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Cultural Investment Grant Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and Review Process

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Eligible organizations are invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for the City's Cultural Investment Grants (CIG) by February 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. 

Step
1

Review Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Tips

If you are wondering whether this is for your organization, uncertainty is OK! We encourage you to apply if your organization meets the criteria and you are excited about this opportunity. We are available to field your questions. 

Keep it clear and simple. Decisions will not be made on language, writing, or grammar. We will read each organization’s Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for content versus how or how much you write. 

Keep in mind:

The Cultural Investment Grant is unrestricted funding for arts and cultural organizations. It does not fund the following: 

  • Projects 
  • Individuals 
  • Other foundations or grant-giving organizations
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Organizations with budgets over $3 million
Step
2

Create your LOI

As part of our online application process, you'll be asked to attach your LOI document. We encourage you to keep your letter clear and simple. In two pages or less, discuss some or all of the following prompts:

  1. Share your organization's mission statement, a description of your organization, and a brief history of the organization.
  2. How does your organization address the Cultural Investment Grant goals and priorities? Please reflect on what aspects of the CIG description align with your organization's mission, vision, values, and strategy. Points to consider include: 
    • Core constituencies, community partners, and the geographies your organization engages 
    • How the community shapes the vision, mission, and key decisions of the organization
    • The organization’s role in realizing a just, equitable, and thriving creative sector in Boston
  3. How would the Cultural Investment Grant create opportunities to meet MOAC’s emerging definition of transformative investments described in the grant guidelines? 
    • What are your organization's biggest goals, dreams and aspirations? 
    • What types of investments would be truly transformative for your organization to meet these goals, dreams, and aspirations? 
  4.  Is there anything else your organization would like to share or include regarding the Cultural Investment Grant?
Step
3

Get your documents ready

When you attach your LOI through our online application, you'll also be asked to upload additional documents as part of this process:

  • Make a copy of this demographic data template and fill out the spreadsheet as it pertains to your organization. Then, save it as a PDF and upload it as an attachment in your Submittable application.
  • Submit proof of 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship. For fiscally sponsored organizations, you must include a letter from the fiscal sponsor and proof of their 501(c)(3) status.
  • Submit a detailed organizational annual budget for FY23 and FY24. You are welcome to include projected budgets beyond FY24.
  • Please include anything else you would like to share regarding the Cultural Investment Grant.
Step
4

Go to our online application

LOIs must be submitted through our application platform, Submittable. If you have never applied for a grant or program through our office, you might need to create a Submittable account first.

The application will ask you for some basic information at the start, including: 

  • your organization's full name, address, phone number, website, and social media handles,
  • your organization's contact person (include full name, role, and email address), and 
  • the artistic disciplines or genre of your organization.

Please complete this information and attach your Letter of Inquiry and additional documents before submitting.

The deadline to submit a LOI is February 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

LOI application

Step
5

Wait to hear from us

Following the review of all LOI submissions, we will invite up to 12 organizations that strongly meet the criteria and eligibility for the Cultural Investment Grant to submit a full application. The Cultural Advisory Team will work in partnership with organizations invited to formally apply to submit a full application by Monday, March 13, 2023.

The Cultural Investment Grant application process will consist of interviews with the Cultural Advisory Team. The Cultural Advisory Team will interview:

  • the leader(s) of the organization
  • one staff member, and
  • at least one community member.

At least seven organizations will be selected to receive Cultural Investment Grants.

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