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About CDF / Registration
The Fiscal Year 2020 Cultural Development Fund Application Deadline is February 11, 2019.
The Department of Cultural Affairs is now accepting grant applications from eligible nonprofit organizations. We will conduct informational seminars in all five boroughs during the application period.
The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) enables qualifying cultural organizations to apply for grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs. The agency encourages participation in the process by the widest possible representation of the City's diverse cultural constituency. Currently, we receive applications from over 1,100 organizations and administer grants to more than 900 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations representing a wide range of disciplines and providing cultural experiences for the City's residents and visitors.
The FY20 application cycle will be for activities taking place between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Be sure to first read the CDF Guidelines to determine eligibility. Any arts or cultural organization interested in applying for a Fiscal 2020 grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs must be:
- Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located and operating in any of the five boroughs of New York City;
- Incorporated as a nonprofit in New York State as of your organization's Fiscal 2017, and compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements for nonprofit organizations, including Charities Bureau filings;
- Organizations whose incorporation dates are in their FY18 or FY19 will not be eligible to apply during this cycle. In this case, organizations must wait until they have a two-year history to apply.
- In possession of a Federal Employee Identification Number (EIN) unique to the organization;
- Currently certified tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)(3). Incorporated nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may apply using a fiscal conduit that is approved by DCLA;
- Able to demonstrate at least two years of cultural public service in NYC prior to applying for DCLA funding, as substantiated by the required financial documents and proof of programmatic activity for the organization's Fiscal 2017 and 2018.
In an effort to make the process for delivering supplemental materials more equitable and accessible, please note some changes to DCLA’s procedures from past years:
As always, Applicants are strongly urged to submit Supplemental materials in advance of the deadline via either:
HAND DELIVERY to the Department of Cultural Affairs offices at 31 Chambers Street during our regular business hours (9am – 5pm) on weekdays prior to the deadline. Please be directed to Reception in room 201 on the 2nd floor.
OR
MAIL, taking into account that the documents must be RECEIVED BY February 11.
For Applicants delivering Supplement materials on February 11, two options are available:
For the FY20 Application cycle, DCLA staff will accept Supplemental materials in our offices at 31 Chambers Street until 11:59pm on the day of the deadline (Monday, February 11, 2019). Take note that this is the same time the online Application will close, and that subway schedules may be irregular at that time.
OR
Borough Drop-Off Satellite Locations will be available for Applicants from 10am-2pm only on Monday, February 11th as follows. These sites will NOT be able to accept Supplemental materials prior to 10am on February 11th or after 2pm on that date.
- Bronx – Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, C-190
- Brooklyn – Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, 1368 Fulton Street
- Queens – Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning (JCAL), 161-04 Jamaica Avenue
- Staten Island – Staten Island MakerSpace, 450 Front Street, Unit B (entrance on Thompson Street between Bay and Front Street)
- Upper Manhattan – Sugar Hill Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicolas Avenue
Application Seminars
We strongly encourage all applicants to attend one of the Application Seminars DCLA is conducting throughout the five boroughs. These will give you the opportunity to speak directly with DCLA staff, as well as help you prepare the most competitive Application possible. Review the Guidelines, Instructions and Seminar Schedule, then reserve a seat at one of the seminar locations.
Registration
If you are an eligible arts or cultural organization and have not already registered for a Cultural Affairs Account, please complete the registration process to access the CDF Application.
Please review the Registration Help Guide before beginning the registration process