Accessibility Grant

All applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning the online application.

• FY25 Accessibility Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions

Application Method

Grant applications are submitted online through the NDCA online grant system.

To apply online, go to grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ndca

Tutorials

The tutorials below guide new users through the online registration process and illustrate how to apply and use the system.

• Video Tutorial 1: Site Access & Account Creation (3 minutes)
• Video Tutorial 2: Applying for Funding (5 minutes)
• Video Tutorial 3: Your Applicant Dashboard (3 minutes)

Program Overview

Accessibility Grants provide up to $2,000 for arts and non-arts organizations and unincorporated groups to make arts programs and/or facilities more accessible.

Program Goal

• To encourage groups to enhance accessibility of arts programming and/or facilities to be more inclusive of all audiences and artists. Organizations led by persons with disabilities or programming that includes paid opportunities for disabled artists will be prioritized.

Program Deadlines

Incomplete or late applications are not accepted.

Grant Award Amount

• Minimum award request: $500
• Maximum award request: May not exceed $2,000
• No matching funds required

Eligibility

• North Dakota state tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization
• Federally tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization
• Federally tax-exempt non-arts organizations and community education units - Arts budgets must be isolated from the larger entity’s budget.
• Public entity such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government
• An affiliate arts-presenting or arts-producing organization - A distinct program or division hosted within an in-state 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution or public institution (such as an arts division of a city or tribal government, a public or nonprofit college or university, or a community service nonprofit organization) that provides arts programming or services for the general public. Arts budgets must be isolated from the larger entity’s budget.
• Fiscally sponsored groups with arts projects must be comprised of at least three (3) people and have an advisory committee of at least three (3) people who are responsible for the oversight of project and grant funds. Fiscal sponsors must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, unit of state or local government, or federally recognized tribal community or tribe. For more information: arts.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/grants/FiscalSponsorshipNDCA.pdf

All Applicants Must:

• Be physically located in North Dakota
• Have the majority of arts programming, services, or activities take place in North Dakota
• Primarily serve and engage North Dakota audiences and participants

This Program Funds:

Accessibility Grant projects may include but are not limited to the following:

     Program Accessibility:

• Usage of large print or braille program materials for patrons/audiences with low vision
• Artist or consultant fees to provide accessibility training or audits
• Transportation of constituents or performers with disabilities
• Preparation for special exhibitions (e.g., space modifications or accessibility audit)
• Audio description
• Sign language interpretation
• Website accessibility
• Docent training for visual or audio enhancement
• Consultant fee to develop an overall accessibility plan for the organization
• Inclusive programming
• Staff training to learn about accessibility as it relates to programming, operations, or facilities modifications (e.g., travel to a workshop or training)
• Other accommodations that make art programs more accessible

     Facility Enhancement:

• Accessibility signage for exterior and/or interior space
• Modification of restroom signage
• Modification to drinking fountain signage
• Installation of Braille plaques

This Program Does NOT Fund:

• Activities or programs where teaching and/or learning is the outcome
• Activities or programs that take place as part of the K-16 school day curriculum and activities in public, private, alternative, charter, and home schools. This includes costs to subsidize school participation (tickets, bussing, etc.)

Ineligible Applications and Expenses:

• Projects completed in previous fiscal years
• Payment of project costs incurred before the project start date
• Debt reduction or elimination
• Replenishing depleted reserve and/or endowment funds
• Starting, matching, adding to, or completing any type of capital campaign or capital expenditures
• Capital costs, such as improvements, construction, property, equipment costing over $5,000
• Permanent acquisitions
• Fundraising events and activities
• Prizes, awards, or benefits
• Entertainment functions, including food, beverages, alcohol, and associated costs
• Sales inventory and related fees/taxes
• Fellowships, scholarships, or tuition fees 
• Projects that are part of a required course or curriculum 
• Travel and projects that take place outside the geographic boundaries of North Dakota
• Projects that are not open to the general public
• Projects involving the arts as therapy unless artists are employed as art therapists
• Projects that violate any federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, or policies
• Projects that support activities that are essentially for the religious socialization of the participants or audience or discriminate against people or groups
• Projects that attempt to influence any state or federal legislation or appropriation
• Projects that are managed by another entity other than the applicant
• Applications that are not complete and received by 11:59 pm CST on the application deadline
• Applications that use NEA or other federal funds and/or NDCA funds toward the match
• Applicant is not in compliance with any active grant agreement with NDCA

Application Review Process

1. After Submission: Applications are reviewed by staff for eligibility and completeness.

2. Panels: Panelists are selected annually. For more information, visit: arts.nd.gov/get-involved/become-panelist. Online meetings are open to the public. Anyone may attend and listen to the discussion but may not present or participate. See arts.nd.gov/news/ndca-meetings for meeting dates.

3. Review Criteria: The panel evaluates each application and makes funding recommendations to NDCA’s Board based on how well the applicant addresses specific review criteria. Panelists individually score complete applications. Those scores are averaged to arrive at the final score.

4. Panel Score: To be recommended for an award, an applicant must receive an average total score of a minimum average total score of 60% out of 100%. Panelists individually score complete applications. Those scores are averaged to arrive at the final score. Proposals will be evaluated on how the applicant addresses the four (4) review criteria, with total possible points of 20, or 100%.

5. Board Approval: NDCA’s Board of Directors has final authority to approve grants.

If Funded

Notification

• Communication regarding the grant award is via email.

Payment

• Request for Funds Form and Timing: Community Arts Access grantees are required to submit a Request for Funds to receive payment of grant funds awarded. After submission, allow up to four (4) weeks for payment.
• Disbursement Amounts:

1. Requests can be made up to 80% of the total grant award upon signing the grant agreement. The remaining 20% can be requested after the completion of the online final report.
2. Or grantees can request the total amount of the grant award after the completion of the online final report.

• Return of Funds: Grantees are required to spend the entirety of the NDCA grant award. In cases where a match was required, groups are required to raise and spend the match requirement as well as the grant award. The final report must show expenses at or greater than the budgeted amount or funds will need to be returned.

Reporting

• Change Reports: Any project changes to the activities, timeline, or budget need to be approved in writing by the program officer. Note that not all project changes can be approved.
• Final Reports: An online final report is due 30 days after the project end date that was entered at the time of application or by July 15, 2025, whichever comes first. Overdue final reports will affect future eligibility to apply for and/or receive NDCA funding.

Recognition

• Grantees are required to acknowledge NDCA support by using the NDCA logo and credit line on all promotional materials of the funded activity.

Application Instructions

How to Apply

Grant applications are submitted online through the NDCA online grant system.

1. To apply, go to grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ndca.
2. Register or log into account.
3. Tutorials: Video and downloadable PDF tutorials are available when creating an account that guide new users through the registration and application process.
4. Click “Apply” at the top navigation of the website.
5. Click the “Apply” button next to "Accessibility Grant FY25 Application.”

Application Support

First-time applicants are encouraged to contact the program officer if they have questions while preparing the application. The program officer can assist with eligibility questions and project idea development and goals. Please note the draft review deadline.

Draft Review Option

The program officer can review your application before the application deadline. Email the program officer by the Draft Review Deadline, indicating that you would like a draft review.

Online Application Tips

• You can type responses to application questions into text boxes or you can work in another document and paste the answers in. The online grant system automatically saves your work. There is also a “Save Application” button at the bottom of the application form.
• Rich text formatting is limited in narrative questions. You may use bullets, numbers, bolding, italicizing, and underlining. Text boxes with character length limits include letters, numbers, spaces, and paragraph breaks.
• Links are only allowed in the work sample section. Links provided in any other sections will not be reviewed.
• Confirmation emails are sent automatically to the applicant after the application is successfully submitted. If you do not receive a confirmation email, contact the program officer.

Applicant Information

SAM Unique Entity ID (Required)

For organizational applicants, provide a System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. Applicants can attain a SAM UEI without having to complete a full entity registration.

1. To apply, click here sam.gov.
2. You will need the organization’s legal name and address.

Organization Mission Statement (Required) (750 maximum characters)

Provide the applicant’s board-approved mission statement. Do not include additional information such as vision or values statements. For fiscally sponsored groups who do not have a mission statement, include a one-sentence description of your focus as a group.

Organization/Group History (Required) (1,500 maximum characters)

This section helps introduce your group to panelists who may not be familiar with who you are.

• Provide a brief general history of the applicant. Summarize why and how the group formed and what it does.
• Give a brief description of the group’s structure.
• What kinds of events or programming has the organization provided? Briefly describe activities over the past few years, highlighting accessibility efforts.

NEA Questions (Required)

NDCA collects this information for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fiscal Sponsorship

Applicants who are required to apply with a fiscal sponsor must provide:

1. A fiscal sponsor agreement (Required, upload a PDF) that includes:

• A description of responsibilities for both applicant and fiscal sponsor in carrying out the project
• An indication of fiscal sponsor administrative fees, if any, charged to the applicant
• Signatures of both the fiscal sponsor and applicant

1. The fiscal sponsor’s IRS 501(c)(3) letter of determination or tax-exempt certificate for a public entity. (Required, upload a PDF)
2. Fiscal Sponsor Legal Name and Contact Information (Required)
3. Fiscal Sponsor SAM Unique Entity ID (Required)
4. Fiscal Sponsor Federal EIN/TIN Number (Required)
5. Fiscal Sponsor Status (Required)

Select the category from the dropdown menu that best describes the fiscal sponsor’s tax status.

Outcomes

This section addresses how the applicant’s outcomes match the program outcomes and how these can be effectively evaluated.

Project Outcomes (Required) (150 maximum characters)

In one or two sentences, state two (2) distinct and measurable project outcomes. The project outcomes must support the following program outcomes:

• Grantees change, expand, or enrich the ways they connect to disabled communities.
• North Dakota organizations develop or expand their arts programming to offer more accessible experiences to a wider variety of disabled constituents.
• Disabled North Dakotans participate in meaningful arts experiences that are not routinely available to them.
• North Dakota organizations build meaningful relationships with disabled artists and audiences.

How will the outcomes be evaluated? (Required) (150 maximum characters)

For each project outcome, select a program outcome that the activities will achieve. (Required)

From the menu, choose a program outcome.

Narrative

Proposals will be evaluated based on how the applicant addressees the four (4) review criteria, with total possible points of 20, or 100%.

Project Title (Required) (75 maximum characters)

Provide a short title describing the project.

Project Start Date (Required) The earliest date that can be entered is 7/1/2024. The project start date must include all publicized marketing efforts that include the NDCA logo and credit line.

Project End Date (Required) The latest date that can be entered is 6/30/2025.

Review Criteria

Arts Activity (0-5 points) (1,500 maximum characters)

1. The description of the activity is clear. Project collaborators are making a commitment of resources.

• Describe the activity (what, when, where, how).
• If applicable, provide a list of key activity partners, including volunteers. Describe how partners will leverage their resources to demonstrate their support for the project, including in-kind goods and/or services.

2. If artists and/or artist groups were selected for the activity, there is a clear description of how and why the artists were selected or the selection process is clearly defined and achievable.

Community (0-5 points) (2,000 maximum characters)

1. There is evidence that the activity will benefit the community(ies) identified.

• Describe the community(ies) and audience(s) that will benefit from the activity. Examples might include hearing impaired, visually impaired, physically impaired, cognitive/learning impaired, etc..
• How will the activity relate to and benefit the community(ies) and audience(s) identified?

2. There is evidence to support the need for this project.

• Why did your organization decide to undertake this project? (e.g., request for accommodations, issue identified after 504 Self-Evaluation, customer surveys, etc.)
• How has the community(ies) shown support for the activity? (e.g., publicity, financial contributions, volunteer time, in-kind donations, programming support and/or involvement)

3. Other accessibility needs of participants and/or audiences with disabilities are understood and addressed.

• Every grantee commits to hold all funded activities in spaces that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements. How does the activity meet this requirement and ensure people with disabilities can participate? Examples might include ADA accessible venue, ASL interpretation, audio described performance, large print programs, sensory tours, etc.
• How will accessibility options be publicized and made available to the public? Who is responsible for handling inquiries concerning accessibility?

Ability (0-5 points) (2,000 maximum characters)

1. There is an achievable activity plan and timeline for the activity.

• What is the timeline for major activities related to the project?
• Who is responsible and what will they do to ensure the project is successful?

2. A marketing and promotional plan is provided and relevant to the activity and community(ies) identified.

• Describe how the activity will be promoted to increase public awareness and participation for the project. How is the plan relevant to the activity and community(ies) identified?

3. The budget is appropriate for the activity. It will a) demonstrate attainable earned revenue including the match, b) demonstrate reasonable costs, c) compensate artists and arts organizations appropriately, and d) include only administrative expenses relevant and necessary for the project.

• If fees are associated with the activity, what considerations are being made for those who may find these costs a barrier? Examples might include ticket discounts, scholarships, or transportation reimbursements.

Evaluation (0-5 points) (1,000 maximum characters)

1. The applicant has identified two (2) effective project outcomes that clearly support NDCA program outcomes.

2. The evaluation plan is appropriate for project outcomes.

• Describe the evaluation plan in detail. What methods will be used and how will those methods measure progress? Examples might include audience/participant counts, audience/participant and artist surveys, post-performance feedback, etc. If using a survey, describe what type of survey you will use.

Budget Form and Instructions

Download the budget form. Complete and upload to the online application.

• AG FY25 Budget and Instructions

Board List or Advisory Committee (Required)

A Board of Directors OR advisory committee is required, encompassing three (3) individuals at a minimum. Provide a list that includes the information below. (upload a PDF)

• Board member name
• Board position
• Primary professional/community affiliation
• Professional title
• City and state of residence
• For fiscally sponsored groups only, provide one (1) additional page of additional background information for each advisory committee member.

Project Personnel Resume(s) (Required)

Provide a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of two (2) resumes of key administrative leadership or personnel who are responsible for the proposed project program, and administration of grant funds. Include name, title, years of service, short biography, and resume. (upload a PDF)

Determination Letter (Required)

Provide a Federal IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, North Dakota certification of nonprofit incorporation, or tax-exempt certificate letter for public entity. (upload a PDF)