Guidelines

• View a PDF of the the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Guidelines for Organizations and Groups

Application Template

• View a PDF of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Application Template for Organizations and Groups
• Download a Word document of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Application Template for Organizations and Groups

Award Amounts

Relief funds will be determined by the amount of funding provided by the Montgomery County Government, the number of eligible applications received, and the size of an organization’s/group’s allowable annual cash operating revenue or expenses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever is lower. See Budget Eligibility  Requirements on page 5 of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund guidelines for more information.

Limitations

The Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund for Organizations will not fund:

• Public, private, or charter schools;
• Capital improvements, construction, or renovation projects;
• Rental costs for a Montgomery County-owned facility;
• Purchase of real property, including land, buildings, warehouses, offices, and anything affixed to the land;
• Activities for the exclusive benefit of the organization’s/group’s members;
• Fundraising activities;
• Cost of receptions, refreshments, and/or food;
• Cost of merchandise such as T-shirts;
• Debt retirement;
• Re-granting;
• Political advocacy or activities that take a position regarding any one political party, candidate, or issue;
• Administrative and/or programming costs incurred outside of Montgomery County, MD; and
• Travel outside the United States.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Organizations/groups eligible to apply must have met all the following requirements by the published application deadline:

• Has its primary mission or objective as the exhibition, presentation, production or performance of, and/or education in, an arts and/or humanities discipline, and/or provides support services to artists and/or scholars and/or arts and/or humanities organizations;
• Has been in operation for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline;
• Has had its primary location and/or a verifiable mailing address in Montgomery County, MD for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline;
• Operates as a non-profit:
  • The applicant has 501(c)(3) status, as evidenced by their U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Letter of Determination;
  • The applicant operates as a specific arts and/or humanities entity or division within a larger 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is not arts or humanities based;
  • If the applicant is not formally recognized by the IRS as a public charity or otherwise officially established as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) institution, the applicant must operate in the manner of a non-profit organization (the group’s net earnings cannot be distributed to those who control it).
• Is governed by an independent, legally liable Board of Directors operating under a mission statement for the organization and an operating budget specific to the organization.;
• Maintains Good Standing status with the state of Maryland;
  • A Certificate of Status (generally called a “good standing” certificate) is a legal document issued by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation verifying that an entity is up to date on their state filings. Click here to check whether your organization/group is in Good Standing with the State of Maryland.
• Has offered at least one public program/event in Montgomery County, MD since 2019, in person or virtually; and
• Is ADA compliant.

Budget Eligibility Requirements

Non-allowable cash operating revenue includes, but is not limited to:

• Unrealized gains or losses
• Investment revenues (interest and dividends)
• In-kind donations
• Revenue raised for capital
• Funds intended for re-granting

Non-allowable cash operating expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Investment Fees
• Interest Expenses
• Re-granting
• Capital improvement expenses/other related costs
• Depreciation
• Loan principal payments
• In-kind donations
• Bad debt

Guidelines

• View a PDF of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Guidelines for Individuals

Application Template

• View a PDF of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Application Template for Individuals
• Download a Word document of the FY23 Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund Application Template for Individuals

Award Amounts

Relief funds will be determined by the amount of funding provided by the Montgomery County Government and the number of eligible applications received.

Limitations

The Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund for Organizations will not fund:

• Public, private, or charter schools;
• Capital improvements, construction, or renovation projects;
• Purchase of real property, including land, buildings, warehouses, offices, and anything affixed to the land;
• Fundraising activities;
• Cost of receptions, refreshments, and/or food for a public event;
• Cost of merchandise such as T-shirts;
• Debt retirement;
• Re-granting;
• Political advocacy or activities that take a position regarding any one political party, candidate, or issue;
• Programming costs incurred outside of Montgomery County, MD; and
• Travel outside the United States.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Individual artists/scholars eligible to apply must have met all the following requirements by the published application deadline:

• Has resided in Montgomery County, MD for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the application deadline (P.O. Boxes not accepted as proof of residency);
• Is at least 21 years old;
• Is not a full-time student;
• Is a practicing artist or scholar with demonstrated ability in an arts or humanities discipline;
• Applicants will be requested to produce evidence of a professional body of work;
• Is currently experiencing financial duress due to COVID-19; and
• Is able to provide AHCMC with a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).

This deadline has passed.

Need to review or download your application? Access SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply): https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/