ARTS & CULTURAL NONPROFITS
Please note that the inclusion of these links and sources does not constitute an endorsement by the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District. (updated November 2023)
RECENT UPDATES
- Music District is offering music workshops – CRASH COURSE is a new, weekly workshop series dedicated to equipping Music District Members & musicians with vital knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the music world. These workshops are drop-in style and introductory in nature, no prior knowledge or pre-recs are necessary. Crash Course is facilitated by Music District staff with expertise in the area & featured industry pros.
- The Multicultural Business & Entrepreneurship Center is now offering business services to the community and has $30K at its disposal to help businesses with technical assistance. (Average is a $1,500 individual grant).
- Bookkeeping Help Center – In collaboration with the Larimer Small Business Development Center and local professional bookkeepers and accountants, the Bookkeeping Help Center is operated as a project for the bookkeeping students at Front Range Community College. It provides free bookkeeping services to clients and real-world experience to students under the supervision of professional bookkeepers and accountants. All services provided to clients are free. Contact Erika Limbacher to participate.
- Apply for a Special Event Grant Special Event Grant (January 3 Deadline) is now officially open for applications!
- The Business Foundations Technical Assistance program provides technical assistance and small grants to Colorado small businesses to help businesses legally establish themselves. The program includes 3 required training paths for businesses to complete and receive a certification. Once completed, businesses may be eligible to apply for small grants of up to $1,200.
LOCAL RESOURCES & GRANTS
- LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:
- Larimer SBDC – Free one on one professional business consulting, special creative industry professionals, workshops and online classes, business resources and tools
- ForFortCollins.com – website designed for businesses and citizens with ways to promote shopping locally with marketing asset generator, connections and resources
- FUNDING:
- Community Event Fund – Bohemian Foundation (rolling deadline)
- The Bohemian Fund – Bohemian Foundation grant making program (This replaces Bohemian’s Pharos and Muse grants)
- NoCo Music Event Fund – Apply for a grant for your event through Bohemian Foundation
- Larimer Small Business Development Center can help you with alternative funding, preparing for bank loans or building a fundraising plan.
- Overdue on your utilities bills due to COVID? Fort Collins Utilities if offering pandemic relief for utilities bills both residential and commercial.
- TOOLS, SUPPLIES & NETWORKING:
- Tax Guide for Artists! The Larimer Small Business Development Center has a helpful tool for artists and their taxes.
- CREATIVE TOOLS AND TIPS – Watch video tutorials about e-commerce, online marketing, video production from home and much more!
- Fort Collins Nonprofit Networking Facebook Group sharing best practices, tips and place to ask questions
- Resources for arts equity, artists advocacy, inclusion for underrepresented groups, tools for tough discussions –– See this resource sheet from our Creative After Hours in conjunction with Larimer SBDC and Full Expression!
- Host a CSU Student with a Micro-Internship! For short-term projects that are paid (Form 1099) and can be completed by a college student with minimal instruction. Connect with CSU students.
STATE RESOURCES & GRANTS
- COLORADO BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:
- Colorado Creative Industries has arts grants, programs, the latest statewide resources and ways people can support the arts
- CBCA: Colorado Business Committee for the Arts has many resources for artists, arts nonprofits, as well as, the business community in general
- Colorado Nonprofit Association Updates & Resources
- FUNDING:
- Take Note Colorado, a responsive, competitive opportunity for individuals and organizations statewide to offer highly inclusive, culturally relevant and student-centered music instruction. Apply for up to $10,000
- Art-Train brings together artists and creatives with municipalities, agencies, and organizations to create culture-based collaborations.
- Colorado’s CLIMBER small business loan fund! Below market rate loans with favorable terms for small businesses with 5-99 employees. CLIMBER loans are available to non-profit businesses along with for-profit and sole proprietorships.
- Alternative Colorado lenders: Accion and Colorado Lending Source, Colorado Microloans, Kiva Loans, and Colorado Credit Reserve are for people who are underserved by traditional debt markets
- Community Resource Center: Colorado Grants Guide with non profit training, funding options and more
- TOOLS & SERVICES:
- CAM Creative Corps – helps non-profit arts and cultural organizations pivot to online programming and remote learning opportunities, students to help you get up to speed on social media and technology!
- The Colorado Nonprofit Association offers educational opportunities for nonprofit professionals virtually via Zoom. Each session will be 90 minutes or less and will be no cost to participants. See their event calendar for online learning and virtual connectedness
NATIONAL RESOURCES & GRANTS
- NATIONAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:
- Americans for the Arts has a list of national resources and updates
- The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative – Lots of resources for museums, libraries, artists, non profits and historic properties
- FREE Candid (a resource offered by the Poudre River Public Library District) is here to help, with a library of free on-demand resources, including: a library of more than 260 titles available as e-books and audiobooks, Knowledge Base Articles, answering nonprofit professionals’ FAQs, and more than 150 free videos, many of which qualify for CFRE credits.
- United States Small Business Administration (SBA)
- LEGAL & BUSINESS HELP: Small Business Administration 24/7 Help Line: 1-800-659-2955
- FUNDING/INFORMATION:
- The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is has many current grants to apply for funding, relief funding or project funding.
- WESTAF’s Resources & Information page
- Grants for Latinx arts organizations, artists, and cultural workers! Offered by The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC)
- TOOLS & EDUCATION:
- Nonprofit Finance Fund (tools and resources)
- FREE webinars and classes from GrantSpace — Find trainings and special events to build your skills and broaden your network.
- FREE Nonprofit Training Videos from Candid’s GrantSpace on demand video trainings
