Grant Amounts, Cost Share, and Matching Funds

All grants are for $10,000.

All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1 to 1. For example, if an organization receives a $10,000 grant, the total eligible project costs must be at least $20,000 and the organization must provide at least $10,000 toward the project from nonfederal sources.

Cost share/matching funds may be all cash, all in-kind (third-party) contributions, or a combination of cash and in-kind contributions. Cash match refers to cash contributions (including items, services, or organizational cash that are provided by the applicant), grants, and revenues that are expected or received for the project. In-kind match refers to donated space, supplies, volunteer services, etc. that are donated by individuals or organizations other than the applicant. Cost share/matching funds cannot include funds from any NEA or other federal awards.

Contact us at challengeamerica@arts.gov or 202-682-5700 if you have questions about what constitutes a cost share/match.

Period of Performance

Our support of a project can start no earlier than January 1, 2025, which is the "Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project" listed on the Application Calendar.

Grants awarded under these guidelines generally may cover a period of performance of up to two years. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant sufficient time to plan, execute, and close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year.

Any project planning costs must be incurred during the established period of performance. No pre-award costs are allowable in the Project Budget. Project costs that are incurred before the "Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project” will be removed from the Project Budget.

A grantee may not receive more than one NEA grant for the same project/activities during the same period of performance.