Blanket Justification for Arts Endowment Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations

National Endowment for the Arts
Notice of Funding Opportunity: FY27 Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)
Program Guidelines
Table of Contents

Click a heading below to jump directly to that section
Grants for Arts Projects ......................................................................................................... 4
Basic Information .............................................................................................................. 4
Executive Summary................................................................................................................. 4
Grants for Arts Projects Program Description ..................................................................... 6
Program Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................ 6
Projects ................................................................................................................................... 6
Artistic Disciplines ................................................................................................................... 6
Choosing the Right Discipline for Educational Projects ...................................................... 8
Challenge America .............................................................................................................. 8
Period of Performance ............................................................................................................ 9
Unallowable Activities/Costs .................................................................................................. 9
Unallowable Activities ........................................................................................................ 9
Certain Unallowable Costs ................................................................................................ 10
Legal Requirements and Assurance of Compliance.............................................................. 11
Nondiscrimination Policies ............................................................................................... 11
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act Section 504 Compliance . 12
National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act Review ........ 12
Subject Matter .................................................................................................................. 12
Authorizing Statute ........................................................................................................... 12
Eligibility.......................................................................................................................... 13
Elementary and Secondary Schools ...................................................................................... 14
Tribes and Tribal Communities ............................................................................................. 14
Subgranting ........................................................................................................................... 14
“Friends of” and Other Affiliated Fundraising Organizations ............................................... 14
Fiscal Sponsorship ................................................................................................................. 15
Cost Sharing Requirement .................................................................................................... 15
National Endowment for the Arts

1|Page

Application Limits.................................................................................................................. 15
Applications to other NEA funding categories: ................................................................ 15
Exception: Parent Organizations with Independent Components (IC) ............................ 16
Award Amounts & Cost Share .......................................................................................... 18
Award Amounts .................................................................................................................... 18
Cost Share Funds................................................................................................................... 18
Application Contents & Format ........................................................................................ 19
Application Instructions & Process ....................................................................................... 19
Applications Recommended for Funding ............................................................................. 19
Submission Requirements & Deadlines ............................................................................ 20
Pre-Application Required Registrations................................................................................ 20
Submission Methods............................................................................................................. 20
Contact Information.............................................................................................................. 20
Application Submission Dates & Times ................................................................................ 20
Extensions to the Submission Deadlines .............................................................................. 21
Incomplete Applications ....................................................................................................... 21
Intergovernmental Review ................................................................................................... 21
Application Review .......................................................................................................... 22
Review Criteria ...................................................................................................................... 22
Review & Selection Process .................................................................................................. 23
Application Status Updates................................................................................................... 23
Award Notices ................................................................................................................. 23
Post-Award Requirements and Administration................................................................. 24
General Terms & Conditions ................................................................................................. 24
Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.................................................. 24
Crediting Requirement...................................................................................................... 24
Changes in Projects ............................................................................................................... 24
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act Section 504 ......................... 25
National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Review 26
Project Reporting and Evaluation ......................................................................................... 26
Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research ................................................. 27
Legal Requirements and Assurance of Compliance.............................................................. 27
National Endowment for the Arts

2|Page

Civil Rights ............................................................................................................................. 28
Laws Relating to Lobbying (31 U.S.C. 1352).......................................................................... 28
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Notice .......................................................................... 29
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement ................................................................................... 29
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................ 30
Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact accessibility@arts.gov to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines at least 2 weeks prior to the application deadline.

National Endowment for the Arts

3|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Basic Information

Grants for Arts Projects
Basic Information
Category
Federal Agency Name
Funding Opportunity Title

Information
National Endowment for the Arts
Grants for Arts Projects

Announcement Type

Modification of previous announcement

Funding Opportunity Number(s)

February: 2026NEA01GAP1
July: 2026NEA01GAP2

Assistance Listing Number(s)
Agency Contact Information

45.024
GAP Contacts Page

Total amt of funding expected to award

Estimated Amount
(Contingent upon availability of funds)
$XX,XXX,XXX

Anticipated number of applications

X,XXX

Anticipated number of awards

X,XXX
Challenge America Applicants: $10,000
Other Applicants: $10,000-$100,000
Local Arts Agencies Subgranting Projects:
$30,000-$150,000

Funding Details

Expected dollar value of awards (range)

Executive Summary
Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides project-based funding for organizations. Funded
activities enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the arts, foster and celebrate
America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, provide opportunities for Americans throughout
the nation to benefit from arts education at all stages of life, and support creative arts therapies
and arts-in-health programs that advance the well-being of people and communities. Awards
require a 1:1 cost share. Applications are evaluated based on the published Review Criteria.
Eligible applicants include: nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or
local government; and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Funding in this
category is not available for individuals, fiscally sponsored entities, commercial/for-profit
enterprises, State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Regional Arts Organizations (RAO).
COMPONENTS OF THIS NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO):
• GAP PROGRAM GUIDELINES (this document): Information including a grant program
description, unallowable activities and costs, eligibility, review criteria, award amount and
cost sharing, and post-award requirements and administration, among others.
• APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Navigate to the Application Instructions section on the GAP
National Endowment for the Arts

4|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Basic Information

webpage for complete information on application requirements and instructions on how
to apply. Select the discipline that is most relevant to your project activities. Each
instructions document also includes a detailed description for the discipline area, and
accepted project types.
KEY DATES:
We estimate that after completing the required registrations, which can take several weeks to
finalize, the process to draft and submit an application will take approximately 24 hours.
Step

February Cycle (GAP1)

July Cycle (GAP2)

Early December 2025

Early December 2025

Early December 2025

Mid-May 2026

February 12, 2026
11:59 pm ET

July 9, 2026
11:59 pm ET

Part 2 NEA Applicant Portal
Opens to applicants

February 18, 2026
9:00 am ET

July 14, 2026
9:00 am ET

Part 2 NEA Applicant Portal
Submission deadline

February 25, 2026
11:59 pm ET

July 21, 2026
11:59 pm ET

Notification of recommended
funding or rejection

November 2026

April 2027

Earliest project start date

January 1, 2027

June 1, 2027

Program Guidelines and Application
Instructions Published
Part 1 Application Package Available
on Grants.gov
Part 1 Grants.gov
Submission deadline

National Endowment for the Arts

5|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

Grants for Arts Projects Program Description
Program Goals and Objectives
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is committed to supporting excellent arts projects
for the benefit of all Americans. Through project-based funding, Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)
supports a range of arts activities to enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the
arts, foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, provide opportunities
for Americans throughout the nation to benefit from arts education at all stages of life, and
support creative arts therapies and arts-in-health programs that advance the well-being of
people and communities.

Projects
We fund arts projects with specific, definable activities. We strongly encourage applications for
arts projects that focus on one or more agency funding priorities. Applications will be assessed
based on the Review Criteria of artistic excellence and artistic merit. However, priority for
funding will be given to those projects that align with the identified agency funding priorities,
though consideration is not limited exclusively to these areas.
Projects may be small, medium, or large, and may take place in any part of the nation’s 50
states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. A project may consist of one or more
specific events or activities; it may be a new initiative or part of your organization’s regular
season or activities. Organizations that undertake a single short-term program in a year may
apply for that event, or may choose to identify certain components of that program as their
project. Organizations may apply for any or all phases of a project, from planning through
implementation. The NEA does not fund general operating support or a full season of
programming; a project should not cover an organization’s entire annual activities or costs.
Projects should have regional, national, or artistic field-wide significance. This includes local
projects that can have significant impact within communities or are likely to demonstrate best
practices for the artistic field.
We welcome applications from first-time and returning applicants; from organizations serving
rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes; and from organizations with a range
of operating budgets.

Artistic Disciplines
Projects are accepted in the areas listed below. Types of projects supported in each discipline
are outlined in the application instructions PDFs found on the GAP webpage. In limited cases,
and in consultation with the applicant, NEA staff may transfer an application to a discipline
other than the one selected by the applicant to ensure appropriate panel review. However, the
NEA cannot guarantee that an application will be transferred in all cases where this might be
desirable.
National Endowment for the Arts

6|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines
Discipline
Arts Education

Challenge America
Dance

Design & Our Town

Folk & Traditional Arts

Literary Arts

Local Arts Agencies

Museums
Music
Opera

Program Description

Summary
Projects for pre-K-12 students, and the educators and artists who
support them (see below for more guidance on selecting the right
discipline for educational projects).
$10,000 awards for projects from small organizations (less than
$250,000 in previous year operating expenses) that extend the
reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities (see below
for more guidance on Challenge America).
Projects in all genres of dance.
Projects including architecture, creative placemaking,
communications and graphic design, fashion design, historic
preservation, industrial and product design, interior design,
landscape architecture, rural design, social impact design, and
urban design.
Projects supporting culturally- or community-centered artistic
traditions in genres including music, dance, crafts, foodways,
dress/adornment, occupation, ceremony, and oral expression,
such as stories, poetry, and language.
Projects supporting publishing, distribution, and/or promotion of
literary content, literary arts programming, and services to the
literary field.
Projects by arts commissions, arts councils, or departments of
cultural affairs; national or statewide service organizations
partnering with local arts agencies; and arts projects by local
government and special districts.
Museums projects supporting work by artists in all mediums and
featuring contemporary and historic genres, styles, eras, and
cultures.
Music and music presentation projects in all genres including
classical, contemporary, and jazz.
Opera and opera presentation projects.

Presenting &
Projects presenting work from multiple disciplines,
Multidisciplinary Works multidisciplinary works, and/or interdisciplinary artists.
Theater & Musical
Theater

Visual & Media Arts

Theater and musical theater projects, including presentation.
Projects in contemporary visual arts mediums such as painting,
photography, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, and
glass. Projects in the independent film and media arts sector for
activities including film, audio, broadcast, and emergent practices
at the intersection of arts and digital technology.

National Endowment for the Arts

7|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

Choosing the Right Discipline for Educational Projects
All GAP disciplines welcome educational projects. The Arts Education discipline is specifically
geared toward pre-K-12 students (Direct Learning), and the educators and artists who support
them (Professional Development). Projects submitted to Arts Education must incorporate
robust measures to assess student and/or teacher learning in arts education. Assessment of
student learning should align with state or national arts standards.
Projects for short-term arts enrichment or exposure to the arts for youth, adults, and
intergenerational audiences are welcome in other disciplines, including Challenge America.
Select the Arts Education discipline for:
•

Pre-K through 12th grade Direct Learning or Professional Development projects that align
with either national or state arts education standards, and include robust student
and/or teacher assessment.

Select one of the other disciplines for:
•

•
•

Youth programs with a focus on exposure to or appreciation of the arts, including
activities that take place in school, after school, during the summer, or in community
settings. Such projects may include the work of professional artists and/or teaching
artists.
Youth programs that do not include robust student assessment.
Programs serving adults and intergenerational groups.

Challenge America
Challenge America supports arts projects from small organizations that extend the reach of the
arts to underserved groups/communities. Challenge America awards are limited to $10,000.
Challenge America is restricted to applications that meet all three of the following criteria*:
• The applicant organization had an operating budget of less than $250,000 in the most
recently completed fiscal year, and
•

The proposed project is specifically focused on activities for underserved
groups/communities (defined as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are
limited relative to geography, ethnicity, economic status, or disability), and

• The requested award amount is $10,000.
Organizations that meet the three criteria above are not required to choose Challenge America.
They may choose one of the other GAP disciplines if that is their preference. Organizations that
do not meet all three of the criteria above should apply to one of the other GAP disciplines.
*Exceptions:
• Local arts agencies (units of city, county, or federally recognized tribal government; nonarts departments of local government; and designated special districts), should apply
through the Local Arts Agencies discipline, regardless of organization size or project focus.
• Arts learning projects that engage participants over an extended period of time to
National Endowment for the Arts

8|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

deepen their learning in the arts, and incorporate robust measures to assess student
and/or teacher learning should be submitted to the Arts Education discipline, regardless
of organization size or project focus.

Period of Performance
NEA support of a project (i.e., “Earliest Start Date”) can begin no sooner than:
• January 1, 2027 (for applicants to the February cycle, GAP1), or
•

June 1, 2027 (for applicants to the July cycle GAP2).

Awards in this program generally may cover a period of performance of up to two years. The
two-year period is intended to allow an applicant time to plan, execute, and close out its
project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year. You are expected to complete your
project during the requested period of performance.
A recipient may not receive more than one NEA award or other federal funding for the same
activities/costs during the same period of performance.

Unallowable Activities/Costs
The activities and costs listed below are not allowable and must not be included as part of your
project activities or budget. This includes activities/costs covered by cost share funds.
Applicants should carefully review the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) for additional
information about allowable and unallowable costs.
Unallowable Activities
•

General operating support, or funding for a full season of programming.

•

Direct grants to individuals.

•

Direct grants to individual elementary or secondary schools - charter, private, or public, or
booster clubs and similar organizations dedicated to supporting individual elementary or
secondary schools.

•

Projects that replace or supplant arts instruction provided by an arts specialist.

•

Generally, courses/coursework in degree-granting institutions.

•

Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers.

•

Generally, publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant
organization's board members, faculty, or trustees.

•

Generally, exhibitions of, and other projects that primarily involve single, individually
owned, private collections.

•

Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the
selection of artists or art works.

•

Activities occurring outside of the U.S. or U.S. jurisdictions.

National Endowment for the Arts

9|Page

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

•

Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities such as
receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and potlucks. Generally, this also
includes activities at venues such as bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption
of alcohol/social activity is the primary purpose of the venue.

•

Non-arts ancillary activities including but not limited to sporting events, non-arts focused
field trips, mental health counseling (excluding certified arts therapy), and non-arts selfcare activities including physical fitness classes, haircare, and skincare.

•

Academic tutors, college admissions test preparation, and college admissions counseling
are unallowable. Activities related to post-secondary arts education admissions such as
portfolio preparation or audition preparation for college/university/conservatory are
allowable.

•

Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement.

•

Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions, food,
T-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.

•

Lobbying, including activities intended to influence the outcome of elections or influence
government officials regarding pending legislation, either directly or through specific
lobbying appeals to the public.

•

Voter registration drives and related activities.

•

Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities or the purchase of land. Design fees,
preparing space for an exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community
planning are allowable.

•

Projects for which the only expenses included in the budget are the purchase or rental of
equipment.

•

Subgranting of regranting, except for local arts agencies that meet the NEA’s eligibility
criteria for subgranting. Local arts agencies may not subgrant NEA funds or cost share
funds to individuals.

Certain Unallowable Costs
•

Cash reserves and endowments.

•

Costs for the creation of new organizations.

•

Costs to bring a project into compliance with federal grant requirements. This includes
environmental or historical assessments or reviews and the hiring of individuals to write
assessments or reviews or to otherwise comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act.

•

Expenditures related to compensation to foreign nationals and/or travel to or from
foreign countries when those expenditures are not in compliance with regulations issued
by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. For further information,
contact our Office of Grants Management.

•

Project costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding
received either directly from a federal agency; or indirectly from a pass-through

National Endowment for the Arts

10 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

organization such as a state arts agency, regional arts organization, or a grant made to
another entity.
•

Alcoholic beverages.

•

Purchase and/or use of gift cards, gift certificates, or other cash equivalents to support
project costs.

•

Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items (e.g., electronic devices, gift
certificates) with monetary value.

•

Stipends/fees to individuals who are incarcerated.

•

Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives.

•

General miscellaneous or contingency costs.

•

Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.

•

Marketing and fundraising expenses not directly related to the project.

•

Audit costs not directly related to a single audit.

•

Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the
applicant organization.

•

The purchase of vehicles.

•

Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.

•

Pursuant to federal law, individuals who are undocumented are not eligible recipients of
NEA funding and cannot be supported by NEA funding or the cost share.

•

Costs incurred outside of the approved period of performance.

Legal Requirements and Assurance of Compliance
The Legal Requirements section on our website provides information about key legal
requirements that may apply to an applicant or recipient. It is not an exhaustive list, more
details may be found in Appendix A of the General Terms and Conditions.
By signing and submitting the application form on Grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it is in
compliance with the statutes outlined in the Assurance of Compliance and all related
NEA regulations as well as all applicable executive orders, and that it will maintain records and
submit the reports that are necessary to determine its compliance. For more information,
review the Assurance of Compliance FAQ.
It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you are compliant with all legal, regulatory,
and policy requirements applicable to your award.
Nondiscrimination Policies
Projects may reach a particular group or demographic (such as sex, disability, economic status,
race, color, or national origin), however, projects may not be exclusionary under Federal civil
rights laws and policies prohibiting discrimination. This nondiscrimination requirement extends
National Endowment for the Arts

11 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Program Description

to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. Your application
should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary. Review the Assurance of
Compliance, which outlines the relevant federal statutes, NEA regulations, and executive
orders.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act Section 504
Compliance
Federal regulations require that all NEA-funded projects be accessible to people with
disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to provide detailed
information describing how the project will be physically and programmatically accessible to
people with disabilities in compliance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. Review the information under Post-Award Requirements and Administration for more
details.
National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act Review
Recommended projects are subject to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance review. See more information about
NHPA/NEPA review under Post-Award Requirements and Administration.
Subject Matter
Per the NEA’s legislation, projects or programs that are determined to be obscene are without
artistic merit and shall not be funded. 20 USC 952(j)-(l); 20 USC 954(d),(l).
Authorizing Statute
The NEA offers this funding opportunity under the authority of 20 U.S.C. § 954.

National Endowment for the Arts

12 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Eligibility

Eligibility
Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local
education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the NEA’s
mission. Organizations must apply directly on their own behalf.
ELIGIBLE

The following are eligible to apply:
• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
• Units of state or local government; and
• Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.
To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
• Meet the NEA’s Legal Requirements including non-profit, tax-exempt status at the time
of application.
• Have an active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM), and have a
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), at the time of application. Applicants must maintain an
active SAM registration until the application process is complete and throughout the life
of an award.
• Had an annual operating budget of $20,000 or more in its most recently completed
fiscal year.
• Have completed a five-year history of arts programming prior to the application
deadline. Applicants will provide examples of previous arts programming in the
application.
o Arts programming may have taken place prior to when the organization
incorporated or received non-profit, tax-exempt status.
o Organizations that previously operated as a program of another institution may
include arts programming it carried out while part of that institution.
o February 2026 applicants: programming must have started in or before February
2021.
o July 2026 applicants: programming must have started in or before July 2021.
o If arts programming was suspended due to the pandemic, you may include examples
that occurred in 2018 or 2019 to meet the five-year requirement.
NOT ELIGIBLE

The following are not eligible to apply:
• Individuals;
• Commercial and for-profit enterprises;
• Applications using a fiscal sponsor/agent; and
• State and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs), and Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs).
SAAs and RAOs may serve as partners in projects; however, they may not receive NEA
funds through GAP.

National Endowment for the Arts

13 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Eligibility

Elementary and Secondary Schools
Individual elementary or secondary schools - charter, private, or public, are not eligible to
apply. Booster clubs and similar organizations dedicated to supporting individual elementary or
secondary schools are not eligible to apply. Schools may participate as partners in an eligible
organization’s project.
Local education agencies (LEAs), school districts, and state and regional education agencies are
eligible to apply. If a single school is also a local education agency, as is the case with some
charter schools, the school may submit documentation that supports its status as a local
education agency.

Tribes and Tribal Communities
Federally recognized tribes and tribal communities may apply. In keeping with federal policies
of Tribal Self Governance and Self-Determination, we may provide support for a project with a
primary audience restricted to enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe.
Native Hawaiian and non-federally recognized tribes may apply if the applicant is a non-profit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for Native Hawaiians and non-federally
recognized tribes and indigenous groups may be supported, but project participation cannot be
restricted to only Native Hawaiians and/or tribal members.

Subgranting
Subgranting or regranting is prohibited, except for local arts agencies that meet the NEA’s
eligibility criteria for subgranting. Designated local arts agencies applying for subgranting must
meet additional eligibility requirements, provide additional documentation in the application,
and follow additional reporting and compliance requirements. Review the Local Arts Agencies
application instructions found on the GAP webpage for more information. Local arts agencies
preparing a subgranting application should contact NEA staff to discuss eligibility and
application requirements.
Subgranting is defined as regranting funds to another organization for activities that are
conducted independently of your organization and for the benefit of the subrecipients’ own
program objectives. A subrecipient is not directly affiliated with your organization.

“Friends of” and Other Affiliated Fundraising Organizations
An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or other) to
an affiliated organization may only apply if the affiliated organization does not submit its own
application. This prohibition applies even if each organization has its own 501(c)(3) status. For
example, the "Friends of ABC Museum" may not apply if the ABC Museum applies.

National Endowment for the Arts

14 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Eligibility

Fiscal Sponsorship
Fiscally sponsored organizations and projects are not eligible for NEA funding. An organization
or individual may not use a fiscal sponsor/agent for the purpose of applying. Unincorporated or
for-profit entities or individuals may not use eligible organizations to apply for grants on their
behalf.
If your organization does not have its own non-profit status, you may participate in a project
submitted by another eligible organization, but you may not submit your own application.
An organization that provides fiscal sponsor/agent services that otherwise meets the eligibility
criteria may apply for its own programs and projects. In this case, the organization must clearly
demonstrate that it is applying only for its own programmatic activities. The NEA may review
your website and other materials in addition to your application to determine the eligibility of
the application.
What is a fiscal sponsor/agent?
A fiscal sponsor/agent is an entity that oversees the fiscal activities of another organization,
company, or group of independent artists or projects. These activities may include
bookkeeping, filing of W2s or 1099s, daily banking, or grant preparation.
An application must demonstrate the active involvement of the applicant organization in the
proposed project activities. This might include:
• Producing or co-producing.
•

Partnering on creative direction or development.

•

Organizing workshops, public showings, or distribution of work.

Cost Sharing Requirement
A 1:1 cost share is required. Additionally, applications that do not include a project budget
meeting the minimum requirements of at least a $10,000 NEA funding request, a $10,000 cost
share, and $20,000 in total project expenses will be deemed ineligible and not be reviewed.

Application Limits
An organization may submit only one application to the FY 2027 GAP program (i.e., one
application per calendar year), with limited exceptions. Applications will not be transferred
between NEA funding categories. Applications to GAP will not be transferred to Research
Awards or vice versa.
Applications to other NEA funding categories:
An organization may apply to the NEA’s Research Awards program in addition to Grants for Arts
Projects. If you submit applications to other funding categories, each request must be for a
distinctly different project (with different activities and costs), or a distinctly different phase
National Endowment for the Arts

15 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Eligibility

of the same project, with a different period of performance and costs. If you have other NEA
awards with activities and/or periods of performance that will overlap with your proposed GAP
project, contact NEA staff for guidance.
Project participants such as individuals (project staff or artists) or partner organizations may
participate in more than one application if there is no overlap in proposed costs or activities.
Exception: Parent Organizations with Independent Components (IC)
Exceptions to the one-application rule are made only for parent organizations that have
separately identifiable and independent components (e.g., a university campus that has a
presenting organization and a radio station).
A parent organization may apply for each eligible component. In addition, a parent organization
may also submit one application on its own behalf for a project that is different from any
project submitted in an application by its independent component(s).
The application for the independent component must be for a project of the component. The
component cannot be used as a passthrough entity for projects from other areas of the parent,
nor can the parent’s own application be a submission to support a second project for the
component.

Independent Component (IC) Eligibility
An eligible IC must be a unit that is both programmatically and administratively distinct from
the parent organization. To qualify it should be equivalent to a stand-alone institution. The
independent status is demonstrated by the component’s:
• Unique mission, separate and distinct from the parent entity;
•

Separate, dedicated staff, with duties specific to the mission of the component;

•

Independent board, mostly consisting of members not associated with the parent entity
(the board should generally function with substantial oversight and management of the
component);

•

Separate budget, maintained by the component; and

•

Five-year history of arts programming undertaken by the component.

A parent organization should consult with NEA staff to verify the eligibility of the component
before preparing an application. An application submitted by a parent organization on behalf
of a component that the NEA determines does not meet the IC eligibility criteria may be
marked ineligible, unless the parent organization has not submitted any other applications in
the same calendar year.
The parent organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants. An affiliated
organization that performs grant administration duties for a parent organization (e.g., a college
foundation that administers grants awarded to a college and its components) may submit
National Endowment for the Arts

16 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Eligibility

applications for components and the parent organization in lieu of such applications being
submitted by the parent. The affiliated organization must meet the eligibility requirements for
all applicants.
The following do not qualify as eligible ICs:
• Academic departments of colleges and universities.
•

Programs, initiatives, and projects of organizations.

•

Collaboratives or consortiums of multiple organizations.

For example:
• Eligible IC: An art museum on a university campus serves the public and does not grant
degrees. The museum board, not the university trustees, manages the museum's budget,
staff, and programming. In this example, the art museum is essentially a stand-alone
organization and qualifies as an independent component.
•

Ineligible IC: A symphony association sponsors a youth orchestra in addition to its
professional orchestra. Some symphony musicians serve as faculty for the youth
orchestra; there is an overlap of membership between the symphony trustees and the
youth orchestra's advisory board; and the executive director for the symphony association
serves as CEO for both the professional and youth orchestras. In this case the youth
orchestra is not equivalent to a separate institution and therefore does not qualify as an
independent component.

National Endowment for the Arts

17 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Award Amounts & Cost Share

Award Amounts & Cost Share
Familiarize yourself with the requirements of managing a federal grant by reviewing the PostAward Requirements and Administration section of this document, as well as the General
Terms and Conditions and reporting requirements found in Manage Your Award.

Award Amounts
•

Challenge America applicants may only request $10,000. Applications submitted to
Challenge America for an amount higher than $10,000 will be marked ineligible.

•

Other GAP applicants may request from $10,000 to $100,000.

•

Eligible applicants for Local Arts Agencies subgranting may request from $30,000 to
$150,000 for subgranting projects.

The NEA reserves the right to limit support of a project to a particular portion(s) or cost(s). No
pre-award costs are allowable in the Project Budget.
Applicants should consider the funding level of recent awards and request a realistic award
amount to carry out the project during the proposed period of performance. Applicants whose
recommended funding amount is less than the amount requested in the application will have
the opportunity to revise the project’s budget and/or scope to reflect any changes to the
project’s activities.

Cost Share Funds
All awards require a nonfederal cost share of at least 1 to 1. For example, if an organization
receives a $10,000 award, the total project costs must be at least $20,000, and the organization
must provide at least $10,000 toward the project costs from nonfederal sources. NEA funding
cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of the project.
Cost share funds do not need to be committed at the time of application, but applicants will be
asked to provide potential sources of funding in the project budget section of the application.
Federal funds may not be used as cost share. This includes funding from other federal agencies,
or an entity that receives federal appropriations or federal pass-through funds. Additionally,
cost share funds cannot include subgranted federal funds through Regional Arts Organizations
(RAO), State Arts Agencies (SAA), or Local Arts Agencies (LAA). Applicants may include costshare funds from RAOs, SAAs, or LAAs only if those funds did not originate at the federal level.
Applicants may contact their RAO, SAA, or LAA to confirm the source of funding.

National Endowment for the Arts

18 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Application Contents & Formatting

Application Contents & Format
Application Instructions & Process
A detailed instructions PDF outlining how to complete and submit both parts of the
application, including all application questions and requirements, can be found on the GAP
webpage, in the Application Instructions section.
Registration: Before applying, applicants must finalize required registrations detailed on the
next page. All three required registrations must be active to submit Part 1 of the application
through Grants.gov.
Application Part 1, Grants.gov
All applicants must submit the “Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organization
Form” through Grants.gov. This is a brief form that will collect basic information about your
organization. You must successfully submit Part 1 to continue to Part 2.
Application Part 2, NEA Applicant Portal
Part 2 of the application is submitted via the NEA’s Applicant Portal. All applicants must
complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” and upload items through the portal. This form
collects information about your organization’s history and budget, and project details including
a project description, timeline, budget information, and work samples.

Applications Recommended for Funding
Applicants whose projects are recommended for funding must submit additional information,
which may include:
• A revised project budget and an activity update, including a list of participating artists and
art works.
o Unconfirmed artists or works at the time of offer acceptance may delay our ability to
make an award, or result in revocation of a funding offer.
o Changes from the original application to artists, works, or activities must be approved
by NEA staff before an award is made. We reserve the right to revoke a funding offer if
the substitutions do not align with the original proposal.
•

ADA and Section 504 Compliance information; and

If required by your project activities, information about compliance with the National
Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act.
See Post-Award Requirements and Administration for more information on ADA/Section 504
and NEPA/NHPA compliance, as well as other information about award management.
•

National Endowment for the Arts

19 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Submission Requirements & Deadlines

Submission Requirements & Deadlines
Pre-Application Required Registrations
Before applying, all applicants must register with Login.gov, Grants.gov, and the System for
Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov. Applicants must provide a valid unique entity
identifier (UEI) in their application; and continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration
with current entity information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration by a Federal agency. All three required registrations
must be active to submit Part 1 of the application through Grants.gov.
Returning applicants must renew or verify that their registrations are up to date prior to the
application deadline.
The Registration Guidance document available on the GAP webpage provides detailed
information about registration, including links to each site, and support resources. Registering
and maintaining accounts with Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov is FREE.

Submission Methods
Application materials must be submitted electronically.

Contact Information
The Contacts page has information for reaching NEA staff, Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov.

Application Submission Dates & Times
Do not wait until the day of the deadline to submit. The NEA suggests setting an internal
application deadline for your organization that is at minimum 24-48 hours before the actual
application deadline. Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Step
Part 1 Application Package available on
Grants.gov
Part 1 Grants.gov
Submission deadline
Part 2 NEA Applicant Portal
Opens to applicants
Part 2 NEA Applicant Portal
Submission deadline
Notification of recommended funding
or rejection

February Cycle (GAP1)

July Cycle (GAP2)

Early December 2025

Mid-May 2026

February 12, 2026
11:59 pm ET
February 18, 2026
9:00 am ET
February 25, 2026
11:59 pm ET

July 9, 2026
11:59 pm ET
July 14, 2026
9:00 am ET
July 21, 2026
11:59 pm ET

November 2026

April 2027

Earliest project start date

January 1, 2027

June 1, 2027

National Endowment for the Arts

20 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Submission Requirements & Deadlines

Extensions to the Submission Deadlines
Extensions to the submission deadlines will be considered only for registration or renewal
issues, or technical malfunctions resulting from government technological systems failures
(Login.gov, SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or NEA systems), as determined by the NEA. To be considered
for this extension, you must provide documentation of a government systems failure that
prevented your submission by the deadline.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane or government systems technological
failure), the NEA Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants. If a deadline is
extended, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Extensions to the deadline will not be considered for reasons such as:
• User error, including but not limited to, failing to register or apply on time, or failure to
verify that your application was successfully submitted to Grants.gov and/or the Applicant
Portal.
•

Problems with computer systems or Internet access at the applicant organization.

Please note:
• Permission for late application submission cannot be granted in advance. If you feel you
have a case for an exception, contact staff as soon as possible after the deadline with
documentation of the issues you encountered. Extensions are not guaranteed.
•

Applications submitted late or outside the Grants.gov system (e.g., an emailed SF-424) will
not be processed, reviewed, or considered for funding.

Incomplete Applications
Due to the volume of applications NEA staff will not contact applicants to request missing
material. For your application to be considered complete, every required item MUST be
included in your application, and submitted on time. An organization cannot add missing items
and resubmit the application after the application deadline.

Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
Executive Order 12372.

National Endowment for the Arts

21 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Application Review & Award Notices

Application Review
All applications will be assessed based on artistic excellence and artistic merit. However,
priority for funding will be given to those projects that align with the identified agency funding
priorities, though consideration is not limited exclusively to those areas.
Proposals must be for arts projects with specific, definable activities. The application may be
rejected if it does not sufficiently describe the project activities.

Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed based on the criteria below, with equal weight assigned to artistic
excellence and artistic merit. While proposals need not address each criterion marked “as
applicable,” applicants may consider all the criteria when developing their proposals.
Artistic Excellence
The artistic excellence of the project includes:
• The quality of the artists and other key individuals, works of art, organizations, arts
education providers, artistic partners, and/or services involved in the project.
Artistic Merit
The artistic merit of the project includes:
• The value and appropriateness of the project to the organization’s mission, artistic field,
artists, audience, community, and/or constituency.
•

The ability to carry out the project based on such factors as the appropriateness of the
budget, clarity of the project activities, resources involved, and the qualifications of the
project's personnel and/or partnerships.

•

The potential for the project to have regional, national, or artistic field-wide significance.
This includes local projects that can have significant impact within communities or are
likely to demonstrate best practices for the artistic field.

•

Clearly defined goals and/or proposed outcomes and an appropriate plan to determine if
those goals and/or outcomes are met.
o This includes, where relevant in arts education, measures to assess student and/or
teacher learning, and alignment with national core or state arts standards.

•

Evidence of direct compensation to artists, makers, art collectives, and/or art workers.

•

As applicable:
o Engagement with individuals whose opportunities to experience and participate in the
arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economic status, or disability.
o Alignment with one or more agency funding priorities.

National Endowment for the Arts

22 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Application Review & Award Notices

Review & Selection Process
Applications are checked for completeness and eligibility by NEA staff. Eligible applications are
evaluated according to the Review Criteria above, in closed session, by advisory panelists. Each
panel comprises a group of arts experts and other individuals, including at least one
knowledgeable layperson, with broad knowledge in the areas under review. Panel membership
changes regularly. The panel recommends the projects to be supported, and the staff reconciles
panel recommendations with the funds that are available. These recommendations are
forwarded to the National Council on the Arts, where they are voted on in an open public
session. The National Council on the Arts makes recommendations to the NEA Chair. The NEA
Chair reviews the recommendations for grants in all funding categories and makes the final
decision on all grant awards.

Application Status Updates
Applicants will receive a tentative funding offer or a notice of rejection via email. Refer to the
Application Calendar for expected notification dates. Do not request the status of your
application before the listed notification date. Applicants tentatively recommended for funding
will receive a preliminary congratulatory message, with a request for required project and
budget updates.

Award Notices
The official award notification (i.e., a notice of action authorized by the NEA Office of Grants
Management) is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. Receipt of your official award
notification may take several months depending on factors such as changes to your project, the
number of awards to be processed, whether the NEA has its funding appropriation from
Congress, etc.
All NEA awards are contingent on active SAM registration and compliance with 2 CFR 200,
NEA’s legislation 20 U.S.C. § 954 and 955, along with other federal statutes, regulations, and
executive orders that apply to federal financial assistance awards and established NEA
policies. The NEA will not be able to issue an award if you have an expired SAM.gov
registration on September 1 of the fiscal year listed on this funding opportunity or if the
project is not compliant with applicable statutes, regulations, or executive orders.
Risk Review
All recommended applications undergo a review to evaluate risk posed by the applicant prior to
making a federal award. This may include past performance on grants, meeting reporting
deadlines, compliance with terms and conditions, audit findings, etc.
Final Reports for Previous Awards
Before the NEA issues any award, organizations must have submitted acceptable Final Report
packages by the due date(s) for all previous NEA award(s).

National Endowment for the Arts

23 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

Post-Award Requirements and Administration
General Terms & Conditions
Federal government-wide and agency-specific requirements that relate to NEA awards are
highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions (GTCs). The GTCs incorporate the adoption of 2
CFR Part 200 by reference. The document also explicitly identifies where the NEA has selected
options offered in the regulation, such as budget waivers and requirements for use of program
income. It also includes requirements for cost share funds, reporting requirements,
amendment processes, and termination actions. Recipients must review, understand, and
comply with these requirements. Failure to comply with the GTCs for an award may result in
termination of an award, and/or returning funds to the NEA, among other consequences.
Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
The guidance under 2 CFR Part 200 from the federal government's Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) establishes clarity and consistency for pre- and post-award requirements
applicable to federal award recipients. The NEA has adopted the OMB Guidance in 2 CFR part
200 under §3255.1 Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200. The NEA’s adoption of 2 CFR Part 200 gives
regulatory effect to the OMB guidance, including any updates to it.
Crediting Requirement
Recipients must clearly acknowledge NEA support of the project in their programs and related
promotional material, including publications and websites. Additional acknowledgment
requirements or guidance may be provided later (e.g., provision of America250-specific NEA
logos). The NEA does not fund general operating support, so you must ensure that the NEA is
only credited with funding the specific project, and not your entire organization or its
operations.

Changes in Projects
Pre-Award: Applicants must notify the NEA of any significant changes in their project that occur
after applying. If the project or the organization's capacity to carry out the project changes
significantly before an award is made, the NEA may revise or withdraw the funding
recommendation.
Post-Award: Recipients are expected to carry out a project consistent with the project approved
for funding by the NEA. If changes to the project are required, the recipient must request
written approval from the Office of Grants Management, which is the only office authorized to
amend or change an NEA award. Written and/or verbal approval of proposed project changes
from any other NEA office does not constitute an approved change to an award. Detailed
information is included in the NEA’s General Terms & Conditions for Federal Financial
Assistance to Organizations and the General Terms & Conditions for Federal Financial
Assistance to Pass-Through Entities (for local arts agencies with subgranting projects.)
National Endowment for the Arts

24 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act Section
504
As outlined in the Assurance of Compliance all NEA-funded projects must be accessible to
people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities may include artists, performers, audiences,
visitors, teaching artists, students, staff, and volunteers, among others. Funded activities must
be held in a physically-accessible venue. Program access and effective communication must
also be provided for participants and audience members with disabilities. For technical
assistance on how to make your project accessible, contact accessibility@arts.gov or see
Accessibility Resources.
In accordance with the General Terms & Conditions, your organization must have a Section 504
self-evaluation on file and a designated 504/accessibility coordinator on staff.
If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to provide detailed information
describing how the project will be physically and programmatically accessible to people with
disabilities:
• Buildings and facilities (including projects held in historic facilities) must be physically
accessible. The following are some examples, though this is not an exhaustive list:
o Ground-level/no-step entry, ramped access, and/or elevators to project facilities and
outdoor spaces, including paths of travel;
o Wheelchair-accessible box office, stage/backstage, restrooms, water fountains,
meeting and dressing rooms;
o Directional signage for accessible entrances, restrooms, and other facilities; and
o Accessible workspaces for employees.
• Programmatic activities must be accessible either as part of the funded activity or upon
request. The following are some examples, but your examples should be relevant to your
proposed activities:
o Accommodations for performances, tours, virtually streamed events, conferences, and
lectures, such as sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, and audio
description;
o Print materials in alternative formats, such as large-print brochures/labels/programs,
braille, and electronic/digital formats;
o Accessible and screen reader-compatible electronic materials, documents, websites,
and virtual platforms, and alternative text for images;
o Closed/open captioning and audio/visual description for video, film, television
broadcasts, and virtual events;
o Auxiliary aids and devices, such as assistive listening devices.
Costs associated with project-related programmatic accommodations, such as those listed
above, may be included in an NEA grant budget. Physical construction or renovation expenses
may not be included in the grant budget.

National Endowment for the Arts

25 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental
Policy Act Review
All awards are subject to review and compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEA will conduct a review of
your project to ensure that it is in compliance with NHPA/NEPA and other Federal
environmental laws. If you are recommended for an award which may have historic
preservation or environmental concerns (NHPA/NEPA), you will be notified and asked to
provide additional information. The NEA cannot release award funds until the NHPA/NEPA
review is complete. Please ensure you submit all of the information requested, as incomplete
information may delay the release of funds.
To expedite the NHPA/NEPA review, be sure to include thorough and complete information for
all project activities and locations. If project activities and locations are not yet finalized, you
must provide the timeline for determining project activities and locations as these details are
required to complete the NHPA/NEPA review.
For projects requiring ground disturbance or impacting properties over 50 years old, you may
be instructed to continue the NHPA review with the appropriate State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO).
Some project types that may require additional information or SHPO review include:
• Projects involving a property over 50 years old. This includes buildings; structures such as
bridges; objects such as sculptures; or a landscape that is historically significant.
•

The installation of temporary or permanent outdoor artworks or structures, such as
sculptures, statues, murals, or permanent signs.

•

Outdoor arts/music festivals or activities requiring ground disturbance.

•

Maintenance or rehabilitation of landscapes and gardens.

•

Design services and planning for projects that may affect historic properties.

Project Reporting and Evaluation
Before applying, carefully review the reporting requirements for the NEA’s Final Reports. If you
have any questions about the NEA’s objectives or the required final reports, contact NEA staff.
All recipients are required at minimum to submit a Final Descriptive Report (FDR), a Federal
Financial Report (FFR), and a Geographic Location of Project Activity Report (GEO) within 120
days of the end of the award’s period of performance. The estimated time burden for
completing final reports is 5 hours. Local Arts Agencies with awards for Subgranting projects are
also required to submit a Subgrants report, with an additional time burden of 4.5 hours.
Recipients of Arts Education Direct Learning awards will be required to describe the methods
used to assess student learning.

National Endowment for the Arts

26 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

You are required to maintain project source documentation, including financial records, for
three years following submission of your final reports.
Beyond the required final reports for all recipients, some recipients may be asked to assist in
the collection of additional information to help the NEA determine the degree to which agency
objectives were achieved. You may be asked to share project accomplishments such as work
samples, community action plans, cultural asset studies, programs, reviews, relevant news
clippings, and playbills.

Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research
NEA grant recipients should comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the
responsible conduct of research in the United States.
NEA PROGRAM EVALUATION ETHICS REVIEW: In limited cases, the NEA may conduct a review
of your project prior to making an award if your project activities include formal program
evaluation, research that involves directly collecting personal information from program
participants, and/or activities involving vulnerable populations. Examples include activities that
require program participants to provide sensitive and/or confidential information about
themselves, and/or that involve systematic studies to assess a program’s benefits for
participants.
INFORMAL PROGRAM EVALUATION AND DATA COLLECTION FOR FINAL REPORTING: Many
NEA-funded projects include informal evaluation, such as conducting anonymized surveys of
program participants about their satisfaction with a program, or basic field observations of
program participants such as counting the number of audience members or tickets sold. These
types of activities are typically exempt from a program evaluation ethics review. Data
collection activities related to completion of the Final Descriptive Report (FDR) are exempt from
a program evaluation ethics review.
Questions: Contact our Office of Research and Analysis (ORA). ORA has compiled Resources on
Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement to help applicants and awardees document
the effectiveness and impact of their arts programs.

Legal Requirements and Assurance of Compliance
The Legal Requirements section on our website provides information about key legal
requirements that may apply to an applicant or recipient. It is not an exhaustive list; more
details may be found in Appendix A of the General Terms & Conditions.
By signing and submitting the application form on Grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it is in
compliance with the statutes outlined in the Assurance of Compliance and all related National
Endowment for the Arts regulations as well as all applicable executive orders, and that it will

National Endowment for the Arts

27 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to determine its compliance. For
more information, review the Assurance of Compliance FAQ.
It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you are compliant with all legal, regulatory,
and policy requirements applicable to your award.

Civil Rights
Projects may reach a particular group or demographic (such as sex, disability, economic status,
race, color, or national origin); however, projects may not be exclusionary under Federal civil
rights laws and policies prohibiting discrimination. This nondiscrimination requirement extends
to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. Your application
should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary. Review the Assurance of
Compliance, which outlines the relevant federal statutes, NEA regulations, and executive
orders.
The NEA’s Office of Civil Rights investigates complaints about compliance with accessibility
standards as well as other federal civil rights statutes. For further information and copies of the
nondiscrimination regulations identified above, contact civilrights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.

Laws Relating to Lobbying (31 U.S.C. 1352)
For organizations applying for more than $100,000 (31 U.S.C. 1352).
The applicant certifies that:
a) It has not and will not use federal appropriated funds or cost share/matching funds to pay
any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any
agency, a member of a National Endowment for the Arts advisory panel or the National
Council on the Arts, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an
employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of or modification to
any federal grant or contract.
b) If it has used or will use any funds other than federal appropriated funds to pay any
person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the individuals specified above,
the applicant:
i) Is not required to disclose that activity if that person is regularly employed by the
applicant. (Regularly employed means working for at least 130 days within the year
immediately preceding the submission of this application.)
ii) Will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities," if
that person is not regularly employed by the applicant.
iii) Will require that the language of this certification be included in the award
documents for all subawards of more than $100,000 and that all subrecipients shall
certify and disclose accordingly.

National Endowment for the Arts

28 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

Post Award Requirements and Administration

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Notice
Disclosure Notice: Where required or permitted by law, the National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA) may share with the public or other third parties a copy of applicants’ awarded
applications and/or related materials submitted to the NEA.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 24
hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the
guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are
not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
ALN 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

National Endowment for the Arts

29 | P a g e

GAP FY27 Program Guidelines

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
Can my partner organizations also apply for NEA funds to support our collaborative work?
Yes, but there can be no overlapping project costs or activities between the applications. For
example, if you are a dance company applying for the development of a new work, and a
presenting organization is also applying for the presentation of the new work, you must keep
costs separate. If the presenter includes your artist fees as an expense in their budget, you
cannot use that as income in your own budget. Communicate closely with your partners to be
sure that you are clear on the division of costs and activity between the applications.
My organization has applied to Artist Communities in the past, are we still able to apply?
Yes, we welcome projects for artist residencies where the primary activity is the creation or
development of new work. Choose the discipline that best aligns with your project activities, for
example, if the residency is for artists working in the field of music, you should apply under the
Music discipline. Residencies may include various forms of support for artists, including but not
limited to stipends, temporary living accommodations, access to rehearsal space, studio space,
and technical facilities.
Does my project have to be outside the scope of my regular programming?
No. A project can be a part of an applicant's regular season or activity.
Can I apply for more NEA funding for a project supported by an earlier grant?
Yes. If you have previously received a grant to support an earlier phase of a project, you may reapply to the NEA for additional funding to support a later phase. However, each application
must clearly describe the specific phase of work to be supported, and there can be NO
overlapping project costs or activity between the awards.
Can my project start before the "Earliest Start Date" for my deadline?
No. Proposed project activities for which you are requesting support cannot take place before
this date. You may only request that the NEA fund the portion of your project that will take
place after the "Earliest Start Date."
May I apply for another project if I have an open award?
Generally, an organization may apply to the NEA for another project (with totally different
project costs) the following year even if a previous NEA-supported project is still underway. You
are responsible for ensuring that there are no overlapping costs or activities between the
projects. Note that this may affect when you can start your new proposed project.
How many work samples do I need to submit? Should I submit every kind listed?
Submit as few work samples as you need to adequately convey the artistic excellence and
artistic merit of your proposed project. Review time is limited, and submitting the maximum
allowable number of work samples will not give your application an advantage. Do not submit
extra items that are not relevant to your project.
National Endowment for the Arts

30 | P a g e