Overview of NALAC’s Relief Efforts
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) recognizes the continual compounding impact that the COVID-19 public health pandemic is having on the Latinx artistic communities and greater Latinx populations in the United States and Puerto Rico. In April 2020, NALAC launched its first iteration of emergency relief support and was able to carry out four cycles of relief funding, administering a total of $186,000 via 221 grants to Latinx arts practitioners in states and Puerto Rico.
In a moment of continued uncertainty, we once again return to the importance of confianza – the act of mutual trust and support to carve new ways forward. In collaboration with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Intercultural Leadership Institute partners, the 2021 Actos de Confianza relief effort will expand to support Latinx artists and arts organizations who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
NALAC will distribute $2,500 grants to Latinx artists and cultural workers and $5,000 grants to Latinx arts organizations facing critical financial emergencies due to the impact of COVID-19.
Grant Amounts
- $2,500 for Latinx artists and cultural workers.
- $5,000 for Latinx arts organizations
Timeline
NALAC’s 2021 relief effort will operate between January – June 2021 and there will be three application calls by different geographic regions of NALAC’s constituent base.
- Cycle 1 – Mid-America (Passed)
- Call Opens: January 13, 2021
- Deadline to Apply: January 27, 2021 (closes 11:59PM CT)
- Cycle 2 – Eastern US + Puerto Rico (Passed)
- Call Opens: March 3rd, 2021
- Deadline to Apply: March 17, 2021 (closes 11:59PM CT)
- Cycle 3 – Western US (Passed)
- Call Opens: April 28, 2021
- Deadline to Apply: May 12, 2021 (closes 11:59PM CT)
Actos de Confianza Cycle 3 has been extended until May 27, 2021 for applications from the following states: Arizona, Hawaii Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
General eligibility requirements across all grant cycles include:
Individuals
- Must be at least 18 year of age.
- Must identify as a Latinx artist or cultural worker and is able to demonstrate their artistic or cultural practice.
- Must not be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
- Must demonstrate dire financial need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See NALAC’s definition below.
- Must be able to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if awarded grant funds.
- Must have full-time residence in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and the region in which they are applying for at least one (1) year.
- Applicant did not receive grant funds via the Catalyst for Change Award or Border Narrative Change grant opportunities.
NOTE: Individuals who received micro-grant funding in 2020 Actos de Confianza relief are welcome to apply.
Organizations
- Must have a mission that is explicitly focused on Latinx arts and/or culture.
- Must have an Executive or Artistic Director who is Latinx and/or a Board of Directors that is comprised of at least 51% Latinx individuals.
- Must demonstrate dire financial need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See NALAC’s definition below.
- Must have a 501c3 nonprofit status OR have a fiscal sponsor with a 501c3 status.
- Must have at least one full year of programming history (this excludes any interruptions to programming in 2020 that may have arisen due to COVID-19).
- Must not be a college or university project, group, department or organization (ex. a student organization or art gallery that is part of an academic institution).
Eligibility requirements specific to each application cycle include:
Cycle 1 Eligibility Requirements (Mid-America: January 13, 2021 – January 27, 2021)
(Open call for Cycle 1 has passed)
- Applicants need to reside in one of the following states or territories: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Cycle 2 Eligibility Requirements (Eastern U.S. + Puerto Rico: March 3rd, 2021 – March 17, 2021)
(Open call for Cycle 2 has passed)
- Applicants need to reside in one of the following states or territories: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico
Cycle 3 Eligibility Requirements (Western U.S.: April 28, 2021 – May 12, 2021)
(Open call for Cycle 3 has passed)
- Applicants need to reside in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington.
How does NALAC define “dire financial need?”
For individuals, NALAC defines “dire financial need” as the prospective endangerment or direct lack of essentials critical to an artist’s well-being such as food, housing, childcare, healthcare, medical expenses and other immediate or basic living expenses due to the impact of COVID-19.
For organizations, NALAC defines “dire financial need” for Latinx arts organizations who have experienced or face prospective endangerment in one of the following ways due to the impact of COVID-19: temporary closure, loss or difficulty preserving paid staff, inability to pay for mortgage/rent or utilities of organizational spaces (such as galleries, theaters, offices, etc. – whether rented or owned) and/or significant loss of revenue.
NOTE: NALAC acknowledges that COVID-19 has impacted the entire arts and culture sector. Due to the availability of funds and high volume of applications we receive, we request that if you have other resources or sources of income during this time that you consider refraining from applying as a stance of solidarity with artists and organizations that are most vulnerable or impacted because of the pandemic.
How to Apply
Once you have confirmed that you meet all eligibility requirements and read through the guidelines, you can APPLY HERE via NALAC’s submission management platform, Submittable.
Please note that if you’ve used Submittable before and have an existing account, you will need to provide your login credentials before beginning an application. For applicants using Submittable for the first time, you will be asked to create a new account, which is free of cost.
If you have any technical issues in completing the application form (such as accessing the form link, uploading materials, etc.), please reach out to the NALAC Programs team via the Actos de Confianza support desk.
Review Process
NALAC anticipates a high volume of applications within each call and will be administering a technical review for eligibility and completion.
NALAC staff will evaluate applications from Latinx individuals and organizations through the lenses of social, racial and geographic equity and justice. In addition to assessing the urgency of need, this includes:
- Latinx artists and organizations that identify as Black and Indigenous.
- Latinx artists that identify as disabled
- Diversity in the geographic location and landscape.
- Diverse representation of gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
- Diverse representation of artistic discipline.
- Diverse representation of age and stage of artistic career (emerging, mid-career and artistic or cultural elders)
NALAC is reserving a portion of relief funding for disabled Latinx artists and/or cultural workers and Latinx organizations led by disabled persons and/or have explicit disability focus in their mission and work.
Important Note on the Collection of Demographic Data from Applicants
The application will ask for demographic information. NALAC is committed to an equitable and inclusive distribution of funds and view demographic data as an instrumental tool in helping us remain accountable to this commitment. Individual and organization applicant data (including name and contact information) will not be shared or distributed publicly. As a core partner of the Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) Relief Fund, your anonymous demographic data will be used for analyzing relief efforts in the arts and to generate reports to our foundation partners and define advocacy priorities.
Application Overview
Artists
The 2021 Actos de Confianza grant application for artists will request the following information (see full list of questions directly via the Submittable platform):
- General Contact Information
- Artist Demographic Information
- Artistic Biography, Resume/CV or Website demonstrating artistic practice
- Identification of Need & Circumstances
Organizations
The 2021 Actos de Confianza grant application for organizations will request the following information (see full list of questions directly via the Submittable platform):
- General Contact Information
- Organizational Demographic Information
- Organization Website
- List of Board of Directors and Key Staff
- IRS 501c3 Determination Letter and/or Proof of Fiscal Sponsor
- Identification of Need & Circumstances
Access the full applications here: FOR ARTISTS // FOR ORGANIZATIONS
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Notifications
Q: How long will the online application process remain open?
A: All online applications will remain open and available for submission until 11:59 p.m. Central Time, on the deadline date listed in the guidelines. We recommend that you complete your online application materials well in advance of the deadline.
Q: When will I receive confirmation that my application was received?
A: Applicants will receive automatic email confirmation after submitting the application from the Submittable platform. Please do not call the office to confirm receipt.
Q: If I start an online application through the NALAC Submission manager (Submittable), can I save it and submit it later?
A: Yes, simply choose the option to save.
Q: How will I be notified?
A: Applicants will be notified via digital communications through Submittable. The email address connected to the Submittable account that submitted the application will receive these grant communications.
Q: When will artists and organizations be notified?
A: Final notifications are anticipated to be sent on the following dates:
- Cycle 1 – Mid-America: March 3rd, 2021
- Cycle 2 – Eastern U.S. + Puerto Rico: April 21, 2021
- Cycle 3 – Western U.S.: June 16, 2021
We recognize that times are difficult for many and we are working to execute our application review process in a timely manner. That being said, we have been receiving an unprecedented amount of applications for the Actos de Confianza grant program. Exceptionally high application volumes will result in our review period being extended to ensure all applications are reviewed to a high standard. We appreciate your patience as we work through the high volume of applications we receive.
Submitting the Application
Q: Can I submit more than one application?
A: No, given the high volume of applications we receive for our open-call grant opportunities, we will only accept one application per artist, cultural worker or organization.
Q: Can I submit the application in Spanish?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I apply to this relief fund if I am undocumented?
A: NALAC will not discriminate on the basis of citizenship – undocumented applicants are encouraged to apply and will be evaluated according to the same criteria as any other applicant.
Q: Can I assist someone in the completion of their application?
A: Yes. Please be aware that communications regarding the status of the application will be sent to the email address associated with the Submittable account. Please make sure to create a Submittable account for the individual you are assisting.
Disbursement of Funds
Q: How will applications be selected for funding?
A: NALAC staff will be reviewing applications from each cycle through the lens of various cultural equity priorities, in addition to ensuring diversity in geography, discipline and gender parity in an effort to be equitable with the distribution of available funds. Funded applicants will receive notification via email. Unfunded requests will be considered as funds become available through continued fundraising efforts.
Q: How will funds be disbursed?
A: NALAC will disburse funds by ACH (direct deposit). All funded applicants will be asked to complete a W9 form for NALAC’s financial records. In this document, funded applicants will have to provide a social security number (SSN) or ITIN number. Organization grantees will need to provide an EIN. Funded applicants without the accepted IRS tax numbers may use a fiscal sponsor to receive payment. In addition to submitting a W9, applicants will need to complete an ACH form that will request banking and routing information. The NALAC Accounting team will notify grant recipients when funds have been disbursed. Grant recipients will need to complete a simple payment verification form to confirm that funds were received.
Collaborating Partners
Q: Who is involved in the ILI Partner Relief Fund?
A: The ILI Partner Relief Fund is comprised of the founding partner organizations of the Intercultural Leadership Institute. This fund is the result of ongoing advocacy efforts of the Intercultural Leadership Institute partners, a collaborative effort of Alternate ROOTS, First Peoples Fund, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, PA’I Foundation and Sipp Culture.
Q: Who are the funders currently involved in NALAC’s relief efforts?
A: The 2021 Actos de Confianza relief effort is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture,* the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the McKnight Foundation alongside our generous individual donors. Additional funders involved in NALAC’s past relief efforts include the Ford Foundation, the East Side Arts Initiative.
*Of 100 grants given in our Mid-America Cycle 1 regional call for applications, 13 are made possible by the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture to San Antonio residents.
Supporting NALAC’s COVID Relief Efforts
Q: I am interested in supporting our Latinx artists and arts administrators. How can I help increase the pool of available funds?
A: Please visit our donation page to make a gift of any amount. If you would like more information on how to partner with NALAC to make a greater impact for Latinx artists and our organization, please contact Anna Laflin at alaflin@nalac.org for more information. Learn about other resources available to the field by visiting www.nalac.org/covid-19/
Q: How will my donation be used?
A: Your contribution of any amount will help us continue building our emergency relief efforts to Latinx artists and cultural workers, arts administrators and community arts organizations. Thank you for working with us in confianza (trust) so that we can care for each other as we are able.