Janice Eaton

Community Arts Program Manager

(404)685-2797

FAQ's About GAP

What is GAP?
Who Can Be A GAP Agency?
What Does a GAP Agency Do?

What is the process for certification as a GAP Agency?
How Much Money is Allocated for GAP?
Does This Funding Need to be Matched?
What are Regional Development Funds?
Who Can Apply for Grassroots Funding?
What Can Be Funded?
What Cannot Be Funded?
What are the Goals of GAP?

What is GAP?
The Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) is a decentralized funding program which began in 1993. The Georgia General Assembly appropriates funds annually for each of the 159 counties in Georgia. Georgia Council for the Arts directs the Grassroots Arts Program through regional GAP Agencies.

Who Can Be A GAP Agency?
Arts Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Municipalities, Libraries, Regional and Economic Development Authorities, Colleges and Universities—there are many different organizations that can—and do, serve as GAP Agencies throughout the state. Through these agencies:

Creative decisions are being made locally
Counties are cooperating in new ways and forming regional partnerships
Community groups are emerging and developing new skills

What Does a GAP Agency Do?
Each Grassroots Arts Agency receives funding that equals the sum of the individual allocations for the counties it serves and $600 in Regional Development Funding (RDF) per county. GAP Agencies also may use 15% of the allocated re-granting funds for administration of the program. Every GAP Agency must develop its own sub-granting plan that is subject to approval by the Georgia Council for the Arts. Through a Community Advisory Board, the GAP Agency targets programming to the specific needs of the communities it serves and makes funding decisions accordingly.

Specific duties of the Grassroots Arts Agency are to:

Form an Advisory Committee
Devele a funding philosophy
Create a sub-granting plan
Create a timeline for the program
Publicize the program
Prepare printed materials to support the program
Facilitate the Advisory Committee’s application review
Notify applicants of funding decisions and executing contracts
Maintain financial records to properly account for expenditures of GAP funds
Provide sub-grantee information to Georgia Council for the Arts
Submit all required reports to the Georgia Council for the Arts by specified deadlines

What is the process for certification as a GAP Agency?

The GAP certification application must be completed by all nonprofit organizations or units of government wishing to enter into a contract to serve as a re-granting agency committed to distributing arts funding at the local level. The application is for a three-year certification; however, all agencies are reviewed yearly. The certification cycle is as follows:

Year 1: Agency submits GAP Certification Application
Year 2: Agency submits GAP Continuation Application
Year 3: Agency submits GAP Continuation Application

How Much Money is Allocated for GAP?
All 159 counties in Georgia are provided a local allocation of funds determined by a formula set by the GA General Assembly. Half of the county allocation is a flat rate, shared equally among all counties. The remaining half is determined on a per capita basis. County Allocations Chart (PDF)

Does This Funding Need to be Matched?
Fifty percent of each region’s sub-contracted funds must be matched with cash. The Final Report to GCA must show that the total funds sub-granted were matched 50% or fifty cents on the dollar. However, each sub-grant is not required to be matched up to 50% as long as the total amount of funds sub-granted by the GAP Agency is matched by 50%. The match requirements for sub-grantees are determined by the GAP Agency and Advisory Committee. Agencies are not required to match the administrative allocation.

What are Regional Development Funds?
Regional development funding is also provided to each agency, based on
the number of counties the agency serves. This money is provided to
improve or expand the GAP program.

Who Can Apply for a GAP Grant?

GCA requires that sub-grantees receiving GAP funds be incorporated in Georgia, be a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization certified by the IRS or be a unit of government. Organizations that have not incorporated as a not-for-profit can apply through a fiscal agent: an organization or unit of government that meet the requirements above.

Examples of eligible organizations, in addition to arts organizations and institutions of higher learning, include senior citizen centers, chapters of the Red Cross or Salvation Army, Family Connections, Boys and Girls Clubs, graduate chapters of sororities/ fraternities, civic and social welfare organizations, social and recreational clubs, fraternal societies, churches, and veterans organizations.

What Can Be Funded?
The intent of GAP is to support arts programs and services as broadly as possible. Approved sub-grantee projects should create opportunities for community-wide access to the arts, target under served populations, and/or contribute to activities that have a positive impact on community development. Funded activities must be accessible and available to the general public or designed as outreach to specific under served populations.

Funds should be utilized whenever possible to encourage projects from new and emerging groups. Funds may support art activities only. All projects and programs must be completed and expenses incurred within the given fiscal year (between July 1 and June 30). (See GAP Program Guidelines for more details)

What Cannot Be Funded?
GAP funds must not exceed $2000 per grantee. These funds may not be used for the following:

To fund the same project for more than two years
To fund individual artists
To fund organizations receiving General Operating Support (GOS) or Community Arts Programs and Services (CAPS) funding from GCA
To fund a project of the GAP Agency, unless the GAP Agency is acting as a fiscal agent
To support activities currently funded through any other GCA grant or program such as Project Grant, Community Partners, Arts in Education Residencies, or Folk Life Projects
To fund in-school projects, programs or performances that solely benefit elementary, middle, high school or college students
To replace other funds currently being spent on arts programs or services
To provide food, beverages or other entertainment
To purchase buildings or other real estate
To renovate, make structural changes or any other capital improvements
To provide prizes or scholarships
For expenses incurred for fundraising events
To provide endowment funds
To support an applicant’s out-of-state activities
To reduce existing deficits

Still Have Questions?

Contact: Janice Eaton Kilby

Community Arts

Program Manager

Call (404)685-2797