The 2015 Community Cultural Plan identifies a set of “Community Priorities” derived directly from the hopes and aspirations of Boulder’s residents. The purpose of the Community Project Grant is to encourage innovation and exploration in order to achieve progress on these Community Priorities.

Si prefiere leer esta página en español por favor haga clic aquí. Se puede responder a la solicitud en español. Un miembro del personal de la Oficina de Artes y Cultura traducirá sus respuestas para que sean revisadas.

For this application in other languages please contact the Office of Arts + Culture Grants Manager Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov.

Purpose

The Community Cultural Plan identifies a set of “Community Priorities” derived directly from the hopes and aspirations of Boulder’s residents:

  1. Support the resiliency and sustainability of cultural organizations to enhance their ability to benefit the community.
  2. Create a supportive environment for artists and creative professionals, while fostering innovative thinking and leadership among them.
  3. Prioritize the civic dialogue about the ability of culture to positively contribute to the economy, social offerings, the environment, and the authentic expression of diversity.
  4. Develop Boulder’s creative identity in becoming an innovative world leader in cultural matters and project that identity to the region and the world.
  5. Focus on the expression of culture and creativity in the public realm through public art, the urban landscape, culture in the neighborhoods, and serendipitous encounters with the arts.
  6. Amplify the vibrancy of Boulder’s cultural destinations: the lively mix of museums, performance venues, events, districts, studios, maker spaces, and other facilities that make Boulder an enticing place to visit, live, play, and work. Fill in the gaps and address issues of access and affordability.

These complex issues are the most important initiatives we can work on as a cultural community in the coming years. The purpose of the Community Project grant is to encourage innovation and exploration in order to achieve progress on these Community Priorities.

Details

Total funds: $85,000

Awards: Organizations $60,000 @ maximum $10,000 each // Individuals $25,000 @ maximum $5,000 each

Details: The award amount of $10,000 for organizations or $5,000 for individuals is the maximum grant offered. Smaller requests will be accepted.

Cycle: Annual

Deadline to submit applications - organizations: Wednesday, February 14 at 11:59 p.m.

Deadline to submit applications - individuals: Wednesday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m.

Definitions: “Individual” is defined as: applications in which the project is created and managed by a single individual, a sole-proprietorship, or a for-profit business with only one employee. “Organization” is defined as: applications in which the project is being created and managed by a nonprofit or a for-profit business with multiple employees.

How to Apply

Get Informed

Review the below information in full.

Grant Portal

Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.

Application Contents

  • Online application form
  • Project summary
  • Project budget
  • Partner/collaborator list
  • Venue confirmation letter
  • Letters of support
  • Other supporting documents

Application Confirmation

Look for an automated email message confirming receipt of your application.

Scoring Round One

After the deadline, applications will be sent to the panel for scoring and comments. The panel consists of five grant panel members. Information on the grant panel can be found on the website.

Respond to the Panel

You will receive notification that the panel’s scores and comments on your application are available. Please review their scores and comments and prepare a one-page response for the panel.

Scoring Round Two

Before the Arts Commission meeting, the panel will rescore the applications. At the decision meeting, the members of the Boulder Arts Commission then review the panel's recommendations and deliberate to decide final approval of the applications which will receive a grant.

Completion of Paperwork

When a grant is awarded, staff from the Office of Arts and Culture will contact the successful applicant to complete any necessary paperwork.

Decision Timelines

Community Project Grants – Organizations

  • Wednesday, March 12 at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline for applications
  • March 12 to 19– Review by staff for eligibility and revision by applicants if necessary
  • March 19 to April 2 – Preliminary review and score by panel (15 days)
  • April 2 to 9 – Score processing by staff
  • April 9 – Preliminary scores and comments sent to applicants via email
  • April 9 to 16 – Applicants prepare and send written responses to the panel’s questions. The written response should be emailed to Sarah Harrison at culturegrants@bouldercolorado.gov by Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 11:59pm.
  • April 16 to 18 – Response processing by staff
  • April 18 – Responses sent to panel
  • April 23 (est.) – Panel meeting to discuss applications
  • April 23 to May 7 – Final review and score by panel (15 days)
  • May 7 to 23 – Processing of final scores
  • May 23 – Final scores published in the Arts Commission meeting packet
  • May 28 – Arts Commission meeting. Discussion and final decisions on grants

Community Project Grants – Individuals

  • Wednesday, April 16 at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline for applications
  • April 16 to 23 – Review by staff for eligibility and revision by applicants if necessary
  • April 23 to May 7 – Preliminary review and score by panel (15 days)
  • May 7 to 14 – Score processing by staff
  • May 14 – Preliminary scores and comments sent to applicants via email
  • May 14 to 21 – Applicants prepare and send written responses to the panel’s questions. The written response should be emailed to Sarah Harrison at culturegrants@bouldercolorado.gov by Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 11:59pm.
  • May 21 to 23 – Response processing by staff
  • May 23 – Responses sent to panel
  • May 28 (est.) – Panel meeting to discuss applications
  • May 28 to June 11 – Final review and score by panel (15 days)
  • June 11 to 20 – Processing of final scores
  • June 20 – Final scores published in the Arts Commission meeting packet
  • June 25, 2024 – Arts Commission meeting. Discussion and final decisions on grants

Eligibility Requirements

  • General eligibility. Meets all general eligibility requirements.
  • Open to all. Anyone may apply once the general eligibility requirements are met, including individuals, artists, non-profit organizations, organizations with pending non-profit status, fiscally sponsored organizations and for-profit organizations with a community focus.
  • Service area and programming. Projects must have a significant component of public programming that takes place within the city limits of Boulder. This programming must meet the criteria described in the Chapter 14-1-2 of the City of Boulder Revised Code. For additional information on the planning area and Comprehensive Plan visit this link. As a shorthand, office staff use addresses with the zip code starting with 803— to determine if it is in the acceptable area.
  • Timeline. Projects must take place after the grant funding decision and be completed by June 30, 2026.

Apply

Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal to preview and apply. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.

Review Process

  • Deliberation. Applications are reviewed by the Boulder Arts Commission grants panel. Final funding decisions are made at public Boulder Arts Commission meetings. See schedule.
  • Evaluation of applications. Funding in previous years does not imply continued support. Each application is reviewed anew in the context of current policies and applications. Applicants that have received repeated funding should be aware that the Boulder Arts Commission looks for indication of growth and a fresh approach to their work.
  • Evaluation criteria.
    • Community priorities (Maximum 8 points)
    • Cultural offerings (Maximum 8 points)
    • Cultural equity (Maximum 8 points)
    • Proposed outcomes and evaluation strategy (Maximum 8 points)
    • Boulder focus (Maximum 6 points)
    • Encouragement points (Maximum 4 points)
  • The complete scoring system and rubric for the Community Project Grants can be found here.

Appeals Process

Written Appeals Process. The deadline for a written appeal is 14 days after funding decisions has been made by the Boulder Arts Commission. Find more information about the appeals process.

Reporting

Grant report forms are on the Boulder Arts Commission grants software. Log in with the same user name and password utilized to submit the application. After logging in, go to the ‘Dashboard’, then you’ll see a ‘Follow Up’ section for the grant. On the far right is the ‘Edit’ button. That will take you to complete the final report.

After you submit the report you’ll receive email confirmation and copy of the report via the email that you have included in the report. Contact Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3907 if you do not receive email confirmation.

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