Emergency and Unforeseen
We know that cultural work comes with unexpected building costs, whether it’s good—an opportunity for a lease or property acquisition—or bad—fires, floods, and other damage. This grant is always open as long as funds are available and operates on a faster schedule to help meet those needs.
Steps to Apply
1
What Emergency and Unforeseen Funds
1
What Emergency and Unforeseen Funds
Emergency and Unforeseen grants meet a wide variety of unexpected facility needs for cultural organizations, and our funds are only available for actual costs incurred to repair or renovate cultural spaces. This grant starts with a conversation with 4Culture staff, who will help determine whether your project meets eligibility requirements. We’ll keep in touch as you prepare your application. The kinds of documents you’ll submit will depend on the nature of your facility project.
Criteria
We carefully evaluate all grant applications. We want to see that you have a good plan behind your project, and that it will result in tangible benefits for the public.
For this particular grant, we’ll look at the following:
- Quality and Qualifications: the thought and reasoning you have put into responding to this emergency or assessing this unforeseen opportunity, including assembling a qualified and prepared project team. If it’s an emergency, we’ll evaluate the immediacy of need and whether there’s a clear plan for resolving the crisis; if it’s an opportunity, we’ll assess the potential to further your organization’s mission.
- Feasibility: your ability to successfully manage this project to gain stability, as demonstrated through the financial and operational information you provide.
- Project Impact and Public Benefit: if the project involves a cultural or science and technology facility, the impact of your project on your organization’s ability to serve the community. If the project involves a landmark, the extent to which the project will aid in the long-term preservation and continued use of the property.
- Advancing Equity: your organization or project’s focus on serving or including historically marginalized communities, especially communities that are disproportionately impacted by structural racism. This is not a requirement for funding but will be considered in the review process.
- Economic Impact: your organization or project’s impact on the local economy, including staff and contractors employed, volunteer hours and in-kind donations leveraged, and other spending; and indirect impacts like increasing commercial activity, activating spaces, and enhancing the vibrancy of communities.
Public Benefit: Why It Matters
4Culture is a public agency supporting the cultural sector through revenue from Lodging Tax, 1% for Art, and Doors Open funding sources. Core to our work and defined in our Charter is a requirement that everything we fund serves the public interest, enriching communities throughout King County.
We define Public Benefit as the opportunity for King County residents and visitors to access and engage in arts, science and technology, and other cultural activities, events, communities of practice, historic and cultural spaces, and works of public art related to our program areas. It is a service requirement for all recipients of funding from 4Culture. Public benefit makes it easier to experience culture! Read about public benefit more in depth here.
2
Are You and Your Project Eligible?
2
Are You and Your Project Eligible?
Eligible applicants may include King County-based nonprofit arts, cultural, heritage, historic preservation, and science and technology organizations, public agencies other than K-12 schools or school districts, and stewards of locally designated landmark properties.
All applicants must:
- Control the site through ownership, a long-term lease (at least 10 years or five years with an option to renew, or a partnership agreement.
- Be able, if funded, to provide a W-9 form, sign a contract that limits 4Culture’s liability, and provide proof of liability insurance that names 4Culture as Additional Insured.
Applicants on behalf of cultural or science and technology facilities must:
- Be based in and conduct a majority (51% or more) of your mission-based, public-facing activities in King county.
- Be a federally recognized nonprofit organization, have fiscal sponsorship by a 501c3 organization, or be a public agency (however, public agencies may not apply for Science and Technology Emergency and Unforeseen funding).
- NOT be a K-12 school or school district.
- Have a track record of providing arts, cultural, or science and technology experiences or services.
- Have a board of directors, show a minimum two-year operating history, and can sustain operations after the completion of this project.
Applicants on behalf of designated landmarks must:
- Comply with local historic preservation regulations, including securing approval for any proposed changes to the property
3
Helping You Succeed
3
Helping You Succeed
Contact
Heritage
Natasha Varner
206-848-0008
Preservation
Dana Phelan
206-263-1604
Science and Technology
Bart J. Cannon, PhD
206-263-1584
Translation and Assistance
The guidelines, a detailed explanation of how to apply, and the application are in English. If this is a barrier that stops you from understanding the grant or applying due to limited English writing ability, visual impairment, or you would like to request assistance to create an application, please contact or call (206) 296-7580 or TTY 711, and we will make sure you get the support you need.
Русский (Russian)
Руководство, подробная инструкция и форма заявки на английском языке. Если вам сложно разобраться в процедуре получения грантов или подачи заявок из-за ограниченных навыков письменного английского языка либо нарушений зрения, а также если вы бы хотели обратиться за помощью при составлении заявки, отправьте письмо на адрес электронной почты или позвоните по номеру (206) 296-7580 или 711 (телетайп), и мы позаботимся о том, чтобы вы получили необходимую помощь.
Soomaali (Somali)
Tilmaamaha, sharaxaadda faahfaahsan ee ku saabsan sida loo codsado, iyo waraaqda codsiga waxa ay dhammaan ku qoran yihiin Af-Ingiriisi. Haddii ay arrintani tahay caqabad kaa hor istaageysa fahamka deeqda ama codsashada oo ay sabab u tahay awoodda qorista Af-Ingiriisiga oo xadidan, araggaaga oo liita, ama aad jeclaan lahayd inaad codsato in lagaa caawiyo in aad codsi sameyso, fadlan la xiriir ama wac (206) 296-7580 ama TTY 711, waxaana xaqiijin doonnaa inaad hesho taageerada aad u baahan tahay.
Español (Spanish)
Las pautas, la explicación detallada de cómo enviar la solicitud y la solicitud están en inglés. Si esto le impide comprender la información relacionada con la beca o enviar una solicitud debido a una limitación en la capacidad para escribir en inglés, si tiene una discapacidad visual o si desea recibir asistencia para crear una solicitud, escriba a o llame al (206) 296-7580 o TTY 711, y nos aseguraremos de que obtenga la ayuda que necesita.
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Hướng dẫn, giải thích chi tiết về cách nộp đơn va tài liệu áp dụng tất cả đều bằng Tiếng Anh. Nếu đây là rào cản khiến quý vị không hiểu được khoản trợ cấp hoặc cách nộp đơn do khả năng viết tiếng Anh hạn chế, do quý vị bị suy giảm thị lực hoặc muốn yêu cầu hỗ trợ để tạo đơn đăng ký, làm ơn liên hệ hoặc gọi (206) 296-7580 hay TTY 711 và chúng tôi sẽ hỗ trợ những gì quý vị cần.
4
After You Submit
4
After You Submit
Your application will be reviewed by 4Culture staff and the appropriate Advisory Committee. 4Culture’s Arts, Heritage, Historic Preservation, and Science and Technology committees are made up of professionals and community representatives from all over King County who know the local community and cultural and science and technology sectors.
You will meet with the appropriate committee for a brief conversation about your project. Each committee member receives your application in advance for review.
Requirements and Appeals
Learn about what will be required if you are awarded a grant, and about the process for appeal of a 4Culture decision.
5
Apply
5
Apply
In addition to a project description and budget, you must contact 4Culture staff in advance to discuss what additional information—board list, financial statements, repair estimates, purchase agreements, or other documents—should be submitted with your proposal.
4Culture staff will send you an application link after you’ve discussed your project with them. Once you have started your application, you can save after each step and sign out—you’ll be able to work on it up to the deadline agreed upon by you and the 4Culture Program Manager. Once you hit “Submit,” your application is final. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions during the process.
Demographic Information
Your organization profile in our portal must provide demographic information for your board and staff for the current year. We use this information to help us understand how well we are doing in our efforts to reach all communities in King County.