The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) have announced the NYSCA Reserve Fund Grants. The grants are being offered to help New York State-based nonprofit arts organizations who have received funding from NYSCA in the last three years with operating budgets of less than $3 million to establish a reserve fund or build on an existing reserve fund.
Created to address the needs and concerns of nonprofits across New York State, NYSCA will be funding grants from $10,000 to $75,000 for a total of $1,760,000 in support.
The new fund comes as New York State museums, libraries and other cultural nonprofits have come under attack by the Trump regime.
A key factor in strategic planning and capacity building, reserve funds can help an organization weather new challenges, cover unexpected expenses, and strengthen balance sheets to leverage new funders.
Organizations that choose to use grant funds to start a reserve fund and do not already have one at the time of applying will be prioritized. Rural, Black, Indigenous and other people of color-led, and community-based organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.
Grant amounts will be determined by the organization’s overall operating budget. Organizations that are fiscally sponsored by another 501(c)(3) are ineligible for this opportunity.
In addition to providing support through direct funds, the NYSCA RFG will offer one year of supplementary services focused on organizational sustainability and financial prudence. Each recipient will receive:
- One virtual workshop dedicated to organizational reserve funding and strategies to support long-term sustainability
- One hour long one-on-one consulting session
- Monthly office hours to field pressing questions in a communal setting
For those interested in applying, the NYFA Grants team will host virtual information sessions designed to help artists understand if they are eligible and how to build a strong application.
The first session will take place on Wednesday, April 30 at 2:00 PM ET and will focus on a general application and guidelines overview. Register here.
The second session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 2:00 PM ET and will dive deeper into the importance of building reserve funds. All info sessions are held virtually over Zoom, are free to attend, and are presented in English. Register here.
Applications will open on Tuesday, April 22 at 10 am ET and close on Tuesday, June 17 at 5 pm ET and will be available at the NYFA website.
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