Who does the NALAC Fund for the Arts support?

The NALAC Fund for the Arts supports Latino artists and community based Latino arts and cultural organizations in the United States.

What is the deadline to apply? 

The deadline is 5:00pm (CST) Monday, July 13, 2009. Please note, the electronic application must be submitted by 5:00 pm Central Daylight Time. Support materials must be postmarked no later than Monday, July 13, 2009.

I received a grant this year from the NFA, can I apply for the 2009-2010 cycle?

Grantees from last year (cycle 2008-2009) are asked to wait one funding year before they apply again to the NFA. Grantees will be eligible to apply in the 2010-2011 cycle.

I'm a Latino and I'm an artist. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, the purpose of the fund is to support Latino artists and ensembles.

Must I be a NALAC member to apply?

Yes, you have to be a NALAC member.

How do you define a Latino arts organization?

A Latino arts organization is an organization whose mission is focused on Latino art and culture, and whose executive or artistic director is Latino; and/or with at least 51% of the board of directors comprised of Latinos.

What artistic disciplines do you fund?

Latino artists and organizations working in any of the following disciplines are eligible:    
•    Interdisciplinary arts
•    Literary arts
•    Media arts/Film
•    Music
•    Performance arts
•    Theater arts
•    Visual arts
•    Multidisciplinary arts
•    Dance

Does the NALAC Fund for the Arts fund provide general support?

Yes, requests from organizations for general support will be funded by the NALAC Fund for the Arts.

Do you fund arts education projects?

Yes.

Is a University eligible to apply?

No. Arts and cultural projects, student groups and other organizations that are part of a University are not eligible.

Can organizations or artists who received funding in the past re-apply?

If you received funding for the 2005, 2006 or 2007 cycles, a Final Report must have been submitted to NALAC.
Grantees from last year (cycle 2008-2009) are asked to wait one funding year before they apply again to the NFA. These Grantees will be eligible to apply in the 2010-2011 cycle.

Whom do I contact if I have questions about the NALAC Fund for the Arts or about the application?

Please submit your question(s) in writing by emailing  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Allow two working days for a response to your inquiry. Because of the number of requests, questions regarding the NFA can be taken by email only. 

Is someone available to answer technical assistance questions that I can't find on the website? How about if I want someone to review my narrative and budget application?

Yes, technical assistance is available on a first come first serve basis.  NALAC staff will review your narrative and budget and offer suggestions. The deadline to request assistance is July 6, 2009.

We do not have a 501(c)(3) classification. Can we apply to the NALAC Fund for the Arts through a fiscal sponsor?

Yes, NALAC will accept proposals from fiscal sponsors. Organizations with a fiscal sponsor must submit the fiscal sponsor’s IRS letter of 501(c)(3) designation and a signed copy of the fiscal sponsorship agreement.

Does an artist need a fiscal sponsor?

No.

Can I apply for a two year grant?

Only one year grants are available for the 2009-2010 grant cycle. We do not fund multi-year projects.  

What is an Artist Fellowship Grant?

An artist fellowship can be used in many ways by an artist. A fellowship can be used to create a new project, travel, study, reflect, pay his/her rent, etc. Basically a fellowship allows the artist to have creative time.

Will NALAC make exceptions to the deadlines for the grant application?

No. NALAC will not make any exceptions to the NALAC Fund for the Arts deadline for any reason.

What is the range of grant amounts?

1 year grants will range from $2,500 to $10,000.

What is a "complete application'?

A complete application includes an online submission of your:
1.    Basic Information Form
2.    Narrative Form
3.    Budget Detail Form.

In addition to the online submission, you must send by mail three copies of the above (found in your confirmation email once you submit your application) plus copies of the support materials outlined in the Required Materials section of the Guidelines.  It is highly recommended to review the Instructions link to ensure your application is submitted properly.

May I fax my application?

No, we do not accept applications by fax.

What is an appropriate request amount?

The amount organizations request from the NALAC Fund for the Arts should not be more than 50% of their organizational budget and must be in proportion to the project budget. The amount requested by artists from the NALAC Fund for the Arts should not be more than 50% of their project budget.

Is a match required?

General support applications require a one to one match. Project support for both organizations and artists/ensembles require a one to one match. Artist fellowships do not require a match.

How much of the match may be in-kind?

Up to 60% of the match may be in-kind.

Can I submit more than one application at a time?

No. Organizations and artists may only submit one application at a time.

Can I fill out the grant application form on my computer?

Yes. The grant application can be completed and submitted online. You will receive a confirmation email with your application. You must print the email and sign where indicated and mail that along with your support materials to NALAC.

How can I get a hard copy of the application?

The application is available on the web page and can be printed. Please note, one copy of the application MUST be submitted electronically.

Is there a list of required materials?

Organizations can access their Required Materials HERE

Artists can access their Required Materials HERE

What support materials should an organization submit?

In addition to the complete application, organizations should submit the following support materials:

1. Three-year budget as follows:

        a. Last year actual or audited financial statement

        b. Current year operating budget

        c. Next year projected budget

2. The organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) letter

3. Organizations with a fiscal sponsor must submit the fiscal sponsor’s IRS letter

    of 501(c)(3) letter and a signed copy of the fiscal sponsorship agreement.

4. A current list of board of directors with contact information, community or

    professional affiliations, and demographic data indicating gender and

    ethnicity

5. Relevant work samples

Optional materials—such as your current strategic plan, relevant clippings or awards, staff bios, etc.—are strongly encouraged.

What support materials should an artist submit?

In addition to the completed application, artists must submit the following support materials:

1. Artist curriculum vitae/bio and/or artist statement

2. Relevant work samples

3. Optional materials—such as relevant clippings or awards are strongly encouraged

Does 2 sets of work samples mean two of the same work, or can it be two different works? 

Two “sets” means two identical sets; however a set may include two or three different items.  For example a “set” of materials can include a CD, printed brochure, press clippings, etc; make sure both “sets” contain the same materials.

We don't have an audited copy of our financial statements—can we still apply?

Yes you can still apply. We prefer an audited financial statement although it is not required.

How many copies of the application should I send?

You must submit one application electronically and you must also mail or deliver to NALAC three (3) additional copies of the application, (two) 2 sets of support materials and the signed final checklist. Please do not use binders.

How do I check the status of the grant proposal I submitted?

NALAC will notify you by mail if your request was approved or denied in December 2009.Your application will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary peer review panel who will make recommendations to the NALAC Board of Directors. NALAC staff will not provide information about the status of your grant application. Notifications are typically sent by certified mail in December.

Will you confirm that my application has been received?

You will receive an e-mail confirmation when you submit your electronic application. We recommend that you send the three (3) additional application copies by certified mail.

Will you accept my application if I do not send the 3 copies and support materials?

No. Your application will be incomplete.

What has the NALAC Fund for the Arts funded in the past?

To view the grantees from the past two funding cycles visit RECENT GRANTEES section of the webpage.  

Whom do I contact if I have questions about the NALAC Fund for the Arts or about the application?

You may find your answers here in the Frequently Asked Questions, the Program Guidelines or you can email the Grant Program Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is the mission of NALAC?

The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) is dedicated to the preservation, development and promotion of the cultural and artistic expressions of the diverse Latino populations of the United States. Through this effort, NALAC is committed to continuing struggle for the elimination of racism, sexism, ageism and discrimination against gay, lesbian and physically challenged populations. The objective is to recognize and support the varied standards of excellence grounded in the aesthetics and traditions of our root cultures.

I registered with NALAC and have a username and password but I can't log in. How do I access the NFA application?

You do not need to log in to any portion of the NALAC website to access the NFA Grant Applications. You may go to the menu on the left side, click on NALAC Fund For the Arts. Once you do that, a drop down menu appears. Select APPLICATIONS and there you have access to the application. 

I can't find the Basic Information Form? Where is it?

From the NALAC Fund for the Arts drop down menu select Applications . You will go to a page that has links to access the Artist Application, the Organizational Application and a link that says Forms. Depending on your needs, either select Artist Application or Organization Application. On the page that opens you get the Basic Information Form.

Since you cannot save your work, it is highly recommended to scroll down to review and use the details for the Narrative Form, complete your narrative and also your Budget Form.

Once that is complete you can fill out the Basic Information portion of your proposal and then easily upload the documents to complete the online portion of your proposal. 

Is there a template to use for the Narrative Form and for the Budget Form?

Yes. From the Applications page, select Forms. There you can download Word Document templates to use to answer the questions found in the Narrative and Budget portions of the application.  

Is the maximum length of the application 3 pages double or single spaced?

A Single space document is fine. Make sure your narrative is in Times New Roman 12 point font.

Are there required materials I need to send?

Yes. For information on what goes in your packet (which includes your artist statement) information is found in the Guidelines section of the NFA webpage. Scroll to where it says REQUIRED MATERIALS click on the Artist Required Materials or ORGANIZATION REQUIRED MATERIALS and it gives you a run down of what must go in your packet to be mailed to NALAC. 

How long do DVD samples have to be? Is there a time limit? Is it OK to submit a full-length work?

There isn’t a time limit for DVD samples, but note that due to time, panelists can rarely view an entire full length of work. In the Required Materials section we recommend (in the Media Arts section) that  When submitting DVD's longer than five minutes, please include chapters. It is highly recommended to create chapters so the work can be viewed efficiently. 

Is there a checklist that I can use to confirm all my materials in my proposal packet?

Yes. You can find a Final Checklist in the FORMS section. In the left hand side of the NFA section of the NALAC webpage, select APPLICATIONS and on that page there is a link called FORMS. When you click on the forms link at the bottom there is are two links called: ARTIST FINAL CHECKLIST and ORGANIZATION FINAL CHECKLIST.  Be sure that is printed out and used for your application packet portion of your proposal.

What is a "letter of committment?

Letters of commitment are simply letters written and signed by any collaboraters of your project. These serve to show that they are aware that they will be part of your project and committed to the completion of it.

If you have any additional support for your project (a funder, donor et cetera) you can have write a letter of their commitment to the project. A copy of their award letter also serves as a letter of commitment from a funder.

What do you mean by a one to one match?

A 1-1 match for the NALAC Fund for the Arts is that you receive a match for your request. For example, you may decide to request $5,000 from the NFA. You have to show that you have $5,000 matched from fundraisers, other funders, private donors et cetera.  

What does it mean that 60% of my match can be in-kind?

In-Kind means services that are donated to a project. For example, an artist may have to pay for the rental of studio space. The artist is able to negotiate with the owner of the space to only charge a partial amount or to use it for free.  You put a dollar amount to what the space would cost you and that can count as an in-kind donation. As mentioned up to 60% of your one to one match can be in-kind.  

I would like for the grantmanager to review a draft of my narrative what is the process?

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and attach your drafts to the email. Please note it does take a few days to process each request. The grantmanager goes over each draft/request as they are received. A timely response depends on the number of other inquiries and drafts that have been received. The deadline for technical assistance has passed though.

If I receive funding from the NALAC Fund for the Arts will it be taxable and reported income?

Yes. All recipients of the NALAC Fund for the Arts receive an W-9 form that is submitted to the IRS and the grant is taxable.