Grantmaking                                          

Cultural Enrichment Grants

Bravo utilizes an annual competitive grant program to provide financial support for the administration, operations and programs of local 501(c)(3) organizations and/or government agencies. 

Guidelines and Priorities

Bravo provides one-year general, unrestricted support for administration, operations and programs of arts, science and history organizations.

Its priority is to promote the effectiveness, sustainability and long-term viability of arts and cultural organizations and/or provide to the arts for new and underserved audiences.

Bravo is committed to strengthening the Greater Des Moines arts and culture community as a key element of a world-class quality of life.

Grants are made only to charitable organizations or causes with 501(c)(3) status, or to agencies of local government.

Geographically, funding is limited to projects that will significantly enrich the quality of life in Greater Des Moines.

Funding will be most favorably considered for those organizations committed to meeting the Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence identified by the Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center http://inrc.continuetolearn.edu. 
 

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements prior to submitting a Bravo Cultural Enrichment Grant Application:

• Grants are made only to charitable organizations or causes with 501(c)(3) status or to agencies of local government;
• Applicant must provide, as a primary purpose, for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement or preservation of art, science, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural history;
• Applicant must have a principal office and conduct the majority of its activities within the Greater Des Moines region;
• Applicant must principally benefit the residents of the region.

Bravo WILL CONSIDER grant applications for organizations that:

• Demonstrate a significant community impact, are broad and wide-reaching in nature and are inclusive of the entire Greater Des Moines community.
• Include evidence of a strong statement of need and broad-ranging community support and endorsement, demonstrated by a broad donor base and community buy-in.
• Show evidence of long-term community planning and an organizational strategic plan.
• Include a well-developed plan for evaluating success.
• Have an achievable plan to sustain the operations well beyond the grant period.
• Recognize and celebrate our community’s diversity, and provide access for underserved populations.  Show planning for outreach and accessibility to underserved populations.
• Demonstrate evidence of sufficient planning and organizational capacity to suggest a good probability of success.
• Show strong probability for leveraged funding from other sources.  

Bravo WILL NOT CONSIDER:

• Grants to individuals.
• Organizations not serving residents of Greater Des Moines.

Grant Cycle Timeline

Potential grantees must complete and submit the full application by Noon, Monday, June 2.  Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.  Please note, this is a competitive grant process and not all applicants will receive funding.  Allocations will be approved by June 30. 

 
Please click on the following links to download the Bravo Cultural Enrichment Grant: