Partnership Agreements NOFO

Blanket Justification for National Endowment for the Arts Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements

Partnership Agreements NOFO

OMB: 3135-0112

Document [pdf]

Download: pdf | pdf

FY2023

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
GUIDELINES
CFDA No. 45.025
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines

Table of Contents
Partnership Agreements ................................................................................................................. 2
State Arts Agencies ..................................................................................................................... 4
Program Description ............................................................................................................... 4
Application Calendar ............................................................................................................... 9
Award Information................................................................................................................ 11
Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 12
How to Apply......................................................................................................................... 14
Application Review ............................................................................................................... 17
Regional Arts Organizations ...................................................................................................... 19
Program Description ............................................................................................................. 19
Application Calendar ............................................................................................................. 25
Award Information................................................................................................................ 27
Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 28
How to Apply......................................................................................................................... 29
Application Review ............................................................................................................... 32
State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations .............................................................. 34
Additional Information on Arts Education ............................................................................ 34
Additional Information on Folk & Traditional Arts ............................................................... 36
National Services....................................................................................................................... 39
Program Description ............................................................................................................. 39
Application Calendar ............................................................................................................. 40
Award Information................................................................................................................ 41
Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 42
How to Apply......................................................................................................................... 43
Application Review ............................................................................................................... 46
All Applicants (State, Regional, and National Services) ............................................................ 48
Award Administration ........................................................................................................... 48
Contacts ................................................................................................................................ 55

1|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines

Partnership Agreements
(Landing Page Text)
The National Endowment for the Arts’ State & Regional Partnership Agreement grants are
awarded to the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs), and the six regional arts
organizations (RAOs) whose members comprise SAAs. Partnership support is also available to
the national service organization for the state arts agencies.
Partnership Agreement support enables these agencies and organizations to respond to needs
identified through public planning undertaken with their constituents, partners, and
stakeholders. This investment in locally-determined priorities extends federal reach and impact,
translating national leadership into local benefit.
All SAAs, RAOs, and their national service organization must apply annually for this support.
Approximately one third of all organizations submit a full application (“on-year”) while the
remaining organizations (“off-year”) submit abbreviated applications.
State Partnership Agreements include general funding for the execution of all aspects of the
SAA’s strategic plan and designated funding for folk & traditional arts, arts education, and
reaching underserved communities. Participating SAAs also receive support to conduct the
Poetry Out Loud program in their respective state.
Regional Partnership Agreements include general funding for the execution of all aspects of the
RAO’s strategic plan and designated funding to support touring and presenting activities that
promote live arts experiences for audiences, with an emphasis on serving underserved
communities.
Choose from the selections located in the left sidebar to get started.

2|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines

Sidebars for Website
Landing Page
State Partnership Agreements
Regional Partnership Agreements
National Services Partnership Agreement
State Profiles
Regional Profiles

State Partnership
Agreements
Program Description

Regional Partnership
Agreements
Program Description

National Services
Partnership Agreement
Program Description

Application Calendar

Award Information

Eligibility

How to Apply

Application Review

Award Administration

Additional Information on
Arts Education

Contacts

Additional Information on
Folk & Traditional Arts

Contacts

3|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

State Arts Agencies
Program Description
National Endowment for the Arts Partnership Agreements to State Arts Agencies (SAAs) makes
the arts available in more communities than it could through direct grants. The SAAs greatly
extend the federal reach and impact, translating national leadership into local benefit.
Most of the fifty state and six jurisdictional arts agencies were created in response to the
national example and financial incentive provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. For
more than 45 years our support for SAAs has helped to attract state funding that on a
nationwide basis far exceeds the federal support. State government support is vital to the arts
in America.
At the core of this federal-state partnership is the planning process that each SAA engages in to
identify and examine state priorities. Planning is inclusive and responsive, reflecting the goals
and activities determined to be most important to that state.

Goals and Objectives
While providing leadership for their states, the SAAs also work cooperatively with the National
Endowment for the Arts to achieve common goals and objectives. Partnership Agreement
funding enables the SAAs to address objectives among those identified at the state level as well
as by the National Endowment for the Arts, which may include:
1. Engagement: Increase opportunities for people from all backgrounds to encounter different
artists, art forms, and artistic and cultural traditions. Activities may include, but are not
limited to:
•

Exhibitions, performances, concerts, and readings

•

Film screenings

•

Radio and television broadcasts, video games, mobile apps, live streaming audioand video-on demand, podcasts, digital audio files, virtual reality, and other digital
applications

•

Touring and outreach activities

•

Arts festivals

•

Artist residencies in non-school settings (when the primary purpose is public
engagement)

•

Creation, development, or restaging of art works

•

Public programs that spotlight diverse artistic and cultural heritage

•

Publication, production, and promotion of digital, audio, or print publications,
catalogues, websites, and searchable databases
4|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
•

Projects that address and reduce barriers to the arts for people with disabilities and
that celebrate the work of disabled artists

•

Projects that extend the arts to underserved populations, including those whose
opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, economics,
race/ethnicity, or disability
o For the purposes of these guidelines, an underserved community is one in which
individuals lack access to arts programs due to geography, economics, ethnicity,
or disability. Within this broad definition, SAAs are asked to specify their own
underserved constituencies.

•

Projects that connect artists and designers with communities

•

Archiving, preservation, and documentation projects, including ethnographic
fieldwork and provenance research

•

Folk Arts Partnership: Support for stable, outreach-driven programs that are
responsive to a state’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage, and that can
strengthen state support of the folk & traditional arts. States are encouraged to
support professional positions in the folk & traditional arts. Programs also may
include, but are not limited to, fieldwork to identify and document underserved folk
& traditional artists; apprenticeships, mentorships, or folk arts in education
programs; and statewide activities that increase public awareness of living cultural
heritage.
ATTENTION: Previously, both SAAs and nonprofit organizations working in
cooperation with their SAA were eligible for Folk Arts Partnership funding on an
optional and competitive basis. Beginning in FY 2021, all SAAs received support for
these types of activities as part of their Partnership Agreement. For more
information about Folk Arts Partnership, visit Additional Information on Folk &
Traditional Arts.

2. Learning: Provide opportunities for people throughout the country to participate in arts
education and to increase their knowledge and skills in the arts at all stages of life. Activities
may include, but are not limited to:
•

Standards-based arts education activities for pre-K-12 students through long-term,
in-depth projects

•

Professional development to improve arts instruction by equipping artists, school
superintendents, principals, teachers, and other education providers with the skills
and confidence to effectively engage students in high-quality arts learning

•

Assessments and evaluations of arts learning

•

Lifelong learning activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational groups

•

Online courses and training

•

Lectures and symposia

•

Production, publication, and distribution of teachers’/ facilitators' guides
5|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
•

Innovative practices in arts learning for Americans of all ages

•

Artist residencies (when the primary purpose is educational)

•

Informal education programs, workshops, and demonstrations

•

Arts learning programs for older adults in community settings, residential settings,
and healthcare/long-term care settings

•

Arts learning programs for youth in juvenile justice settings

•

Arts learning programs and approaches that promote full access and participation in
the arts for youth and adults with disabilities

3. International Activities: Provide opportunities for the international exchange of artists and
arts and cultural traditions. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

Activities promoting the diversity of U.S. artists and artworks for audiences abroad

•

Activities providing U.S. audiences and artists with opportunities to experience
international artistry in the U.S.

•

Residency exchange programs with artists and artist communities in other countries.

4. Health & Well-Being: Support arts projects with a focus on advancing the health and wellbeing of individuals. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

Creative arts therapies and/or arts-in-health strategies that seek to assist with
healthy aging and healthy childhood and youth development or with rehabilitation
or recovery services, or that address currently and/or formerly incarcerated
populations

5. Strengthening Communities: Embed the arts in system-wide initiatives that strengthen or
heal communities. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

Projects in which arts organizations collaborate with cross-sector partners on
systems-level community change.

•

Projects that use the arts to protect and revitalize natural, cultural, and economic
resources within communities, including cultural and community planning, historic
and community preservation projects, and charrettes and design-related activities.

•

Creative placemaking projects that use the arts, design, and cultural strategies to
achieve positive economic, physical, and social outcomes for communities.

•

Projects that use data to inform community members about the state of local arts
participation or arts education, to identify and address inequitable areas of service,
and/or to inform decision-making for a community.

•

Trauma response and recovery efforts within communities.

6. Capacity-Building: Support professional development and technical assistance efforts to
develop the capacity of artists, arts professionals, and organizations. Activities may include,
but are not limited to:
6|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
•

Services to the field, including workshops, conferences, convenings, publications,
professional leadership development, technical assistance, or online resources

•

Development of peer-to-peer networks of experienced and emerging arts leaders.

•

Training and technical assistance workshops in arts management, professional
development and career transitions, grant writing, and board development.

•

Projects that include planning, capacity building, infrastructure, and training that
supports an organization’s capacity to respond to current events.

•

Apprenticeships/mentorships in the arts or arts professions and professional artist
training programs (excluding activities in the K-12 education settings but including
young artist training programs).

•

Artist residencies (when the primary purpose is to support artist’s development).

•

Emergency preparedness planning for arts organizations and the building of their
protective capabilities.

7. Research: Support projects that produce research, statistics, and general information about
the arts for the benefit of the arts sector and beyond. Activities may include, but are not
limited to:
•

Support for research projects and programs.

•

Support for arts research infrastructure and capacity building.

8. Technology: Invest in the capacity of arts organizations to support tech-centered creative
practices and to serve a broader public through digital or emergent technology. Activities
may include, but are not limited to:
•

Support for tech-centered creative practices and artist-driven explorations of digital
or emergent technology across all artistic disciplines.

•

Arts organizations’ capacity building to deliver tech-centered, digital, and hybrid arts
and cultural programs to audiences and learners.

•

Professional development in tech-centered creative practices.

•

Field-building initiatives that develop networks across artistic disciplines and
relevant entities for investing in tech-centered creative practices and artist-driven
use of digital or emergent technology.

•

Sharing of information among peer networks—and to raise awareness about—
creative solutions and best practices for using digital technology, including
accessibility requirements for websites, virtual programs, and other tech-centered
activities.

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
and leaders in the arts and culture sector. We believe that each participating entity benefits
from partnership in the network. We invest in the network through State and Regional
Partnership Agreement grants in order to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Strengthen the cultural infrastructure of the United States,
Facilitate the creation and presentation of artistic works,
Provide the public with lifelong learning opportunities in the arts,
Enhance public engagement with, and access to, the arts,
Foster greater cultural understanding, and
Contribute to the enrichment of lives and communities throughout the nation.

We acknowledge that SAAs may choose to participate in the work of a regional arts
organization of which it is not a member. SAAs may choose to shift membership from one
regional arts organization to another, or may choose to withhold membership in an RAO. While
recognizing that the ecology of the network benefits from change, we also believe that the
network benefits from stability. To this end, shifts in state membership in RAOs must be
preceded by at least one full year of planning by all of the agencies involved, including the
National Endowment for the Arts.

8|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

Application Calendar
Deadlines:
Submit to Grants.gov

September 29, 2022

On-Year Applicants Only: Submit 1-Page
Update by email (Optional)

December 1, 2022

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or
Rejection

April 2023

Submit Partnership Agreements Budget
Form
Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project

Date Announced in Notification of Funding
July 1, 2023

We use a staggered, multi-year review for SAA Partnership Agreements. The organizations
listed below as on-year applicants are required to submit full-scale applications, while SAAs
listed below as off-year applicants have simplified requirements.
On-year:
American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, Virginia
Off-year:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Northern Marianas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s
online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no
later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 29, 2022. See "How to Apply" for further
information.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane) or Grants.gov technological failure, the
National Endowment for the Arts Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants.
If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2023, or any time
thereafter.

9|Page

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
Following the notification of funding offers (anticipated to be April 2023), all applicants must
complete and submit a Partnership Agreement Budget for NEA review. Instructions and
deadlines will be provided with the notification of funding.
Questions specific to SAAs and RAOs:
Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586
For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership, contact:
Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202-682-5587 or
Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or 202-682-5726.
For questions specific to Arts Education, contact:
Nancy Daugherty at [email protected], or 202-682-5521
For questions specific to Poetry Out Loud, contact:
Lauren Miller at [email protected], or 202-682-5490
Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / [email protected] or the Office of
Civil Rights at [email protected] to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines.

10 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

Award Information
Partnership Award Amounts
Funds will be awarded in accordance with the National Endowment for the Arts’ legislative
mandate, and in compliance with the review criteria.
Funds for activities that strengthen state support of the folk & traditional arts will be awarded
to each state arts agency as part of their Partnership Agreement.

Cost Share/Matching Requirement
All awards require a cost share/match of at least 1 to 1.
The 1 to 1 cost share/match must come from state government funds that are directly
controlled and appropriated by the state and directly managed by the state agency.
For those agencies covered by the Economic Development of the Territories Act (American
Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands), the cost
share/matching requirement does not apply to the first $200,000 of National Endowment for
the Arts funds (48 USC 1469a(d) as amended). Agencies must request a waiver from the cost
share/matching requirement for amounts above the first $200,000 of our funds.
All costs included in your Project Budget, whether supported by NEA funds or cost
share/matching funds, must be expended during your period of performance, including all costs
associated with subgranting activity. Costs associated with other federal funds, whether direct
or indirect, cannot be included in your Project Budget. Costs incurred before the earliest project
start date of July 1, 2023, cannot be included in your budget or cost share/match.

11 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for State Arts Agencies
SAA Partnership Agreements are limited to the fifty state and six jurisdictional arts agencies. In
order to enter into a state arts agency Partnership Agreement and receive federal funding from
the National Endowment for the Arts, a state arts agency must comply with the following
requirements:
Legal
The state arts agency must:
•

Comply, at the time of application, with the legal requirements outlined in the National
Endowment for the Arts’ authorizing legislation 20 U.S.C. § 954 (2012) and found on the
agency’s website at: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Legislation.pdf.

Organizational Entity and Capacity
The state arts agency must:
•
•
•
•

Be domiciled within the State.
Be designated by its State government as programmatically and administratively
responsible for developing a statewide arts plan and establishing arts and cultural policy
having a statewide impact.
Be designated as officially responsible for coordinating and administering all financial
support received from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State in
conjunction with the state arts agency Partnership Agreement.
Have designated staff with relevant experience; a designated budget; and an
independent board, council, or commission whose members serve in an advisory or
policy-making capacity.

Financial Support, Cost Share/Matching Funds, and Financial Reporting
The state arts agency must:
•
•

•

Be financially supported by its State government.
Provide a cost share/match to the National Endowment for the Arts Partnership
Agreement funds of at least 1 to 1.
• The 1 to 1 cost share/match must come from state government funds that are
directly controlled and appropriated by the state and directly managed by the state
agency.
Use Partnership Agreement funds to supplement and not supplant non-federal funds.
(Non-federal funds cannot be replaced with federal funds with the intention or effect of
reducing State financial support for the state arts agency.)

Planning, Programming, and Evaluation
The state arts agency must have developed a state arts plan that:
12 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
Results from an inclusive, public process that solicited and represented the perspectives
of arts constituencies throughout the State.
• Reflects the state arts agency’s operating environment, mission, goals, strategic
directions, action plans, recommendations from the public process, and timelines and
metrics for both accomplishing goals and measuring progress.
• Demonstrates the state arts agency’s commitment and its capacity to implement the
arts-related programs and services reflected in the plan.
• Bases program funding decisions on criteria that rely primarily upon artistic excellence
and artistic merit.
The state arts agency submits this plan with its Partnership Agreement application.
•

Subgranting
State arts agencies that subgrant must:
• Require their grantees to provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number before a grant
can be made.
• Report grants of $30,000 or more in federal funds and information about the
compensation of executives related to those grants to the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).
• Ensure that all subawards made with Federal or cost share/matching funds are in
compliance with the General Terms and Conditions for the National Endowment for the
Arts award, including requirements for pass-through entities provided for under 2 CFR
200.331.
SAM Registration
All applicants must have a UEI number, 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.

13 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

How to Apply
Read through these instructions fully, as they include important step-by-step directions to
ensure that your application is submitted successfully.
We use a staggered, multi-year review for SAA Partnership Agreements. The organizations
listed below as “on-year” applicants are required to submit full-scale applications, while SAAs
listed below as “off-year” applicants have simplified requirements.
On-year:
American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Virgin Islands, Virginia
Off-year:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Northern Marianas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Using Grants.gov
Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY.
The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no later than 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on September 29, 2022.
Register or renew/verify your registration with Grants.gov and SAM.gov at least two weeks
before the deadline.
Submit your application by September 19, 2022, to give yourself ample time to resolve any
problems that you might encounter. You take significant risk by waiting until the day of the
deadline to submit your application. Late applications will not be accepted.

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
registrations well before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve any
issues that may arise.
Your organization must be registered with SAM before registering with Grants.gov.
On April 4, 2022, the federal government switched from using a DUNS number to a new Unique
Entity Identifier, also known as a “UEI.” The UEI is a 12-character alpha numeric value that will
be assigned by SAM for free. You must have a UEI in order to submit your Partnership
Agreements application.
SAM Registration
Organizations already registered with SAM:
• A UEI will automatically be assigned to your organization by SAM. The UEI will be visible
in your organization’s SAM record.
• If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help
section of SAM’s website.
When registering/renewing your SAM account, you must select “Yes” when completing the
“Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these
representations & certifications in order to receive an award.
Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of
the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in
Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.
Grants.gov Registration
If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization Registration.
If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with SAM
and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.
You must complete the Grants.gov registration process to access the application package (see
below). You will need the Grants.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the
registration process to submit your application, and you won’t be able to submit your
application unless your SAM registration is active and up-to-date.
SAM and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your SAM or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions
about or need assistance with these sites, contact them directly:
•

SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM Help.

15 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
•

Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, 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.

All Applicants: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package
Access the Grant Opportunity Package by clicking on the link below:
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE ON GRANTS.GOV
[Funding Opportunity Number 2022NEA04PA]
1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the application package in Grants.gov.
2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3. You will be prompted to enter your Grants.gov Username and Password. In order to
create the Workspace application, you must be logged into Grants.gov with a participant
role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
More information on participant roles can be found here.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
6. After accessing the Grant Opportunity Package, you can find each Mandatory form by
clicking on it OR you can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in
succession. The forms are:
o Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form asks
for basic information about your organization and application. Complete this
form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where possible.
o Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this
form below.
o Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a
place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic
plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov Opportunity Package to be
considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Application Instructions
To access the full SAA application instructions for both on and off year applicants, download
the application instructions PDF [LINK].
16 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies

Application Review
Review Criteria
Partnership Agreements State Arts Agencies
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications:
A. Planning Process
Constituents are involved in the SAA’s planning process, incorporating:
1. Opportunities for a wide range of constituents to participate in the planning process,
including those in underserved communities.
2. Constituent engagement through a wide variety of meeting formats and media, such as
public meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and/or other methods
appropriate to the constituent groups.
3. Responses to recommendations and the priorities identified through the planning
process.
4. Metrics and/or other relevant information used to monitor progress in relation to the
state plan.
B. Implementation and Accomplishments
SAA programs, activities, and other accomplishments:
1. Respond to the priorities identified by constituents during the planning process and/or
changing circumstances in the state.
2. Leverage public and private partnerships, as appropriate.
3. Engage underserved communities, as defined at the state-level.
4. Include plans to support stable, outreach-driven programs that are responsive to the
state’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage.

Multi-Year Approval
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for State Partnership
Agreements. While each SAA is required to submit an application annually, those organizations
that are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the requirements and review criteria
receive three-year approval of their proposals. They are not required to submit another fullscale application, including all material necessary for review, for another three years. In the
other years ("off years"), the application requirements are simplified greatly. Multi-year
approval is subject to an organization’s continuing ability to carry out its approved plan. At the
discretion of the National Endowment for the Arts Chair, multi-year approval may be revoked if
state support is substantially reduced or if other circumstances threaten an organization’s
ability to carry out its approved plan. See Application Calendar for a full list of on and off year
designations.

17 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: State Arts Agencies
In recommending action on State Partnership Agreement proposals, the National Endowment
for the Arts has a variety of options ranging from full three-year approval, to more limited or
contingent approval requiring interim response, to a determination not to provide a State
Partnership Agreement.

What Happens to Your Partnership Agreement Application
Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria" for their category.
Funding recommendations are considered by the National Council on the Arts, where they are
reviewed in open session. The Council makes recommendations to the Chair of the National
Endowment for the Arts. The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations and makes the final
decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.
Contact Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586 if you have questions
about the review process.
NOTE: 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.

18 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Regional Arts Organizations
Program Description
The regional arts organizations (RAOs) are private, nonprofit entities created by state arts
leaders in the mid-1970s to facilitate the exchange of artists across state borders. The National
Endowment for the Arts encouraged the development of RAOs to cultivate the touring of artists
to sparsely populated and underserved areas of the country.
Over time, RAOs have evolved to play a major role in strengthening the effectiveness and
efficiency of the U.S. arts infrastructure. They draw on their own ability to cultivate public and
private resources; work collaboratively across state, national, and international borders; and
deliver programming across all arts disciplines.
RAOs play a leading role with federal agencies, funders, and those working at the state and
community level to design, implement, and channel resources into programs and services that
meet the needs of the public they serve. While they operate independently, RAOs collaborate
with each other, their member states, and constituency groups in a national network to assist
the National Endowment for the Arts and other funders in delivering programs.

Goals and Objectives
The federal investment in this area is predicated on each RAO executing an inclusive and
responsive planning process in response to constituent needs. Partnership Agreement funding
enables the RAOs to address objectives among those identified at the regional level as well as
by the National Endowment for the Arts, which may include:
1. Engagement: Increase opportunities for people from all backgrounds to encounter different
artists, art forms, and artistic and cultural traditions. Activities may include, but are not
limited to:
•

Exhibitions, performances, concerts, and readings

•

Film screenings

•

Radio and television broadcasts, video games, mobile apps, live streaming audioand video-on demand, podcasts, digital audio files, virtual reality, and other digital
applications

•

Touring and outreach activities

•

Arts festivals

•

Artist residencies in non-school settings (when the primary purpose is public
engagement)

•

Creation, development, or restaging of art works

•

Public programs that spotlight diverse artistic and cultural heritage
19 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
•

Publication, production, and promotion of digital, audio, or print publications,
catalogues, websites, and searchable databases

•

Projects that address and reduce barriers to the arts for people with disabilities and
that celebrate the work of disabled artists

•

Projects that extend the arts to underserved populations, including those whose
opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, economics,
race/ethnicity, or disability
o For the purposes of these guidelines, an underserved community is one in which
individuals lack access to arts programs due to geography, economics, ethnicity,
or disability. Within this broad definition, RAOs are asked to specify their own
underserved constituencies.

•

Projects that connect artists and designers with communities

•

Archiving, preservation, and documentation projects, including ethnographic
fieldwork and provenance research

•

The NEA Regional Touring Program, which is designed to give all Americans access
to excellence in the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. In light of the
COVID-19 Pandemic, virtual engagements are permissible and encouraged. Support
is available for regional programs that:
o Increase access in underserved communities.
o Increase benefit through complementary educational activities and community
partnerships.
o Are based on planning with touring artists and community groups.
o Ensure high quality
o Encourage diversity
o Predominantly feature the presentation of out-of-state artists and organizations
 Some considerations are allowed for projects that involve multi-state tours
developed by presenter consortia; touring of artists across vast distances
within state boundaries; in-state touring of culturally-specific programs to
new venues and new audiences; or that take place in states that have a large
concentration of artists/organizations, such as California and New York.
 To ease the administrative burden on RAOs during the pandemic, it is
currently required that a majority of the Regional Touring funds will support
the presentation of artists from out of state.
o Assist and strengthen a network of arts-presenting organizations in rural and
underserved communities
o Encourage programming that is made accessible to and engages with individuals
and artists of all abilities
o Support for presenting, touring, outreach, and other activities, including booking
conferences and professional development, designed to enhance public
engagement with the arts.
20 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

NOTE: No more than 20 percent of the NEA Regional Touring funds may be used to
support an RAO's administrative costs.
•

Folk Arts Partnership: Support for stable, outreach-driven programs that are
responsive to a region’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage, and that can
strengthen regional support of the folk & traditional arts. RAOs are encouraged to
support professional positions in the folk & traditional arts. Programs also may
include, but are not limited to, fieldwork to identify and document underserved folk
& traditional artists; apprenticeships, mentorships, or folk arts in education
programs; and statewide activities that increase public awareness of living cultural
heritage.
ATTENTION: Previously, both RAOs and nonprofit organizations working in
cooperation with their RAO were eligible for Folk Arts Partnership funding on an
optional and competitive basis. Beginning in FY 2021, all RAOs received support for
these types of activities as part of their Partnership Agreement. For more
information about Folk Arts Partnership, visit Additional Information on Folk &
Traditional Arts.

Standards-based arts education activities for pre-K-12 students through long-term,
in-depth projects

•

Assessments and evaluations of arts learning

•

Lifelong learning activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational groups

•

Online courses and training

•

Lectures and symposia

•

Production, publication, and distribution of teachers’/ facilitators' guides

•

Innovative practices in arts learning for Americans of all ages

•

Artist residencies (when the primary purpose is educational)

•

Informal education programs, workshops, and demonstrations

•

Arts learning programs for older adults in community settings, residential settings,
and healthcare/long-term care settings

•

Arts learning programs for youth in juvenile justice settings

•

Arts learning programs and approaches that promote full access and participation in
the arts for youth and adults with disabilities
21 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
3. International Activities: Provide opportunities for the international exchange of artists and
arts and cultural traditions. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

Activities promoting the diversity of U.S. artists and artworks for audiences abroad

•

Activities providing U.S. audiences and artists with opportunities to experience
international artistry in the U.S.

•

Residency exchange programs with artists and artist communities in other countries.

4. Health & Well-Being: Support arts projects with a focus on advancing the health and wellbeing of individuals. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

5. Strengthening Communities: Embed the arts in system-wide initiatives that strengthen or
heal communities. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
•

Projects in which arts organizations collaborate with cross-sector partners on
systems-level community change

•

Creative placemaking projects that use the arts, design, and cultural strategies to
achieve positive economic, physical, and social outcomes for communities

•

Trauma response and recovery efforts within communities

Services to the field, including workshops, conferences, convenings, publications,
professional leadership development, technical assistance, or online resources

•

Development of peer-to-peer networks of experienced and emerging arts leaders

•

Training and technical assistance workshops in arts management, professional
development and career transitions, grant writing, and board development

•

Projects that include planning, capacity building, infrastructure, and training that
supports an organization’s capacity to respond to current events

22 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
•

•

Artist residencies (when the primary purpose is to support artist’s development).

•

Emergency preparedness planning for arts organizations and the building of their
protective capabilities

Support for research projects and programs

•

Support for arts research infrastructure and capacity building

Support for tech-centered creative practices and artist-driven explorations of digital
or emergent technology across all artistic disciplines

•

Arts organizations’ capacity building to deliver tech-centered, digital, and hybrid arts
and cultural programs to audiences and learners

•

Professional development in tech-centered creative practices

•

National Endowment for the Arts, Regional, and State Partnership
The National Endowment for the Arts, the Regional Arts Organizations, and the State Arts
Agencies comprise a national network of arts funders, cultural program and service providers,
and leaders in the arts and culture sector. We believe that each participating entity benefits
from partnership in the network. We invest in the network through State and Regional
Partnership Agreement grants in order to:
•
•
•
•
•

Strengthen the cultural infrastructure of the US,
Facilitate the creation and presentation of artistic works,
Provide the public with lifelong learning opportunities in the arts,
Enhance public engagement with, and access to, the arts,
Foster greater cultural understanding, and
23 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
•

Contribute to the enrichment of lives and communities throughout the nation.

24 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Application Calendar
Deadlines:
Submit to Grants.gov

September 29, 2022

On-Year Applicants Only: Submit 1-Page
Update by email (Optional)

December 1, 2022

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or
Rejection

April 2023

Submit Partnership Agreements Budget
Form
Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project

Date Announced in Notification of Funding
July 1, 2023

We use a staggered, multi-year review for RAO Partnership Agreements. The organizations
listed below as on-year applicants are required to submit full-scale applications, while RAOs
listed below as off-year applicants have simplified requirements.
On-year: Arts Midwest
Off-Year: Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts,
South Arts, Western States Arts Federation
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s
online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no
later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 29, 2022. See "How to Apply" for further
information.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane) or Grants.gov technological failure, the
National Endowment for the Arts Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants.
If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2023, or any time
thereafter.
Following the notification of funding offers (anticipated to be April 2023), all applicants must
complete and submit a Partnership Agreement Budget for NEA review. Instructions and
deadlines will be provided with the notification of funding.
Questions specific to SAAs and RAOs:
Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586
For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership, contact:
25 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202-682-5587 or
Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or 202-682-5726.
For questions specific to Arts Education, contact:
Nancy Daugherty at [email protected], or 202-682-5521
For questions specific to Poetry Out Loud, contact:
Lauren Miller at [email protected], or 202-682-5490
Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / [email protected] or the Office of
Civil Rights at [email protected] to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines.

26 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Award Information
Partnership Award Amounts
Funds will be allotted based on:
•
•
•
•

National Endowment for the Arts allocations;
Strength of the RAO plans and accomplishments in relation to the review criteria;
The number of SAAs that participate as members in the RAO; and
The region’s population.

The RAO Partnership Agreement grant complements support provided by state arts agencies
(SAAs), other public and private funders, and revenue generated through earned income.
Funds for activities that strengthen state support of the folk & traditional arts will be awarded
to each Regional Arts Organization.

Cost Share/Matching Requirement
All awards require a cost share/match of at least 1 to 1.
All costs included in your Project Budget, whether supported by NEA funds or cost
share/matching funds, must be expended during your period of performance, including all costs
associated with subgranting activity. Costs associated with other federal funds, whether direct
or indirect, cannot be included in your Project Budget. Costs incurred before the earliest project
start date of July 1, 2023, cannot be included in your budget or cost share/match.

27 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for Regional Arts Organizations
In order to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts, a
regional arts organization must:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Be comprised of at least three state arts agency (SAA) members.
Conduct a comprehensive and inclusive planning process that engages SAAs and
other constituents.
Develop programs and services that respond to recommendations from the planning
process.
Establish metrics for accomplishing goals and measuring progress in relation to the
RAO’s plan.
Base program funding decisions on criteria that rely primarily upon artistic
excellence and artistic merit.
Maintain sound fiscal and administrative procedures.
Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ Legal Requirements at the time of
application.

Regional arts organizations that subgrant must:
•
•
•

Require their grantees to provide UEI numbers before a grant can be made.
Report grants of $30,000 or more in federal funds and information about the
compensation of executives related to those grants to the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).
Ensure that all subawards made with Federal or cost share/matching funds are in
compliance with the General Terms and Conditions for the National Endowment for
the Arts award, including requirements for pass-through entities as provided under
2 CFR 200.331.

SAM Registration
All applicants must have a UEI number, 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.

28 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Registration
Register with SAM and Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations
Before applying, your organization must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with both
the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Registering and
maintaining accounts with SAM and Grants.gov is always FREE.
These registrations can take several weeks to finalize, so begin this process early! Registrations
with SAM and Grants.gov must be active for you to submit your application. Finalize your
registrations well before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve any
issues that may arise.
Your organization must be registered with SAM before registering with Grants.gov.
On April 4, 2022, the federal government switched from using a DUNS number to a new Unique
Entity Identifier, also known as a “UEI.” The UEI is a 12-character alpha numeric value that will
be assigned by SAM for free. You must have a UEI in order to submit your Partnership
Agreements application.
29 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

SAM Registration
Organizations already registered with SAM:
• A UEI will automatically be assigned to your organization by SAM. The UEI will be visible
in your organization’s SAM record.
• If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help
section of SAM’s website.
When registering/renewing your SAM account, you must select “Yes” when completing the
“Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these
representations & certifications in order to receive an award.
Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of
the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in
Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.
Grants.gov Registration
If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization Registration.
If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with SAM
and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.
You must complete the Grants.gov registration process to access the application package (see
below). You will need the Grants.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the
registration process to submit your application, and you won’t be able to submit your
application unless your SAM registration is active and up-to-date.
SAM and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your SAM or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions
about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:
• SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM Help.
• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, 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.

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations
2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3. You will be prompted to enter your Grants.gov Username and Password. In order to
create the Workspace application, you must be logged into Grants.gov with a participant
role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
More information on participant roles can be found here.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
6. After accessing the Grant Opportunity Package, you can find each Mandatory form by
clicking on it OR you can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in
succession. The forms are:
o Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form asks
for basic information about your organization and application. Complete this
form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where possible.
o Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this
form below.
o Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a
place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic
plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov Opportunity Package to be
considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Application Instructions
To access the full RAO application instructions for both on and off year applicants, download
the application instructions PDF [LINK].

31 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

Application Review
Review Criteria
Partnership Agreements Regional Arts Organizations
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications:
A. Planning Process
Constituents are involved in the organization’s planning process, incorporating:
1. Opportunities for a wide range of constituents to participate in the planning process,
including those in underserved communities.
2. Constituent engagement through a wide variety of meeting formats and media, such as
public meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and/or other methods
appropriate to the constituent groups.
3. Responses to recommendations and the priorities identified through the planning
process.
4. Metrics and/or other relevant information used to monitor the region’s progress in
achieving its goals.
B. Implementation and Accomplishments
The organization’s programs, activities, and other accomplishments:
1. Respond to the priorities identified by constituents during the planning process and/or
changing circumstances in the region.
2. Leverage public and private partnerships, as appropriate.
3. Demonstrate the organization’s cost effectiveness and record of growing and
diversifying its revenue sources, specifically from non-federal sources.
4. Include plans to support stable, outreach-driven programs that are responsive to the
region’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage, and that can strengthen support of the
folk & traditional arts).

Multi-Year Approval
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for Regional
Partnership awards. While each RAO is required to submit an application annually, those
organizations that are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the requirements and
review criteria receive three-year approval of their proposals. They are not required to submit
another full-scale application, including all material necessary for review, for another three
years. In the other years ("off years"), the application requirements are simplified greatly. See
Application Calendar for a full list of on and off year designations.
In recommending action on Regional Partnership Agreement proposals, the National
Endowment for the Arts has a variety of options ranging from full three-year approval, to more
limited or contingent approval requiring interim response, to a determination not to provide a
Regional Partnership Agreement.
32 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: Regional Arts Organizations

33 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines:
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations

State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations
Additional Information on Arts Education
The National Endowment for the Arts envisions a nation where every student is engaged and
empowered through an excellent arts education. Arts education is vital to developing America's
next generation of creative and innovative thinkers.

Partnership Agreement Support for Arts Education
Partnership Agreement support is intended to respond to the objectives, strategies, and
programs that each state arts agency develops based on national or state arts education
standards, as appropriate, and its state’s needs, opportunities, and resources.
Activities may be offered during or outside the regular school day schedule by school districts,
arts organizations, or non-arts organizations or agencies in partnership with artists and/or arts
groups. Projects could take place in locations such as schools, arts organizations, community
centers, faith-based organizations, makerspaces, public housing, tribal community centers,
and/or juvenile justice facilities, and may occur in-person or online.
Possible components of a state’s arts education program might include:
•

Curriculum-based learning in all of the arts disciplines -- creative writing, dance,
design, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts -- that is linked to national or state
standards, as appropriate, and that meets the developmental needs of all youth.

•

Hands-on instruction in the arts that includes the creation, production, and
performance of works of art.

•

Instruction that balances skills development with arts history and critical theory.

•

Sequential programs, taught by qualified teachers, and strengthened by regular
engagement with artists, artistic works, and arts institutions to sustain, expand, and
deepen students’ understanding of and competence in the arts.

•

Interdisciplinary programs to enhance the richness of the arts learning experience.

•

The arts also can be integrated with other subjects to enable students to make
connections across the curriculum.

•

Artists’ residencies where students and teachers can participate in and learn about
specific arts disciplines. Residencies may be planned with teachers and other school
and community leaders to be consistent with national or state standards, curricula,
and arts education programs. Teacher training, follow-up visits by artists, and
assistance with the development of curriculum or lesson units are encouraged as
components of residencies.

34 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines:
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations
•

Grants and/or technical assistance to local arts agencies, arts organizations, service
organizations, professional associations, and schools for model or demonstration
projects, curriculum development, student assessment or program evaluation,
public awareness, research, or other efforts in arts education.

•

Training for teaching artists to increase their knowledge and skills concerning the
developmental needs of students; school "cultures," policies, and procedures; and
other matters related to their work with students, teachers, and others in pre-K
through 12 education.

•

Training for teachers, school administrators, and others to heighten the awareness,
knowledge, and skills that are essential to planning, developing, and sustaining arts
education programs.

•

Consortia, task forces, or similar groups at the state and local levels which increase
communication and awareness, provide program coordination, and/or help develop
public policy that is important to achieving the partnership goals for arts education.

•

Cultivation of cross-sector partners, convenings, creation of an arts education data
initiative, collective impact consultation, and/or creation of a logic model and an arts
education strategic plan, or any other activities that support the development of a
plan.

35 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines:
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations

Additional Information on Folk & Traditional Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting folk & traditional arts in every
state, region, and territory. Our recent Living Traditions report includes significant data that
shows the strategic role that folk & traditional arts grants and programs play in serving the
nation’s most rural and impoverished communities. Likewise, the report illuminates the power
of institutional partnerships (among SAAs, RAOs, and nonprofit partners) to extend the reach of
arts agencies to the nation’s most underserved communities.
Additionally, findings in the 2018 NEA research report Qualitative Analysis Project Findings: Folk
and Traditional Arts Partnership Grants show that best practices of Folk Arts Partnerships
involve collaborative partnerships with non-profits to develop and implement projects,
including exhibits and events; apprenticeship, fellowship, and awards programs; and fieldwork
and research efforts. Partners also provide event space or co-sponsor events; and their
networks are commonly used to reach underserved audiences.
In FY2021, the NEA increased its commitment for folk & traditional arts. With a new goal of
supporting folk & traditional arts in every state, jurisdiction, and region, funds are being
awarded through all Partnership Agreements based on the strength of the SAA’s or RAO’s plans
in relation to the Partnership Agreements Review Criteria. ( SAA | RAO )
Support from the Folk Arts Partnership program helps to dynamically extend the resources of
SAAs and RAOs. We wish to honor collaborations through the Partnership Agreement by
formalizing institutional partnerships of SAAs and RAOs whose programs have regularly worked
with nonprofit organizations. SAAs, RAOs, and collaborating nonprofit organizations will engage
in a three-year funding cycle, allowing greater capacity for long-term planning.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. May we receive assistance or guidance to help us plan a program? If so, whom should we
contact?
A: Yes, please contact Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] to learn more.
2. May an SAA/RAO partner with a nonprofit organization or university to carry out our Folk
Arts Partnership program?
A: Yes, partnerships with nonprofits or universities are permitted, although the process to
apply may be different than in previous years:
•

If guidance or assistance is needed to establish new partnerships or navigate through
existing partnerships, please reach out to NEA staff.

•

For SAAs/RAOs whose applications historically included a folk arts funding request,
whereby funding was dispersed by the SAA/RAO to longstanding partners at nonprofit
organizations or universities, the guidelines do not affect the existing partnerships.
36 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines:
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations
There are updated application requirements, however, and you will need to review
those in the guidelines.
•

For SAAs/RAOs who historically provided a support letter to nonprofit organizations or
universities, thereby allowing the nonprofit to be the applicant-of-record, the guidelines
affect the application process. Nonprofit organizations will no longer be able to apply to
the NEA for Folk Arts Partnerships funds. Instead, Folk Arts Partnership funding will be
awarded directly to the SAA/RAO. The SAA/RAO may enter into a contract with the
nonprofit partner to manage the folk arts program. There are updated application
requirements that you will need to review in the guidelines.

3. Are nonprofit organizations or universities eligible to apply for and receive Folk Arts
Partnership funding directly?
A: Nonprofit or university organizations are unable to apply directly to the NEA for Folk Arts
Partnership funding. Your organization will need to partner with your SAA/RAO, with a work
plan described in the SAA/RAO application that identifies the nonprofit/university carrying
out the work in partnership with the SAA/RAO. There are updated application requirements
that you will need to review in the guidelines.
4. We are an SAA/RAO that has been submitting a letter of support to a nonprofit or
university. How do we begin this transition?
A: The NEA will be happy to facilitate a conversation and consult on the best course of
action with you and your nonprofit or university partner. Contact Cheryl Schiele at
[email protected] to learn more.
5. Does our SAA/RAO need to hire a staff position to support Folk Arts Partnership? If not,
what are our options?
A: No, you will not need to hire/create a staff position. There are several options depending
on your current Folk Arts Partnership plans. Programs can take a variety of shapes, ranging
from developing an in-house program, to facilitating partnerships with external non-profits
and universities, contracting fieldwork that is tied to SAA/RAO grantmaking programs such
as apprenticeships, organizing networks of folklife/cultural heritage stakeholders, and so
on.
6. What do we do if we are unable to meet the cost share/match for our increased
partnership agreement grant now that folk arts is included in it?
A. Contact the States and Regionals office.
7. Can you describe “outreach-driven” and the ways in which Folk Arts Partnership programs
connect to folk & traditional artists and communities?

37 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines:
State Arts Agencies & Regional Arts Organizations
A: As the Living Traditions report shows, Folk Arts Partnerships excel at connecting
SAA/RAO resources to hard-to-reach communities when they are driven by face-to-face
outreach initiatives. Best practices include ethnographic fieldwork surveys that identify
traditional artists and community organizations, as well as the convening of folklife and
cultural heritage stakeholders. Research shows that many of the artists and organizations
who most readily identify with folklife and cultural heritage initiatives do not always identify
as stakeholders in the arts. Therefore, connecting folklife stakeholders with SAA/RAO
resources requires intentional, face-to-face communication in addition to online promotion
of programs.
8. How will applications be reviewed?
A: Applications will be evaluated in relation to the published review criteria as part of the
larger SAA/RAO application. Reviewers who have expertise in Folk & Traditional Arts will be
involved in this process.
9. We are in an off-year for FY23. How will this affect our application?
A: There are a few different scenarios to consider:
• For off-year SAAs/RAOs already receiving Folk Arts Partnership funding directly,
review the updated language for the narrative component of your application.
However, there should be no disruption to the way funds are allocated in the grant.
•

For off-year SAAs/RAOs who have historically submitted support letters for
nonprofit organizations and university applicants, review the updated language for
the narrative component of your application. Folk Arts Partnership funding will be
included in your grant. You may secure your existing partnership, distributing
funding to the nonprofit organization or university directly.

10. Will we need to determine and submit a funding amount for Folk Arts Partnership?
A: No. The Folk Arts Partnership funding allocation will be determined by the NEA, keeping
the amounts close to the amounts previously granted and contingent upon the NEA’s
overall budget.

38 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

National Services
Program Description
Limited funds are available for national services that are provided by membership organizations
of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Funds are to be used for projects that
provide leadership, training, planning, coordination, and information services that increase
accountability and transparency. Support for national services will come out of funds
designated by the Congress for the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.
In line with its strategic plan, the National Endowment for the Arts has determined that all
national services projects will address our objective to promote public knowledge and
understanding about the contributions of the arts.
Activities may include, but are not limited to: recognition and promotion of artistic
achievement throughout the nation; research and dissemination of reports that demonstrate
efforts by SAAs and RAOs to increase public knowledge and understanding about the arts’
contributions to social, civic, economic and/or other objectives; impact analyses of arts and
cultural programming; recognition of professional arts workers as a key sector of American
industry; efforts by the SAAs and RAOs to nurture and promote innovation; collaborations with
other state, regional, or national entities to explore or enhance the role the arts can play in
their programming; activities promoting cultural diplomacy with other countries; and the
hosting or sponsorship of related convenings, information exchanges, and reports.

39 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

Application Calendar
Deadlines:
Submit to Grants.gov

September 29, 2022

On-Year Applicants Only: Submit 1-Page
Update by email (Optional)

December 1, 2022

Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or
Rejection

April 2023

Submit Partnership Agreements Budget
Form
Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project

Date Announced in Notification of Funding
July 1, 2023

We use a staggered, multi-year review for National Services. For FY 2023 the National Assembly
of State Arts Agencies will complete an off-year application.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s
online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no
later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 29, 2022. See "How to Apply" for further
information.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane) or Grants.gov technological failure, the
National Endowment for the Arts Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants.
If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2023, or any time
thereafter.
Following the notification of funding offers (anticipated to be April 2023), all applicants must
complete and submit a Partnership Agreement Budget for NEA review. Instructions and
deadlines will be provided with the notification of funding.
Questions:
Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586
Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / [email protected] or the Office of
Civil Rights at [email protected] to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines.

40 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

Award Information
Award Amounts
All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1 to 1. For example, if an
organization receives a $500,000 grant, the total eligible project costs must be at least
$1,000,000 and the organization must provide at least $500,000 toward the project from
nonfederal sources.
Grants generally will range from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
We reserve the right to limit support of a project to a particular portion(s) or cost(s).
All costs included in your Project Budget must be expended during your period of performance.
This includes all subgranting activity funded by NEA or cost share/matching funds. Costs
associated with other federal funds, whether direct or indirect, cannot be included in your
Project Budget. Costs incurred before the earliest project start date of July 1, 2023, cannot be
included in your budget or cost share/match.

41 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for National Service Organizations
To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
•

Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ "Legal Requirements" including
nonprofit, tax-exempt 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.

•

Prior to the application deadline, have a three-year history of arts programming as a
membership organization serving state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.
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.

An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or other) to
an affiliated organization may only apply if the affiliated organization does not submit 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 UEI number, 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.

42 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

How to Apply
Read through these instructions fully, as they include important step-by-step directions to
ensure that your application is submitted successfully.
We use a staggered, multi-year review for National Services applicants. For FY 2023, the
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies will complete an off-year application.

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services
•

If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help
section of SAM’s website.

When registering/renewing your SAM account, be sure to select “Yes” when completing the
“Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these
representations & certifications in order to receive an award.
Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of
the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in
Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.
Grants.gov Registration
If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization Registration.
If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with SAM
and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.
You must complete the Grants.gov registration process to access the application package (see
below). You will need the Grants.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the
registration process to submit your application, and you won’t be able to submit your
application unless your SAM registration is active and up-to-date.
SAM and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your SAM or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions
about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:
• SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM Help.
• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, 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.

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services
role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
More information on participant roles can be found here.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
6. After accessing the Grant Opportunity Package, you can find each Mandatory form by
clicking on it OR you can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in
succession. The forms are:
o Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form asks
for basic information about your organization and application. Complete this
form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where possible.
o Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this
form below.
o Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a
place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic
plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov Opportunity Package to be
considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Application Instructions
To access the full National Services application instructions for off year applicants, download
the application instructions PDF [LINK].

45 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services

Application Review
Review Criteria
Partnership Agreements/National Service Organizations
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications:
A. Planning Process
Constituents are involved in the organization’s planning process, incorporating:
1. Opportunities for a wide range of constituents to participate in the planning process,
including those in underserved communities.
2. Constituent engagement through a wide variety of meeting formats and media, such as
public meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and/or other methods
appropriate to the constituent groups.
3. Responses to recommendations and the priorities identified through the planning
process.
4. Metrics and/or other relevant information used to monitor the organization’s progress
in achieving its goals.
B. Implementation and Accomplishments
The organization’s programs, activities, and other accomplishments:
1. Respond to the priorities identified by constituents during the planning process and/or
changing circumstances in the region.
2. Leverage public and private partnerships, as appropriate.
3. Demonstrate the organization’s cost effectiveness and record of growing and
diversifying its revenue sources, specifically from non-federal sources.

Multi-Year Approval
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for these awards.
While each organization is required to submit an application annually, those organizations that
are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the requirements and review criteria receive
three-year approval of their proposals. They are not required to submit another full-scale
application, including all material necessary for review, for another three years. In the other
years ("off years"), the application requirements are simplified greatly.
In recommending action on proposals, the National Endowment for the Arts has a variety of
options ranging from full three-year approval, to more limited or contingent approval requiring
interim response, to a determination not to provide funding.

What Happens to Your Partnership Agreement Application
Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria" for their category.

46 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: National Services
Funding recommendations are considered by the National Council on the Arts, where they are
reviewed in open session. The Council makes recommendations to the Chair of the National
Endowment for the Arts. The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations and makes the final
decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.
Contact Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586 if you have questions
about the review process.
NOTE: 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.

47 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants

All Applicants (State, Regional, and National Services)
Award Administration
Prohibition on Supplanting Non-Federal Funds
Partnership Agreement awards must be used to supplement and not supplant non-federal
funds. For the purposes of these guidelines, the term "supplant non-federal funds" is defined as
using federal dollars to replace non-federal dollars, with the intention or effect of reducing
financial support for an SAA or RAO.

Crediting Requirement
Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from the National Endowment for the Arts in their
programs and related promotional material including publications and websites.
Acknowledgments should include the National Endowment for the Arts logo wherever possible.
In addition, we will provide detailed crediting language for SAAs and RAOs to use with their
own grantees.

Final Reporting
Before a grant is awarded, organizations must have submitted acceptable Final Report packages
by the due date(s) for all NEA grant(s) previously received, and report on funded activities in
accordance with the National Standard for Arts Information Exchange. This includes acceptable
Federal Financial Reports.

Award Notices
Official grant award notification (i.e., a notice of action authorized by the National Endowment
for the Arts’ Grants Management Office) is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. This
can take several months to issue depending on several factors such as the number of awards to
be processed, whether the agency has its appropriation from Congress, etc.

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 regarding the pre- and post-award requirements applicable
to federal grantees.
Under the authority listed above, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) adopts the
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.
48 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants

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. Grantees must review, understand, and comply with these requirements. Failure to
do so may result in having a grant terminated and/or returning funds to the National
Endowment for the Arts, among other things.

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, 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 (IRS) website at
www.irs.gov.
•

Organizations that 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 part 29 C.F.R.
Part 505. This part does not provide information on specific compensation
levels.)

49 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants
•

Ensure that no part of any National Endowment for the Arts-supported project
will be performed or engaged in under working conditions that 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 "Assurance of
Compliance" below.

•

Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with the
requirements set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the National
Endowment for the Arts in 2 CFR Part 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 CFR 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 CFR 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 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.
50 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants
•

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.)

5. In addition, State Arts Agencies must meet the requirements in Section 5(g)(2) of the
National Endowment for the Arts’ authorizing legislation, which state:
"In order to receive assistance under this subsection in any fiscal year, a State shall
submit an application for such grants at such time as shall be specified by the
Chairperson and accompany such applications with a plan which the Chairperson finds—
(A) designates or provides for the establishment of a State agency (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the "State agency") as the sole agency for the administration of
the State plan;
(B) provides that funds paid to the State under this subsection will be expended
solely on projects and productions approved by the State agency which carry out one
or more of the objectives of subsection (c) of this section;
(C) provides that the State agency will make such reports, in such form and
containing such information, as the Chairperson may from time to time require
including a description of the progress made toward achieving the goals of the State
plan;
(D) provides—
(i)

assurances that the State agency has held, after reasonable notice, public
meetings in the State to allow all groups of artists, interested organizations,
and the public to present views and make recommendations regarding the
State plan; and

(ii) a summary of such recommendations and the State agency’s response to
such recommendations; and
(E) contains-(i)

a description of the level of participation during the most recent preceding
year for which information is available by artists, artists’ organizations, and
arts organizations in projects and productions for which financial assistance
is provided under this subsection;

(ii)

for the most recent preceding year for which information is available, a
description of the extent to which projects and productions receiving
51 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants
financial assistance from the state arts agency are available to all people and
communities in the State; and
(iii) a description of projects and productions receiving financial assistance
under this subsection that exist or are being developed to secure wider
participation of artists, artists’ organizations, and arts organizations
identified under clause (i) of this subparagraph or that address the
availability of the arts to all people or communities identified under clause
(ii) of this subparagraph.
No application may be approved unless the accompanying plan satisfies the
requirements specified in this subsection."

Assurance of Compliance
By signing the application form, 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.
The Applicant further certifies 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. We may conduct a review of your organization to ensure
that it is in compliance with these statutes. If we determine that a grantee has failed to comply
with these statutes, we 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 CFR 1110.

•

Solely 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 et seq.), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 U.S.C. 1151.

•

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 CFR
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.).

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.

52 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants
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 Civil Rights at 202-682-5454.
Regulations Relating to Lobbying for organizations applying for more than $100,000 (31 U.S.C.
1352)
The Applicant certifies that:
a) It has not and will not use federal appropriated funds to pay any person for influencing
or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of a
National Endowment for the Arts advisory panel or the National Council on the Arts, a
Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member
of Congress in connection with the awarding of or modification to any federal grant or
contract.
b) If it has used or will use any funds other than federal appropriated funds to pay any
person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the individuals specified above,
the Applicant:
c) Is not required to disclose that activity if that person is regularly employed by the
Applicant. (Regularly employed means working for at least 130 days within the year
immediately preceding the submission of this application.)
d) Will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities," if that
person is not regularly employed by the Applicant.
e) It will require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents
for all subawards of more than $100,000 and that all subrecipients shall certify and
disclose accordingly.
53 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants

Other Information
Staff Visits
Applicants may be asked to provide up to four complimentary tickets for National Endowment
for the Arts staff visits.
Standards for Service
The National Endowment for the Arts has 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're meeting these standards. Email: [email protected],
attention: Standards for Service.
In addition, applicants will 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 32
hours per response including 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, 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.

54 | P a g e

Partnership Agreements FY23 Guidelines: All Applicants

Contacts
If you have questions about your Partnership Agreement application, contact:
Lara Holman Garritano at [email protected] or 202-682-5586.
For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership, contact:
Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or 202-682-5726 or
Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202-682-5587
For questions specific to Arts Education, contact:
Nancy Daugherty at [email protected], or 202-682-5521
For questions specific to Poetry Out Loud, contact:
Lauren Miller at [email protected], or 202-682-5490
For Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / [email protected] or the Office of
Civil Rights at [email protected] to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines.

55 | P a g e

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
Subject	FY23
Author	Lara Allee
File Modified	2022-08-25
File Created	2022-08-25