your entity through SAM. Go to SAM Entity Registration to get started. Look for “Register Your Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID” on the right side of the webpage.

Organizations already registered with SAM:
‍A UEI will automatically be assigned to your organization by SAM. The UEI will be visible in your organization’s SAM record.

If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8221 or see the help section of SAM’s website.

When registering/renewing your SAM account, be sure to select “Yes” when completing the “Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these representations & certifications in order to receive an award.

Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing does not have access to your SAM account.

Workshops

If you have any questions about or need assistance, contact them directly.
SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8221 or see the information posted on the SAM website at SAMHelp. Learn more at https://www.arts.gov/grants/applying-for-a-federal-grant-for-the-first-time.