Eligible organizations for the Creative Sector Flex Fund will:

• Be a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, or a unit of local government (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and municipal authorities). Pre-K -12 public, private and parochial schools including all charter schools are NOT eligible. (K-12 schools should contact the Arts in Education Program of Pennsylvania Creative Industries for other opportunities).

• Be located in Pennsylvania, except for non-profit, tax-exempt corporations acting as a fiscal sponsor on behalf of an unincorporated group or not-for-profit limited liability company (LLC) that is located in Pennsylvania.

• Be registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations, except for local governments and fiscal sponsors.

• Have a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania.

• Have an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to $200,000. PPA Partners determine revenue size by a two-year average demonstrated by:
o Arts organization: most recent form 990 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
o Arts program of non-arts organization or whose 990 is a postcard: applicant’s board/committee approved, arts-specific program financial statement from the most recently completed two fiscal years.
o The program financial statement must detail program revenue, including contributed and earned income and income realized from investments, as applicable, and expenses. In-kind is not included.

Unincorporated groups or Pennsylvania not-for-profit limited liability companies (LLCs) must apply through a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that acts as a fiscal sponsor. Individuals and LLCs with fewer than two organizers/members are not eligible to apply.

Grant funds cannot be used for any of the following:

Activities outside the activity period of the grant.
• Activities that have a religious purpose.
• Payments to lobbyists.
• Cash prizes and awards.
• Benefit activities.
• Hospitality expenses (i.e., receptions, parties, gallery openings).
• Capital expenditures, including equipment costing $500 or more.
• Competitions.
• Performances and exhibitions not available to the public.
• Direct or indirect participation in a political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
• Attempts to influence legislation.

PPA Partner advisory panels will evaluate applications based on:

Community Value
What are you doing as an organization that provides value to your community?
Applicant demonstrates:
• Artistic offerings and/or services that strengthen its community culturally, educationally, and/or
economically.
• Artists and artistic offerings and/ or services involve and are meaningful to the community being
served.
• Relevant arts learning opportunities and creative endeavors for community members.

Participation and Engagement Value
Based upon your value above, how are you engaging your audiences to increase participation?
Applicant demonstrates:
• Apart from being audience members or beneficiaries, community members are central to the
design of the applicant’s work.
• Plans and action-oriented practices toward increasing community participation in artistic
offerings, including efforts to reach new audiences.

Stewardship Value
How does your organization appropriately manage activities and funds?
Applicant demonstrates:
• Planning processes appropriate to its organization, mission, and goals.
• Capacity to carry out programs and projects as planned.
• Appropriate financial planning and oversight practices.

Matching Requirements

• All grants must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis in cash.
• Match can be raised after a Flex Fund grant is awarded.
• In-kind goods and services may not be used to match PCA funds.
• Creative Sector Flex Funding grant funds cannot be used to match other PCA grants.

Award Acknowledgment Guidelines

-Tagging the Cultural Alliance of York County and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in social media posts about the opportunity for which funds were granted
-Usage of the Cultural Alliance and PCA logo on printed promotional materials
-Usage of the Cultural Alliance logo on digital platforms including websites
-Announcement of the grant receipt before or after performances relevant to the opportunity
-Any creative way the artist may be able to include a brief message about the Cultural Alliance

Find the PA Council on the Arts Acknowledgement Guidelines here.

Additional Questions?

Email Rita at rita@culturalyork.org

Unincorporated groups and Pennsylvania not-for-profit LLCs with more than two members conducting arts activities in Pennsylvania for an expressly not-for-profit purpose must apply to the PPA Partner through a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that serves as a fiscal sponsor. LLCs applying through a fiscal sponsor must meet the same requirements as other applicants, except for tax-exempt status.

If an LLC has a purpose that is not-for-profit, its purpose must be stated in its certificate of organization filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, a copy of which must be included in the application materials. Groups applying through a fiscal sponsor must meet the same requirements as other applicants, except for tax-exempt status and being registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations.

The fiscal sponsor is responsible for the administration of the grant award agreement (contract), including all reporting requirements, has discretion and control over the grant funds, and may charge a reasonable fee for its services. The fiscal sponsor receives the grant payment directly from the PPA Partner and is responsible for ensuring the completion of the final reports.
Fiscally sponsored groups must have a fully executed, active agreement with the fiscal sponsor, a copy of which must be submitted with the application materials.