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

08/29/19

1

Challenge America, FY 2021

Challenge America
These grants support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Cost
share/matching grants are for $10,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is
required. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater.
Deadlines:
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

April 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal

April 14-21, 2020 at 11:59
p.m., Eastern Time

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

December 2020

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for
January 1, 2021
the Arts Period of Performance
Note: To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, finalize your
Grants.gov/SAM registration by at least March 18, 2020 and submit to Grants.gov by at least
March 31, 2020.
CHALLENGE AMERICA: Grant Program Description
The Challenge America category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations
for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose
opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the
underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Provide details about the
underserved audience you select in your application using relevant statistics and anecdotal
information. Proposals should detail the efforts made to reach the identified underserved
population. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that
emphasize the potential of the arts in community development.
The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering
mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups.
Challenge America grants:
•
•
•

Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below.
Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 cost share/match.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

2

Partnerships can be valuable to the success of these projects. While not required, applicants are
encouraged to consider partnerships among organizations, both in and outside of the arts, as an
appropriate way to engage with the identified underserved audience.
To ensure that Challenge America funding reaches new organizations and communities, the
National Endowment for the Arts has implemented a policy to limit consecutive-year funding.
Starting with grants that were awarded in FY 2013 (as indicated by a grant letter dated on or after
October 1, 2012, and a grant number beginning with "13 - 78" or ending with “78-13”), an
organization that receives Challenge America grants for three years in a row is not eligible to
apply to the category for the following one-year period. Therefore, an organization that has
received grants in FY 2018, 2019, and 2020 may not apply under these FY 2021 guidelines. That
organization may apply for FY 2021 support under other National Endowment for the Arts
funding opportunities including Grants for Arts Projects.
Projects
This category supports focused, distinct projects that take place over limited periods of time and
involve limited geographic areas.
All projects must extend the reach of the arts to populations that have limited access to the
arts due to geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The involvement of artists and arts
professionals is essential. Each applicant must present a straightforward project that reflects only
one of the three project types below. Grants are available only for:
•

Guest Artist project type, which refers to an arts event or events that will feature one or
more guest artists. The guest artist is engaged specifically for the proposed project, and is
not considered a regular company member, board member, or staff of the applicant
organization. The intention of the Guest Artist project type is to provide National
Endowment for the Arts support to the applicant organization and its community to engage
with an artist(s) and present a public event that might otherwise not be accessible to
audiences that have historically been underserved.
Guest artist(s) should reflect the artistic disciplines of the National Endowment for the Arts,
which may include musicians, composers, conductors, actors, directors, dancers,
choreographers, curators, visual artists, writers, or media artists.
Allowable guest artist public event activities are broad, and may include a festival;
exhibition; literary reading; musical, theatrical, or multi-media performance; media
screening; broadcast; or lecture. The public event(s) may take place in an arts venue or a nontraditional arts venue, but it must be in a location that is accessible to the public. In addition
to guest artist fees, there can be a range of other costs associated with the project, including
supplies, venue costs, marketing, professional documentation of the project, and program
enhancements specific to this grant project. Examples of program enhancements include
interpretive material, transportation, program accommodations (e.g., sign language
interpretation, audio description, Braille, tactile exhibit tours), catalogues, brochures, or

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

3

publications. Other enhancements such as specific lecture-demonstrations, pre- or post-event
talks, or workshops relevant to the proposed arts event are also eligible.
The guest artist’s active role in the required public event should be clearly described within
the application narrative, including the schedule of activities.
NOTE: Projects that involve K-12 standards-based arts instruction are not eligible. (See Arts
Education in the Grants for Arts Projects category.) Other classes and workshops are eligible
expenses but must include a public event with active involvement by the participating guest
artist.
•

Collaborative Marketing Campaigns, which may include unified promotion projects
and/or cultural tourism projects incorporating the offerings of multiple institutions.
Unified promotion is defined as the professional assessment, design, and/or distribution of
public relations and marketing tools (calendars, websites, radio and television, brochures,
rack cards, signage, wayfinding, etc.) designed to benefit several local organizations in a
community. Cultural tourism projects will market and promote cultural assets to enhance
public engagement with arts and culture in communities and to populations that have been
historically underserved. Note that campaigns should involve a partnership promoting the
work of several organizations to extend the reach of the arts to underserved
populations, not a promotional project for a single organization.

•

Public Art Projects, community-based and professionally directed. Although many kinds
of arts projects take place in the public realm, for the Challenge America category, the Public
Art project type is intended to support primarily visual arts projects, which may be
temporary or permanent, such as murals, sculptures, multi-media, or environmental art,
developed through a meaningful community engagement process. Evidence of
community involvement should be apparent in the planning, design, or fabrication of the
work, and should include a professional lead artist. See “Public Art Resources” for
additional information.
NOTE: The following are not eligible for support: Conservation, restoration, or repair of
existing public art; or the development of a public art master plan. These activities may be
supported in the Grants for Arts Projects category.

For information on how to apply, see the “To Apply” box on the right.
National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Review
If you are recommended for a grant, your project may be subject to the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
National Endowment for the Arts will conduct a review of your project to ensure that it is in
compliance NHPA/NEPA.
Some of the common project types that garner a NHPA review are:

08/29/19

4

Challenge America, FY 2021

A project involving or occurring near a district, site, building, landscape, structure or object
that is 50 years old and therefore potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of
Historic Places (note that in some instances, buildings or structures may be included in or
eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places that are less than 50 years
old).
• The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor furnishings such as
benches or market structures, or art such as a sculpture or mural.
• An outdoor arts festival.
• Design planning and services for projects that may involve a historic site, structure, or
district.
This review and approval process may take up to several months to complete and may delay your
project's start date and our ability to make a grant award/our ability to release grant funds. 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. Thorough and
complete information for all project activities and locations will expedite the review. The Arts
Endowment cannot release an award and/or grant funds until the NHPA/NEPA review is
complete.
•

To learn more about the questions you will need to answer for the review of a
project impacted by the National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National
Environmental Policy Act , see here.
Accessibility
Federal regulations require that all National Endowment for the Arts-funded projects be
accessible to people with disabilities. Funded activities must be held in a physically accessible
venue and program access and effective communication must be provided for participants and
audience members with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be
asked to provide detailed information describing how you will make your project physically and
programmatically accessible to people with disabilities:
Deadline
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

April 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal

April 14-21, 2020

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for the
Arts Period of Performance

January 1, 2021

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

Note: To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, finalize your
Grants.gov/SAM registration by at least March 18. 2020 and submit to Grants.gov by at least
March 31, 2020.
If your organization applies to the Challenge America category, it may not submit another
application to the Grants for Arts Projects category. See "Applicant Eligibility/Application
Limits" for further information.
Contact
Challenge America Specialists: [email protected] or 202-682-5700

5

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

TO APPLY
 Grant Program Description
 We Do Not Fund
 Application Calendar
 Applicant Eligibility
 Award Information
 Application Review
 Award Administration
 Other Information
 How to Apply
 How to Prepare & Submit an Application
 Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov
 Part 2: Submit Materials to the Applicant Portal (PDF)
 FAQs
APPLICANT RESOURCES
 Application Checklist
 Online Tutorial: Using the Grant Application Form (GAF)
 Challenge America Guidelines Webinar (TBD)
 Webinar for Challenge America Applicants Interested in Applying to Grants for Arts
Projects (TBD)
 Grants.gov Support
 SAM.gov Help
 Sample Application Narratives
 Accessibility Checklist
 Accessibility Questions for Recommended Applicants
 Recent Grants
 Public Art Resources
 Program Evaluation Resources
 National Endowment for the Arts Historic Preservation Review Process

6

08/29/19

7

Challenge America, FY 2021

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Application Calendar
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

April 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal

April 14-21, 2020 at 11:59
p.m., Eastern Time

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection

December 2020

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for
the Arts Period of Performance

January 1, 2021

Note: To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, finalize your
Grants.gov/SAM registration by at least March 18, 2020 and submit to Grants.gov by at least
March 31, 2020.
Applicants are required to use Grants.gov. See "How to Prepare and Submit an
Application" for further information.
An organization may submit only one application to either Grants for Arts
Projects or Challenge America (see "Application Limits" for the one exception to this rule).
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane or Grants.gov technological failure), the
National Endowment for the Arts Chairman may adjust application deadlines for affected
applicants. If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our
website.
Do not seek information on the status of your application before the announcement date that is
listed above.
If you have questions:
Email: [email protected]
Call: 202-682-5700
202-682-5496 Voice/T.T.Y. (Text-Telephone, a device for individuals who are deaf or
hard-of-hearing.)

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

Individuals who do not use conventional print should contact the Arts Endowment's
Accessibility Office at 202-682-5532 for help in acquiring an audio recording of these
guidelines.
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD
December 2019

8

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

9

CHALLENGE AMERICA: We Do Not Fund
Under these guidelines, funding is not available for:
• Direct grants to individuals. (We encourage applicant organizations to involve individual
artists in all possible ways.)
• Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement.
• General operating or seasonal support.
• Cash reserves and endowments.
• Costs for the creation of new organizations.
• Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. (Design fees, preparing space for an
exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community planning are eligible. However,
no National Endowment for the Arts or cost share/matching funds may be directed to the
costs of physical construction or renovation or toward the purchase costs of facilities or
land.)
• Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including concessions, food, T-shirts, or
other items for resale.
• Subgranting or regranting, except for state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, or local
arts agencies that are designated to operate on behalf of their local governments or are
operating units of city or county government. (See more information on subgranting.)
• 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.
• Individual elementary or secondary schools -- charter, private, or public -- directly. Schools
may participate as partners in projects for which another eligible organization applies. Local
education agencies, school districts, and state and regional education agencies are eligible. If
a single school also is a local education agency, as is the case with some charter schools, the
school may apply with documentation that supports its status as a local education agency.
• Projects that replace arts instruction provided by an arts specialist.
• Generally, courses 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.
• Exhibitions of, and other projects that primarily involve, single, individually-owned, private
collections.
• Projects for which the selection of artists or art works is based upon criteria other than artistic
excellence and merit. Examples include festivals, exhibitions, or publications for which no
jury/editorial/curatorial judgment has been applied.
• 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,

08/29/19

•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

Challenge America, FY 2021

10

see http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/ or contact our Office of Grants
Management at [email protected].
Project costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding received
either directly from a federal agency (e.g., National Endowment for the Humanities, Housing
and Urban Development, National Science Foundation, or an entity that receives federal
appropriations such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or Amtrak); or indirectly
from a pass-through organization such as a state arts agency, regional arts organization, or a
grant made to another entity.
Activities that occur over an extended period (e.g., projects that span a full season, long-term
residencies, most large-scale projects).
Competitions other than design competitions.
Projects that involve curriculum-based instruction in the arts.
The same organization (parent or component) for more than three consecutive years, even if
for different projects.
Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas.
Alcoholic beverages.
Contributions and donations to other entities.
Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items (e.g., electronic devices, gift
certificates) with monetary value.
General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.
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.
Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.
Audit costs that are not directly related to a single audit (formerly known as an A-133 audit).
Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the
applicant organization.
Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.
Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official period of
performance.

All applicants should carefully review the Assurance of Compliance and Appendix A of
our General Terms and Conditions (GTC) which detail other requirements that govern awards.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

11

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Applicant Eligibility
Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or
federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. Applicants may be arts
organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school
districts), and other organizations that can help advance the goals of the National Endowment for
the Arts.
To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
• Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ "Legal Requirements" including nonprofit, taxexempt status at the time of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own
behalf. Applications through a fiscal sponsor/agent are not allowed. See more information
on fiscal sponsors/agents.)
• Have completed a three-year history of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
For the purpose of defining eligibility, "three-year history" refers to when an organization
began its programming and not when it incorporated or received nonprofit, tax-exempt status.
• Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all National
Endowment for the Arts grant(s) previously received.
An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or other) to an
affiliated organization is not eligible to apply if the affiliated organization submits 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.
All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with the System
for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until
the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the
award.
See "How to Prepare and Submit an Application" for the documentation that is required to
demonstrate eligibility.
The designated state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts organizations
(RAOs) are not eligible to apply under the Challenge America guidelines. SAAs and RAOs may
serve as partners in projects. However, they may not receive National Endowment for the Arts
funds (except as provided through their designated grant programs), and SAA/RAO costs may
not be included as part of the required cost share/match. SAAs and RAOs are eligible to apply
through the Partnership Agreements guidelines.
Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Applicants or Projects
We provide support for projects featuring Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native
Hawaiian arts across all National Endowment for the Arts disciplines. (See more information
here.)
Ineligible applications will not be reviewed.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

12

Application Limits
If an organization applies to the Challenge America category, it may not also apply to the Grants
for Arts Projects category.
You may apply to other National Endowment for the Arts funding opportunities, including Our
Town, in addition to Challenge America. In each case, the request must be for a distinctly
different project or a distinctly different phase of the same project, with a different period of
performance and costs.
An organization that has received Challenge America grants in FY 2018, 2019, and 2020
may not apply for a Challenge America grant under these FY 2021 guidelines. That organization
may apply for FY 2021 support under other National Endowment for the Arts funding
opportunities including Grants for Arts Projects.
For this category, exceptions to the one-application rule are made only for parent organizations
that have separately identifiable and independent components; this includes city or county
governments.
A parent organization that comprises separately identifiable and independent components (e.g., a
university campus that has a presenting organization and a radio station) may submit an
application for each such component. In addition, a parent organization also may submit one
application on its own behalf for a distinctly different project. The parent organization must
meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants. NOTE: A related 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 applications for components and the
parent organization in lieu of such applications being submitted by the parent. The related
organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants.
An independent component must be a unit that is both programmatically and administratively
distinct from the parent organization, have its own staff and budget, and generally have an
independent board that has substantial responsibility for oversight and management. To qualify
as independent, a component should be equivalent to a stand-alone institution with a separate
mission.
The following do not qualify as independent components:
• Academic departments of colleges and universities.
• Programs and projects of organizations.
For example:
•

•

An art museum on a university campus serves the general 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 essentially is a stand-alone organization and
qualifies as an independent component.
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 some overlap of
membership between the symphony trustees and the youth orchestra's advisory board; and

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

13

the executive director for the symphony association serves as CEO for both the professional
and youth orchestras. In this case, while the youth orchestra may be an important program of
the symphony association, it is not equivalent to a separate institution and therefore does not
qualify as an independent component.
A parent organization should consult with our staff to verify the eligibility of its component
before preparing an application.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

14

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Award Information
Grant Amounts, Cost Share, and Matching Funds
All grants are for $10,000.
Our grants cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of the project. All grants require a nonfederal cost
share/match of at least 1 to 1. For example, if an organization receives a $10,000 grant, the total
eligible project costs must be at least $20,000 and the organization must provide at least $10,000
toward the project from nonfederal sources.
Period of Performance
Our support of a project can start no sooner than the "Earliest Beginning Date for National
Endowment for the Arts Period of Performance" listed on the Application Calendar.
Grants awarded under these guidelines generally may cover a period of performance of up to two
years. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant sufficient time to plan, execute,
and close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year.
Any planning costs that are included as part of the project must be incurred during the
established period of performance. No pre-award costs are allowable in the Project Budget.
Project costs that are incurred before the "Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for
the Arts Period of Performance" will be removed from the Project Budget.
A grantee may not receive more than one National Endowment for the Arts grant for the same
project during the same period of performance.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

15

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Application Review
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed on the basis of the following criteria:
The artistic excellence of the project, which includes the:
• Quality of the artists, arts organizations, works of art, or technical services that the project
will involve, as appropriate.
The artistic merit of the project, which includes the:
• Potential of the project to reach underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to
experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
• Potential to make quality arts or cultural resources more widely available.
• Appropriateness of the project to the organization's mission, audience, community, and/or
constituency.
• Ability to carry out the project based on such factors as the appropriateness of the budget, the
quality and clarity of the project activities and goals, the resources involved, and the
qualifications of the project's personnel.
• Appropriateness of the proposed performance measurements.
NOTE: We fund arts projects, and make grants only for specific, definable activities. Your
application may be rejected if it does not sufficiently describe the project activities.
What Happens to Your Application
Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria." After initial staff processing,
applications are reviewed by a diverse group of arts experts and other individuals with broad
knowledge of the specific types of projects in this funding area. Following further staff review,
these recommendations are forwarded to the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman.
The Chairman reviews the recommendations for grants in all funding categories and makes the
final decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.
After notification of funding decisions, applicants with questions may contact the staff. Any
applicant whose request for funding has not been recommended may ask for an
explanation of the basis for denial. In such instances, the National Endowment for the Arts
must be contacted no later than 30 calendar days after the official notification.
See the "Application Calendar" for information on when we expect to announce grant awards
and rejections, and the earliest dates by which projects may begin.
Risk Assessment: 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.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

16

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

17

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Award Administration
Award Notices
The "Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection" date for your category on
the Application Calendar tells you when we expect to announce grant decisions.
Note that the "announcement" is likely to take the form of a preliminary congratulatory message,
a request for project/budget revisions, or a rejection notification. The official grant award
notification (i.e., a notice of action authorized by the National Endowment for the Arts Office of
Grants Management) is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. Receipt of your official
award notification can take several months depending on a number of factors such as whether
additional information is needed for your project, the number of awards to be processed, whether
the agency has its appropriation from Congress, etc.
National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Review
If you are recommended for a grant, your project may be subject to the the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
National Endowment for the Arts will conduct a review of your project to ensure that it is in
compliance NHPA/NEPA.
Some of the common project types that garner a NHPA review are:
A project involving or occurring near a district, site, building, landscape, structure or object
that is 50 years old and therefore potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of
Historic Places (note that in some instances, buildings or structures may be included in or
eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places that are less than 50 years
old).
• The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor furnishings such as
benches or market structures, or art such as a sculpture or mural.
• An outdoor arts festival.
• Design planning and services for projects that may involve a historic site, structure, or
district.
This review and approval process may take up to several months to complete and may delay your
project's start date and our ability to make a grant award/our ability to release grant funds. 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. Thorough and
complete information for all project activities and locations will expedite the review. The Arts
Endowment cannot release an award and/or grant funds until the NHPA/NEPA review is
complete.
•

To learn more about the questions you will need to answer for the review of a
project impacted by the National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National
Environmental Policy Act , see here.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

18

Accessibility
Federal regulations require that all National Endowment for the Arts-funded projects be
accessible to people with disabilities. Funded activities must be held in a physically accessible
venue and program access and effective communication must be provided for participants and
audience members with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be
asked to provide detailed information describing how you will make your project physically and
programmatically accessible to people with disabilities:
Buildings and facilities (including projects held in historic facilities) should be physically
accessible. This includes, but is not limited to: ground-level entry, ramped access, and/or
elevators to the venue; integrated and dispersed wheelchair seating in assembly areas;
wheelchair-accessible box office, stage, and dressing rooms; wheelchair-accessible display
cases, exhibit areas, and counters; and wheelchair-accessible restrooms and water fountains.
• The programmatic offering should be accessible either as part of the funded activity or upon
request, where relevant. This can include, but is not limited to: contact information for
requesting accommodations; electronic materials and websites; print materials in alternative
formats, such as large-print brochures/labels, Braille, and electronic/digital formats;
accommodations for performances, tours, and lectures, such as audio description, tactile
opportunities, sign language interpretation, and real-time captioning; closed/open captioning
of video and film; and assistive listening devices.
See the Nondiscrimination Statutes in our "Assurance of Compliance" for additional
information. For technical assistance on how to make your project fully accessible, contact
the Accessibility Office at [email protected], 202-682-5532 Voice or the Civil Rights
Office at 202-682-5454 or 202-682-5082 Voice/T.T.Y., or see our online Accessibility
Resources.
•

Changes in Projects
Applicants must notify the National Endowment for the Arts immediately of any significant
changes in their project that occur after they have submitted their application. If the project or the
organization's capacity changes significantly before an award is made, the Arts Endowment may
revise or withdraw the funding recommendation.
Grantees are expected to carry out a project that is consistent with the proposal that was
approved for funding by the National Endowment for the Arts. If changes in the project are
required, the grantee must submit a request with justification for the change(s) through a proper
REACH account for the award for review by the Office of Grants Management. Approval is not
guaranteed. Detailed information is included the National Endowment for the Arts General
Terms & Conditions for Grants to Organizations.
Project Reporting and Evaluation
We ask all applicants to define what they would like to achieve, how they will evaluate the
degree to which it is achieved, and, upon completion of the project, what they have learned from
their experiences. Such feedback need not entail large-scale or expensive evaluation efforts. You
should do what is feasible and appropriate for your organization and project. When a grant is

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

19

completed, you must submit a final report and answer questions detailing your accomplishments,
who benefited, and the resulting impact of your project as well as list the involvement of key
partners, funders, and artists. Arts Education grantees who apply for a Direct Learning Grant will
be required to describe the assessment methods used to assess learning,.
The Arts Endowment staff will assign one of the agency’s objectives to your project: Creation,
Engagement, Learning (all Arts Education grantees will be assigned the Learning objective), or
Our Town. Before applying, review the reporting requirements for the agency’s
objectives: Standard -- for Creation, Engagement, Learning; Arts Education, for all Arts
Education grantees; or Our Town. Reporting requirements for Our Town are different from -and more extensive than -- the reporting requirements for the other objectives. If you have any
questions about the agency’s objectives or the associated reporting requirements that may be
required if you receive a grant, contact the staff before applying.
Beyond the reporting requirements for all grantees, selected Grants for Arts Projects grantees
will be asked to assist in the collection of additional information that can help the National
Endowment for the Arts determine the degree to which agency objectives were achieved. You
may be required to provide evidence of project accomplishments including, but not limited to,
work samples, community action plans, cultural asset studies, programs, reviews, relevant news
clippings, and playbills. Remember that you are required to maintain project documentation for
three years following submission of your final reports.
Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
This guidance from the federal government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
establishes clarity and consistency of the pre- and post-award requirements applicable to federal
grantees. Under the authority listed above, the National Endowment for the Arts adopts the OMB
Guidance in 2 CFR part 200 under §3255.1 Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200. This part gives
regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the National
Endowment for the Arts.
General Terms & Conditions
Federal and agency requirements that relate to grants awarded by the National Endowment for
the Arts are highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions (GTC). The GTC incorporates the
adoption of 2 CFR Part 200 by reference. The document also explicitly identifies where the
National Endowment for the Arts has selected options offered in the regulation, such as budget
waivers and requirements for use of program income. It also includes agency requirements for
cost share/matching funds reporting requirements, amendment processes, and termination
actions.
Legal Requirements:
NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may apply to an
applicant or grantee however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding these and
other legal requirements may be found at Appendix A of our General Terms &
Conditions which sets forth the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes,

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

20

and Regulations that Govern Your Award. There may be other applicable legal
requirements that are not listed here.
1. By law, the National Endowment for the Arts may support only those organizations that:
•

Are tax-exempt. Organizations qualifying for this status must meet the following
criteria:
1. No part of net earnings may benefit a private stockholder or individual.
2. Donations to the organization must be allowable as a charitable contribution under
Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
For further information, go to the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) website.
Organizations who have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for National
Endowment for the Arts support. It is your responsibility to ensure that your status is
current at the time of the application and throughout the life of your award.

Compensate all professional performers and related or supporting professional
personnel on National Endowment for the Arts-supported projects at no less than
the prevailing minimum compensation. (This requirement is in accordance with
regulations that have been issued by the Secretary of Labor in 29 C.F.R. Part 505. This
part does not provide information on specific compensation levels.)
• Ensure that no part of any National Endowment for the Arts-supported project will
be performed or engaged in under working conditions which are unsanitary or
hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of the employees involved.
2. Some legal requirements apply to every applicant, for example:
• Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in the "Assurance of
Compliance" below.
• Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with the record
keeping and other requirements set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the
National Endowment for the Arts in 2 CFR 32.3254. Failure to comply may result in the
debarment or suspension of the grantee and the National Endowment for the Arts
suspending, terminating and/or recovering funds.
• Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be
suspended when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts, including
judgment liens against property for a debt to the federal government. An organization's
debt status is displayed in the System for Award Management (SAM). New awards will
not be made if an applicant is still in debt status as of September 1.
• Labor Standards (29 C.F.R. pt 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must comply
with the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions Assisted by
Grants from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.
• The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq. and 2 C.F.R. Part
3256). The grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drug-free workplace
program as well as comply with other requirements.
3. Some legal requirements apply depending upon what the grant is funding, for example:
• If your project activities have the potential to impact any structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, adjacent to a structure that is eligible for or
•

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

21

on the National Register of Historic Places, or located in an historic district, you will be
asked to provide additional information about your project or take additional action so
that the agency can review and comply with the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA). NHPA also applies to any planning activities that may affect historic
properties or districts. The additional agency review must be completed prior to any
agency funds being released.
• If your project activities have the potential to impact the environment or environmentally
sensitive resources, you will be required to provide information in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The additional agency review must be
completed prior to any agency funds being released.
• If your contract is over $2,000 and involves the construction, alteration, or repair of
public buildings or public works, it must contain a clause setting forth the minimum
wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics employed under the contract in accordance
with The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts(DBRA).
4. Some legal requirements apply depending upon who the Applicant is, for example:
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 3001
et seq.) – which applies to any organization that controls or possesses Native American
human remains and associated funerary objects and receives Federal funding, even for a
purpose unrelated to the Act (25 USC 3001 et seq.).
Assurance of Compliance
By signing and submitting its application form on grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it
is in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for
the Arts regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to
determine compliance.
We may conduct a review of your organization to ensure that it is in compliance with these
statutes. If the Arts Endowment determines that a grantee has failed to comply with these
statutes, it may suspend or terminate the award, and/or recover funds. This assurance is subject to
judicial enforcement.
The Applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:
•

•

•
•

On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 U.S.C.1110.
On the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), as
amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101-12213), implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at
45 U.S.C. 1151. The ADA's requirements apply regardless of whether you receive federal
funds.
On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.
6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45 U.S.C.1156.
On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

22

Applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been discriminated against
on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age may file a complaint with the
Director of Civil Rights at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a Federal or
state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:
Director, Office of Civil Rights
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
Applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3) years. The
Applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as required by applicable
regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The Applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts funds to
comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of this assurance.
For further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified above, contact
the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or 202-682-5082 Voice/T.T.Y. For inquiries about
limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the
Office of General Counsel at [email protected] or 202-682-5418.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

23

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Other Information
Access for Individuals with Disabilities
The Accessibility Office assists applicants in making accessibility an integral part of their
planning so that organizations and activities are inclusive for staff, panelists, artists, and
audiences. For more information, resources, and technical assistance, contact the Accessibility
Office at [email protected], 202-682-5532 Voice, or see the Accessibility section of the
website. The Art Endowment's Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or 202-682-5082
Voice/T.T.Y. also provides technical assistance on how to make projects fully accessible.
Civil Rights
The Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or 202-682-5082 Voice/T.T.Y. is available to
investigate complaints about compliance with accessibility standards as well as other federal
civil rights statutes. For inquiries about limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov,
the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the Office of General Counsel
at [email protected] or 202-682-5418.
Standards for Service
We have set the following standards for serving applicants. We pledge to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.
Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.
Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines available
promptly.
Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.
Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.

We welcome your comments on how we are meeting these standards.
Email: [email protected], attention: Standards for Service. For questions about these guidelines
or your application, see "Agency Contacts." In addition, applicants may receive an invitation to
participate in a voluntary survey to provide feedback on the grant application guidelines on our
website and any experiences consulting with our staff.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 12
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,

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

to: [email protected], 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.

24

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

25

CHALLENGE AMERICA: How to Prepare and Submit an Application
We urge you to read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the application process.
Submitting an application is a multi-step process:
•

Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov the “Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organization Form.” Refer to the Part 1 instructions for important information and
deadlines.

•

Part 2: Complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” and upload items through the
Arts Endowment’s Applicant Portal. Refer to the Part 2 instructions to learn more about
how and when to access the Applicant Portal.

Tips
View a Guidelines Webinar:
•

•

We will conduct a live Challenge America Guidelines webinar on TBD, 2020, at 3:00
p.m. Eastern Time featuring an overview presentation followed by a Q&A session. Click
here to register for the upcoming webinar and for an archive of the webinar after it is
concluded.
We’ll also hold a webinar for previous Challenge America applicants who are interested
in applying to Grants for Arts Projects instead of Challenge America on TBD, 2020, at
3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Click here to register for the upcoming webinar and for
an archive of the webinar after it is concluded.

View the Grant Application Form (GAF) Tutorial:
This tutorial provides an overview of the Grant Application Form (GAF) to assist you during
Part 2 of the application process: Online Tutorial: Using the Grant Application Form
Ensure that your application is complete with this checklist:
•

Challenge America Application Checklist

08/29/19

26

Challenge America, FY 2021

CHALLENGE AMERICA Guidelines: Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov
Complete and submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organizational Form to Grants.gov.
Register or renew/verify Grants.gov and SAM.gov registration | Go to the Grant
Opportunity Package | Fill out the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organizational Form | Submit your application to Grants.gov | Track Your Application
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

April 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time

Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal

April 14-21, 2020 at 11:59
p.m., Eastern Time

Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for
the Arts Period of Performance

January 1, 2021

Note: To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, finalize your
Grants.gov/SAM registration by at least March 18, 2020 and submit to Grants.gov by at least
March 31, 2020.
1. Register or renew/verify Grants.gov and SAM.gov registration:
• Before submitting to Grants.gov, your organization must register or renew/verify its current
registration with both Grants.gov and the System for Award Management (SAM).
Registrations with Grants.gov and SAM must be active for you to be able to submit your
application. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in your inability to submit
to Grants.gov.
• Go to Grants.gov's Organization Registration to create a new organization registration.
• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 800-518-4726, email [email protected], or consult the
information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact Center is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NOTE: You must contact Grants.gov for help.
Grants.gov is not a National Endowment for the Arts system and is outside of our control.
• SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the SAM
website at SAM Help. NOTE: You must contact SAM.gov for help. SAM.gov is not a
National Endowment for the Arts system and is outside of our control.
• Registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov can take several weeks. Exceptions to the deadline
will be considered only for registration or renewal issues that are the result of failures on the
part of DUNS, SAM, or Grants.gov as determined by the National Endowment for the Arts.
To be considered for this exception, you must provide documentation of a DUNS, SAM, or
Grants.gov failure dating from at least March 18.
• In addition to these instructions, you should periodically check the Grants.gov blog or
the Grants.gov homepage for tips, updates, and alerts.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

27

2. Go to the Grant Opportunity Package:
Access the Grant Opportunity Package with the Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organizational Form on Grants.gov by clicking on the link for your
deadline:
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE ON
GRANTS.GOV
[Funding Opportunity Number 2020NEA01CA]
When you go to Grants.gov through the link above, the Grants.gov “View Grant
Opportunity” screen will open. Choose “Apply” in the “Action” area. On the next screen,
choose “Apply” again. You will be prompted to enter your Grants.gov Username and
Password.
You will apply using a Grants.gov Workspace. To create a Workspace, look for the
“Application Filing Name” field above the “Create Workspace” button (you must be logged
in as the Authorized Organization Representative or AOR to be able to see this button and
create the Workspace). Enter the legal name of your organization, click the “Create
Workspace” button, and follow the screens from there. If you want to learn more about
using Grants.gov’s Workspace, see here.
For detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the required forms through
Workspace, see here.
You will submit the substantial part of your application during Part 2.
3. Fill out the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form:
NOTE: All asterisked (*) items and yellow fields on this form are required and must be
completed before you will be able to submit the form. Do not type in all capital letters when
completing the form. Enter information directly into the form. Do not copy from an old
Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form or another document
and paste into the form.
1. Name of Federal Agency: Pre-populated.
2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Pre-populated.
3. Date Received: This will be filled automatically with the date that you submit your
application; leave blank.
4. Funding Opportunity Number: Pre-populated.
5. Applicant Information:
a. Legal Name: The name provided here must be the applicant's legal name as it appears in the
current IRS 501(c)(3) status letter or in the official document that identifies the organization as a
unit of state or local government, or as a federally recognized tribal community or tribe. (Do not
use your organization's popular name, if different.)

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

28

If you are a parent organization that is applying on behalf of an eligible independent
component, do not list the name of the independent component here. You will be asked for that
information later.
b. Address: Use Street 1 for your organization’s physical street address. This address should
agree with the address that you used for your SAM.gov registration. In addition, use Street 2 for
your organization’s mailing address if it differs from the physical street address.
In the Zip/Postal Code box, organizations in the United States should enter the full 9-digit zip
code that was assigned by the U.S. Postal Service. If you do not know your full zip code, you
may look it up at www.usps.com/zip4/
d. Type of Applicant: Select the item that best characterizes your organization from the menu in
the first drop down box. Additional choices are optional.
e. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the 9-digit number that was
assigned by the Internal Revenue Service; do not use a Social Security Number.
f. Organizational DUNS: All organizational applicants for federal funds must have a DUNS
number, which is recognized as the universal standard for identifying organizations
worldwide. The number that you enter here must agree with the number (either 9 or 13
digits) that you used with the SAM (System for Award Management) as part of the
Grants.gov registration. Otherwise, your application will not be validated by Grants.gov
and will be rejected. Confirm your DUNS with SAM.gov before filling out this form.
g. Congressional District: Enter the number of the Congressional District where the applicant
organization is located. The Congressional District that you enter here must agree with the
Congressional District that you used with the SAM (System for Award Management) as part of
the Grants.gov registration. Use the following format: 2 character State Abbreviation-3 character
District Number. For example, if your organization is located in the 5th Congressional District of
California, enter "CA-005." If your state has a single At-Large Representative or your territory
has a single Delegate, enter your 2 character state/territory abbreviation and "-000." If you need
help determining your district, go to www.house.gov and use the "Find Your Representative"
tool.
6. Project Information:
a. Project Title: Enter “N/A.” You will provide a project title in the Arts Endowment’s Applicant
Portal during Part 2 of the application process, not in Grants.gov. Anything you enter in
Grants.gov will not be used in the review of your application.
b. Project Description: Enter “N/A.” You will provide a project description in the Arts
Endowment’s Applicant Portal during Part 2 of the application process, not in Grants.gov.
Anything you enter in Grants.gov will not be used in the review of your application.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

29

c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the beginning and ending dates for your
requested period of performance, i.e., the span of time necessary to plan, execute, and close out
your proposed project. The start date should be the first day of the month, and the end date
should be the last day of the month. Our support of a project may start on January 1, 2021 or
any time after. While a period of performance of up to two years is allowed, we anticipate that
most Challenge America projects -- including planning and closeout time -- will be substantially
shorter. Your budget should include only the activities and costs incurred during the requested
period of performance.
7. Project Director:
Provide the requested information for the Project Director. Select a Prefix (e.g., Ms., Mr.) even
though this is not a required field.
Provide contact information, including an e-mail address that will be valid through the
announcement date for your category. Due to restrictions from the Department of Homeland
Security we are not able to send emails to alias addresses that forward to another email account.
Do not enter this type of email address.
8. Primary Contact/Grant Administrator:
Provide the requested information for the individual who should be contacted on all matters
involving this application and the administration of any grant that may be awarded. For colleges
and universities, this person is often a Sponsored Research, Sponsored Programs, or Contracts
and Grants Officer. Select a Prefix even though this is not a required field. For the Telephone
number field, use the following format: 000-000-0000. Due to restrictions from the Department
of Homeland Security we are not able to send emails to alias addresses that forward to another
email account. Do not enter this type of email address.
In some organizations, particularly smaller ones, this individual may be the same as the Project
Director. If this is the case, you may check the "Same as Project Director" box and not repeat
information that you have already provided in Item 7. (If the Primary Contact/Grant
Administrator is the same as the Authorizing Official, complete all items under both 8 and 9
even though there will be some repetition.)
9. Authorized Representative:
Enter the requested information for the AOR (Authorized Organization Representative) who is
authorized to submit this application to Grants.gov. Select a Prefix even though this is not a
required field. Due to restrictions from the Department of Homeland Security we are not able to
send emails to alias addresses that forward to another email account Do not enter this type of
email address.
The AOR must have the legal authority to obligate your organization (e. g., be a senior member
of the staff such as an Executive Director, Director of Development). See specific requirements
for who can serve as an AOR for colleges and universities. Contractors, including grant writers
or grant consultants, or administrative support staff cannot serve as an AOR.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

30

NOTE: By clicking the "I Agree" box at the top of Item 9, this individual will be certifying
compliance with relevant federal requirements on your organization's behalf. (These
requirements can be found in the "Assurance of Compliance" section of these guidelines.)
The "Signature of Authorized Representative" and "Date Signed" boxes will be populated by
Grants.gov upon submission of the application.
4. Submit your application to Grants.gov:
• To begin the submission process, log on to Grants.gov and go to the Forms tab on the
Manage Workspace page. Click the “Sign and Submit” button, under the Forms tab.
• Be certain that you are satisfied with your Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organizational Form before you click this button. No revisions to your
form are possible through Grants.gov once it is submitted.
• Once you complete and submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen
explaining that your submission is being processed. Take a screenshot and retain the
Grants.gov Tracking Number that you receive in the application submission confirmation
screen.
• If you wait until the day of the deadline to submit your application you are taking a
significant risk! We strongly suggest that you submit your application no later than March
31, 2020. This should provide ample time to resolve any problems you might encounter.
• We will not accept late applications. The only exception is for a technological failure on the
part of Grants.gov, as determined by the National Endowment for the Arts. To be considered
for this exception, you must provide documentation of a Grants.gov technological failure
dating from March 31, 2020 or earlier. We will consider and address your situation as
appropriate. We will not make exceptions for applications that are the result of user error,
including failure to register in SAM.gov or to verify that your application was validated by
the Grants.gov system through Track My Application.
• Failure to successfully submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organizational Form through Grants.gov will make you ineligible to complete Part 2 of the
application process.
5. Track Your Application:
• Verify that your application was validated by the Grants.gov system. Go to Track My
Application to confirm the validation and track the progress of your application submission
through Grants.gov. Take a screenshot of your validation confirmation for your records. Do
not wait until the day of the deadline to verify your submission in case you encounter any
difficulties.
For a detailed list of Workspace statuses, see here.
6. Prepare to Complete Part 2:
• Read the Part 2 instructions to learn about how and when to access the Applicant Portal to
submit material and upload items.

08/29/19
•

Challenge America, FY 2021

31

To access the Applicant Portal, you’ll need your Agency Tracking Number/NEA
Application Number. The National Endowment for the Arts assigns the number to your
application 1-2 business days after you submit your Grants.gov application.

Additional Help
For additional help on how to use Grants.gov, see the Grants.gov website at Support. You also
can send email to the Grants.gov Contact Center at [email protected] or call them at 800518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

32

CHALLENGE AMERICA APPLICATION CHECKLIST
BEFORE APPLYING (Finalize by at least March 18)
�
Finalize your entity registration/renewal with the System for Awards Management
(SAM.gov)
�

Register/Renew with Grants.gov

Why do I need to register/renew so far in advance of the application deadline? See here.
PART 1:GRANTS.GOV (Submit by at least March 31 for the April 9 application deadline)
�
Submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organization Form
through Grants.gov
Why do I need to submit this form in advance of the application deadline? See here.
PART 2: APPLICANT PORTAL
�
Log in to Grants.gov and go to "Check Application Status" to get your Grants.gov
tracking number and agency tracking number to use as your username and password for the
Applicant Portal. The Applicant Portal will be open April 14-21, 2020.
�
Complete & submit the Grant Application Form (GAF) by 11:59 pm ET on April 21,
2020. Confirm that all tabs are correctly filled out before hitting Save and Submit.
� Tab 1: View Application Data
� Tab 2: Organizational Information
� Tab 3: Arts Programmatic History
� Tab 4: Project Information
� Tab 5: Project Budget
� Tab 6: Items to Upload -- Required Work Samples (Excess pages and items not listed in
the guidelines will be deleted.)
WORK SAMPLES
�

Video

�

Audio

�

Digital Images

�

Documents

�

Websites

� Tab 7: Organization & Project Data

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

RESOURCES
�

Watch the Challenge America webinar

�

Watch the Grant Application Form tutorial

�

Contact Challenge America staff with any questions

FULL GUIDELINES CAN BE FOUND HERE

33

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

34

CHALLENGE AMERICA: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out when new guidelines are released?
National Endowment for the Arts guidelines are modified every year. Sign up for the notification
service provided by Grants.gov, the federal government’s online application system.
Sign up here.
To receive discipline-specific newsletters, sign up on our website here.
Does my project have to be new? Does it have to be big?
No. Projects do not have to be new. Excellent existing projects can be just as competitive as new
activities. Projects do not need to be big either; we welcome small projects that can make a
difference in their community or field.
What do you mean by ‘small and mid-sized’ organizations?
The National Endowment for the Arts does not specifically define “small and mid-sized,” as
those terms can mean different things in different places around the country. These labels have
different meanings depending on the geographic location of an organization and the artistic
discipline. For example, the size of a theater located in one city may differ from the size of a
museum in another. Likewise, the same operating budget size may be considered large or small - depending on these same factors. Challenge America reviewers should be able to understand
your organization within its own unique environment. Including area demographics can help
your application illustrate that environment. If you are unsure whether your organization is a
good fit, don’t hesitate to reach out to a staff member to discuss.
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. For example, a
performance by a guest artist that is part of a concert hall's regular season could constitute an
acceptable project. Other projects might be a workshop production of a work in progress or a
charrette sponsored by a community design center. What is important is the specificity of the
activities involved. Also, there can be no overlap with projects for which you already are
receiving other National Endowment for the Arts or federal funds.
Can I apply for MORE National Endowment for the Arts 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 (for example,
for research for a documentary, or early development work on a new play or choreographed
work) you may re-apply to the National Endowment for the Arts for additional funding to
support a later phase (for example, the post-production/editing/distribution phase of the
documentary, or the final development/premiere of the new play or dance). However, each
application must clearly describe the specific phase of work to be supported, and there can be
NO overlapping project costs between the awards.
Can my partner organizations also apply for National Endowment for the Arts funds to
support our collaborative work?
A partnering organization may apply for funds to support a joint effort but there can be NO
OVERLAPPING PROJECT COSTS between the applications. For example, if you are a dance
company, and you are applying for the development of a new work and a presenting

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

35

organization/theater is also applying for a residency/performance project that includes your
company and the presentation of the new work, you must ensure that the costs are kept separate.
You cannot include travel costs in your budget if these same costs are also reflected in the
presenter’s budget. You cannot include as cost share/match any income that is derived from a
federal grant made to another entity (e.g., if a presenter includes your artist fees as an expense in
their budget, you cannot use that as income in your own budget). In short, you should
communicate closely with your partners to be sure that you are each clear on the division of costs
and activity between the applications.
In addition to the work samples, are there other items that we should upload into the
Applicant Portal?
No. The Applicant Portal is where you will be filling out the different narrative fields and also
where you will upload your work samples. Follow the directions on the work sample size and
types, which are outlined in the instructions on the right side of the guidelines under the “To
Apply” box, “Prepare Application Material.” Do not include additional materials that do not
demonstrate the artistic excellence and artistic merit of your project. Only upload materials that
we request. Other items that you include will not be reviewed.
As you consider your work sample uploads, remember that you want to submit work that is
appropriate for your project. For example, if you are doing a visual arts project make sure that
you include work samples from the artist(s) you are working with. If you are going to be doing a
music project, include video or audio files to provide a reference point for our reviewers to judge
artistic excellence. Still photographs are nowhere as effective as video for illustrating the
excellence of a performing arts project, such as a dance production.
Will you contact me if my application is missing anything?
No. Because of the volume of applications, we have a strict approach to incomplete applications.
For your application to be considered complete, every item that is required MUST be included in
your application package, which must be submitted no later than the application deadline date
under which you are applying. Staff will not contact applicants to request missing material.
Don't let that happen. Use the "How to Prepare and Submit an Application" section for your
category to make sure that you have included every item. Have the completeness and accuracy of
your application package double-checked by a responsible staff member who understands the
importance of this task. Allow at least six weeks to prepare your application, the work samples,
and other supplementary information. We can’t stress this enough: Do not wait until the day of
the deadline to submit! We suggest setting an internal application deadline for your organization
that is 24-48 hours before the actual application deadline.
If my application is determined to be incomplete, may I add the missing item(s) and
resubmit the application?
No. The staff has to check thousands of applications. By the time that an application is identified
as incomplete, it will likely be several weeks after the application deadline. An organization
cannot add missing items and resubmit the application after the application deadline. We
encourage you to double-check your application package against the "What makes a complete
application" section to make sure that nothing is missing.
We are unable to accept any new or updated information after the application deadline.
Can I get a sample application?

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

36

Yes. See the FOIA Reading Room, Frequently Requested Records for information on what is
available as sample application material and how to request it.
How soon after the "Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for the Arts Period
of Performance" for my deadline does my project have to begin?
The National Endowment for the Arts’ support can start any time on or after that date.
Can my project start before this date?
No. Proposed project activities for which you're requesting support cannot take place before this
date. Ask the National Endowment for the Arts to fund only the portion of your project that will
take place after the "Earliest Beginning Date for National Endowment for the Arts Period of
Performance." If you include project costs that are incurred before the "Earliest Beginning Date
for National Endowment for the Arts Period of Performance" in your Project Budget, they will
be removed.
How long can my project last? May I apply for another project during this period?
We generally allow a period of performance of up to two years. Challenge America grants
generally are smaller in scope and shorter in duration than other projects. It is anticipated that
most projects -- including planning and close-out time -- will be substantially shorter.
If you get close to the end of your grant period and think you need more time, you may request
an extension from our Office of Grants Management, but approval is not guaranteed.
As long as it meets all other eligibility requirements, an organization may apply for another
project (with totally different project costs) the following year even if a National Endowment for
the Arts-supported project is still underway. Note that if you receive an extension on a previous
year's project, it may affect your grant period for your new proposed project.
If my application is rejected, can I find out why?
After notification, applicants who have questions may contact the staff responsible for handling
their application. Any applicant whose request for funding has not been recommended may
ask for an explanation of the basis for rejection. In such instances, the National Endowment for
the Arts must be contacted no later than 30 days after the official notification.
Can federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes.
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. Applicants (federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits
situated on federally recognized tribal lands, or other nonprofits whose mission primarily serves
federally recognized tribal enrollees) should consult with to verify their eligibility before
preparing an application.
Can non-federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes, as long as the applicant is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for
non-federally recognized tribes and indigenous groups may be supported, but project
participation can’t be restricted to only tribal members.

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

37

Can Native Hawaiian groups apply?
Yes, as long as the applicant is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for
Native Hawaiians may be supported, but project participation can’t be restricted to only Native
Hawaiians.
The "We Do Not Fund" section says that subgranting is not allowed. What is subgranting?
Subgranting is defined as regranting funds to an individual or organization for activities that are
conducted independently of your organization and for the benefit of the subgrantee’s own
program objectives. A subgrantee is not directly employed by or affiliated with your
organization.
Examples of subgranting include:
Awards and prizes.
• Payment to an individual or organization to obtain training or technical assistance for their
own benefit with little or no involvement from your organization. (Allowable activities
would include services that are offered or coordinated by your organization such as making
your facilities available, conducting workshops or conferences, or providing hands-on
assistance. These activities also should be monitored and evaluated by your organization.)
• Production funds awarded to an individual or organization through a competitive review
process with little or no subsequent involvement from your organization.
Most organizations that apply to the National Endowment for the Arts can’t subgrant federal
funds to individuals or organizations. Congress prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts
from making grants for subgranting activity, with exceptions only for state arts agencies,
regional arts organizations, and local arts agencies designated to operate on behalf of local
governments. Eligible local arts agencies must have completed a three-year history of
subgranting in the arts in order to apply for a subgranting project.
•

My organization wants to apply for support of its apprenticeship program. How can I
clarify in my application that my project does not include awarding subgrants even though
my budget may include fees to individual artists?
The key to avoiding the appearance of subgranting is the involvement of your organization.
Many types of projects can and should include fees to individual artists. For example, a budget
for an apprenticeship program might include fees paid to artists. These fees are not considered
subgranting if your organization provides substantive supervision of and involvement in the
mentor-apprentice relationship. This might include:
Planning a detailed description of the individual master-apprentice course of study.
• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the activity including conducting site visits.
• Documenting apprenticeship activities including reports from masters and apprentices.
• Arranging public exhibition or performance opportunities for masters and apprentices.
• Archiving material related to the apprenticeships and publicly distributing information about
the apprenticeship program and its activities.
Note that simply "checking in" on the activity, including obtaining progress and final reports,
does not qualify as substantive involvement in the project.
•

08/29/19

Challenge America, FY 2021

38

You can provide evidence of your organization's involvement with this activity through projectrelated information on your website, announcements and evaluations of public events, and
archival documentation.