Creative Equity Fund FAQ 

The Creative Equity Fund supports organizations led by and serving communities historically most removed from large-scale philanthropy (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities) that employ arts and culture to build a more healthy, equitable, and creative King County. Three grantees will receive transformational three-year grants of $210,000—$70,000 per year for three years—paired with grantee-led cohort learning. This funding is unrestricted.  

The Creative Equity Fund is collaboratively supported by the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Lorna Jordan Foundation, Satterberg Foundation, Seattle Foundation, ArtsFund, and others. The Fund is guided by a panel of community members primarily composed of previous grantees who will work to ensure decision-making is as close as possible to centered communities.

What is the history of the Creative Equity Fund? 

• The Creative Equity Fund was first launched in 2018 to support community organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) using arts and culture to build racial justice in King County. It was collaboratively supported and administered by a collective of funders focused on developing a trust-based approach. 

• The fund remains collaboratively supported by multiple funders with a trust-based approach. ArtsFund has been selected to serve as the administrator for the new iteration of the fund, with an updated structure and expanded focus areas. These grants will support organizations led by and serving communities historically most removed from large-scale philanthropy (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities) that employ arts and culture to build a more healthy, equitable, and creative King County. 

Will this grant be offered again next year?   

• There are currently no plans to distribute another round of funding after 2026. The three grantees selected in 2026 will receive funding of $70,000/year for three years.   

How will cohort learning work?  

• In addition to funds, the three selected grantees will be invited to gatherings and learning opportunities tailored to grantee interests, needs, and availability. These will consist of:  

o  In-person gathering opportunities for all grantees, hosted by ArtsFund, which will be offered twice per year.  

o Cohort learning for all grantees, hosted by ArtsFund, offered in a hybrid/virtual format four times per year.  

▪ In Year 1, learning will focus on financial literacy and opportunities for building financial stability through investment strategies.  

▪  In Years 2 and 3, grantees will have the choice to select from a menu of options or nominate their own learning topics, to be decided upon collectively. Possible topics include grantee-led peer learning, professional certifications, and more.  

• Additionally, grantees will receive access to all ArtsFund training and events, including Convenings, Board Leadership Training, Slack channels, and more.  

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a Creative Equity Fund?

• The Creative Equity Fund supports organizations led by and serving communities historically most removed from large-scale philanthropy (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities) that employ arts and culture to build a more healthy, equitable, and creative King County. 501(c)(3) public charities, organizations fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) public charity, and state or federally recognized tribal entities are eligible to apply. In addition, organizations must: 

– Have a primary mission to produce or support arts and cultural activities.   

– Be located in King County, WA. 

– Have existed for five or more years.  

– Have an average annual operating budget between $50,000 and $500,000 over FY2023, FY2024, and FY2025 (actuals). 

Applicants considered ineligible include:   

– Individuals  

– Private foundations 

– For-profit organizations  

– Political advocacy organizations  

– Organizations located outside of King County, WA  

– Churches and religious organizations  

– Government entities, except tribal governments 

Is the Creative Equity Fund limited to arts organizations? 

• This funding opportunity is only available to organizations whose primary missions are to produce or support arts and cultural activities. 

What are the eligibility requirements for tribes and tribal entities?

• State or federally recognized tribes are eligible and encouraged to apply, provided they meet budget requirements and are based in King County. As cultural heritage and artistic practices are embedded in the work and daily life of tribes, tribes will be considered eligible regardless of whether they have a formal mission statement encompassing arts and cultural activities.  

• Additionally, tribal entities focused on artistic and cultural activities, such as culture departments or tribal museums, are eligible to apply for funding if they meet the budget requirements. Multiple entities affiliated with the same tribe may apply if each meets the eligibility criteria.  

• Tribes without federal or state recognition may apply as a 501(c)(3) organization or fiscally sponsored organization if applicable. 

• Please do not hesitate to contact the grantmaking team with any questions. 

Can an organization apply to fund a specific program that produces or supports arts and cultural activities, even if the organization’s primary mission does not? 

• No. This funding opportunity is intended for organizations whose primary mission is to produce or support arts and cultural activities. Programs that fall under these categories operated by organizations with broader missions are not eligible for this opportunity. 

What does it mean that my organization must have existed for five or more years?  

• To meet this eligibility requirement, an organization must have been founded on or before December 31, 2021.  

How do I calculate my organization’s annual average operating budget? 

• Please use your organization’s fiscal year cycle to calculate your annual average operating budget. Add your total revenue for FY23, FY24, and FY25. Divide this number by 3.  If this number is between $50,000 and $500,000, your organization meets the budget requirement.  

If my organization is fiscally sponsored, does the $50,000–$500,000 budget requirement apply to my organization or my 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor organization? 

• The budget requirement applies to your organization, not your fiscal sponsor. Please calculate the annual average operating budget for your organization. 

Are current or former ArtsFund grantees eligible to apply? Are ArtsFund grantees more likely to be funded by this grant? 

• Current or former ArtsFund grantees are eligible to apply, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. Status as a current or former ArtsFund grantee will not impact how likely your organization is to receive funding. Current or former ArtsFund grantees are not guaranteed funding through this program.   

Are cultural organizations eligible to apply? 

• Cultural organizations are eligible to apply, provided that their work contains a significant artistic component. 

• If you are unsure whether your organization meets this eligibility requirement, please feel free to reach out to grants@artsfund.org, and our team will do our best to provide clarity. Applicants will be reviewed for eligibility upon receipt of a complete application, so please note that staff cannot provide advance eligibility determinations. 

What are the key dates for the application process?  

• Info Session: Wednesday, May 20 

• Application Round 1 Opens: Tuesday, May 26 

• Application Round 1 Closes: Friday, June 12 

• Application Round 2 Invitations Issued: Tuesday, August 18 

• Application Round 2 Applications Due: Tuesday, September 8 

• Grantees Notified: Tuesday, December 1 

What is the application structure?  

• The Creative Equity Fund application is a multi-phase process. To begin, applicants will be asked to complete the eligibility quiz. This is not the full application.  

• If your organization does not meet the eligibility criteria, the application form will not advance past this stage.  

• Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to fill out an organizational profile and answer two short narrative questions (Round 1).  

• After Round 1 applications are reviewed, up to thirty finalists will be invited to submit a detailed application in mid-August (Round 2). All applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of August.  

Can I preview the application before creating a profile in WizeHive?  

• You can download a PDF preview of the application here.  

What information is requested in the eligibility quiz? 

• All applicants must first complete the Eligibility Quiz form in the application portal. Application forms will only become available after you complete this form. 

• The Eligibility Quiz asks organizations to verify whether they meet the minimum eligibility criteria: 

– Our organization is 501(c)3 public charity, fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3, or is a tribal entity. (Y/N)*

– Our organization’s primary mission is to produce or support arts and cultural activities.

– Our organization is based in King County. (Y/N)

– Our organization’s three-year average annual revenue is between $50K and $500K. (Y/N)*

– Our organization was established on or before 12/31/21. (Y/N)*

– Is your organization BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or disability-led? (Y/N)*

– Does your organization create and/or provide programming centering LGBTQ+ communities, BIPOC communities, and/or disability communities? (Y/N)*

What does it mean for our organization to be BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or disability-led?

• For the purposes of this grant, this is defined as: 50% or more of your staff identifies as BIPOC, as LGBTQ+, or as having a disability; OR, 50% or more of your staff identify as BIPOC, as LGBTQ+, or has having a disability.

What information is requested in the organizational profile? 

• The organizational profile includes: 

– Contact Information 

– 501(c)(3) Status and/or Fiscal Sponsor information 

– Questions asking you to self-assess the extent to which your organization centers BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities in your organization and programming 

What information is requested in the narrative questions? 

• After you complete the organizational profile, you will be asked to submit two short narrative answers: 

1. Your Organization’s Mission Statement 

2. How would this grant impact your ability to serve your community? 

What do you mean by “centering” the voices of people who identify as BIPOC, as LGBTQ+, and as people with disabilities? 

• We use the word “centering” rather than “including” to indicate a deeper level of engagement. “Centering” indicates that the voices of certain populations are not just included or invited to participate in an organization’s programming but are the focus of an organization’s work. People from centered populations are telling their own stories and programming is intended to be culturally relevant to their experiences. 

How will the demographic data I share in this form be used and stored? 

• ArtsFund understands that demographic information can be sensitive, especially if your organization is composed of and/or centers members of marginalized communities. To that end, we wanted to share a little more information about why we ask for this data, how it’s used, and how it’s stored. Please view our Demographic Data Use Statement. 

What is fiscal sponsorship? 

• Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement between a 501(c)(3) public charity and another entity or project in which the charity 501(c)(3) receives and provides funds to advance the entity or project, while retaining discretion and control over the funds. 

Can ArtsFund help me secure a fiscal sponsor? 

• No, ArtsFund staff cannot assist individual applicants in securing fiscal sponsorship. 

What information and documentation do I need from my fiscal sponsor to complete my application? 

• A signed letter of agreement between you and your fiscal sponsor. 

• Fiscal Sponsor EIN 

• Fiscal Sponsor Mailing Address 

• A contact at your fiscal sponsor organization 

Does my fiscal sponsor organization have to be based in Washington? 

• No, your organization may be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization that is based in another US state. 

Does my fiscal sponsor organization have to meet other eligibility requirements? 

• No, eligibility requirements apply to your organization, not your fiscal sponsor. 

Can my 501(c)(3) organization act as a fiscal sponsor for another organization and apply for a Creative Equity Fund grant as well? 

• Yes. A 501(c)(3) organization can apply for a Creative Equity Fund grant for its own organization and can separately act as the fiscal sponsor for one or more organizations without their own 501(c)(3) status who also wish to apply. Applications for fiscal sponsor organizations and their fiscal sponsees will be evaluated separately. 

How do I apply? 

• The application link will be posted on the ArtsFund website on Tuesday, May 26 at noon.  

Is the application deadline flexible? 

• No. We are not able to accept late applications. 

Do I have to complete my application in one sitting? Can someone else from my organization help me fill it out? 

• You can log in to your WizeHive account to make changes to your application anytime during the application window (12:00pm on May 26 to 5:00pm on June 12). You will be able to set up a WizeHive account when the application portal opens on May 26. Only one person from each organization can create login credentials, which can be shared. 

What if I realize I made an error on my application after I submit it? Will I be able to correct it? 

• After the application is submitted, it is no longer editable. If you need to make corrections before the application deadline, please reach out to grants@artsfund.org. 

If I need additional technical assistance with my application, who do I contact? 

• Please join us for a brief informational webinar on Wednesday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. This webinar will walk prospective applicants through the application process, review eligibility parameters, and provide an opportunity for a question-and-answer session with ArtsFund staff. This webinar will be recorded and shared on ArtsFund’s website. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to join the statewide email list to be notified when the recording is posted.  The session will include, ASL interpretation, visual descriptions, and auto-generated closed captioning available in 30+ languages. Click here to register.  

You can contact staff at ArtsFund by emailing grants@artsfund.org for additional assistance or questions. Please allow up to 3 business days for responses.  

How long will the application take to complete? 

• We estimate that it will take between 1-3 hours to complete this grant application.  

What accessibility accommodations are available for applicants? 

• ArtsFund aims to make this process accessible. The info session will include ASL interpretation, visual descriptions, and captioning. If you need additional accommodations or an alternative format for application materials, contact grants@artsfund.org. 

Is language support available? 

• Captioning with 30+ languages will be available for the info session recording. If you need support accessing the application or understanding questions in the portal, contact grants@artsfund.org. 

What happens after I submit my application?  

• ArtsFund’s Grantmaking team will review all applications for eligibility. If necessary, ArtsFund staff may reach out to request clarification to better determine your organization’s eligibility for funding. 

• The Creative Equity Fund Panel will review initial submissions.

• Up to thirty finalists will be selected and invited to complete a second-round application on or around August 18. Second-round applications will be due September 8, with grantees notified by December 1. 

• All applicants will be notified of their Round 1 application status by the end of August. 

How are grant awards determined?  

• Applications will be scored based on a set of criteria determined by the Creative Equity Fund Panel. Evaluation criteria are designed to prioritize funding for organizations that are led by and center BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and rural populations. Criteria consider both organizational health and community impact.  

• Final grant award determinations are made by the Creative Equity Fund Panel, a group of community leaders whose lived experiences and perspectives reflect the goals of the fund. Committee members bring deep expertise in arts, culture, and community-based work. Learn more about the Committee on our website. 

If my organization is not selected as a finalist, can I request feedback on my application?  

• Due to the high volume of anticipated applications, we will not be able to provide individualized feedback on Round 1 applications. 

What can the grant funds be used for? 

• While funds are granted as unrestricted general operating support, and organizations should feel empowered to direct grant dollars as they see fit, the following expenses are not permitted:  

o Services and/or assistance that require participation in any religious workshop, exercise, or instruction as a condition of receiving assistance, religious workshops, exercise, or instruction.  

o Personal non-business expenses (i.e., home mortgage, personal utilities, and expenses).  

o Any illegal activities.

What reporting or participation requirements come with the grant? 

• Grantees can expect light-touch reporting and participation in cohort learning opportunities. Specific reporting timelines, required materials, and expectations for cohort participation will be shared with finalists.