The Arts and Education Council (A&E) invites organizations to submit a letter of interest for the Elevate program, funded in collaboration by A&E and the PNC Foundation. This funding opportunity was created to assist nonprofits who are ready to move their organizations to the next level but need guidance in a particular area. The Elevate Program is an exciting opportunity that will help strengthen your organizational capacity to assist in furthering your mission and deepening your impact. Two (2) organizations will be selected to receive consultant services valued at $10,000.

The program looks to support organizations with operating budgets that do not exceed $1.5 million annually. The areas of focus are: Planning, Leadership Development, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance.

In your letter, please address the following:

1) Organizational profile that includes organization name, mailing address, primary contact, website, and phone number

2) Why your organization would be interested in this experience?

3) What difficulties is your organization having?

4) Using the focus areas provided- If you could afford a consultant, what area would you want them to focus on? 

5) How would assistance in the aforementioned focus area help your organization thrive and grow?

To be most successful, organizations must be an IRS Section 501©(3) non-profit in good standing in the state of MO or IL, be an organization delivering services pertaining to the arts and/or arts education, have an annual operating budget of less than $1,500,000, articulate the need for funding, have at least 1 FTE (full-time employee), participate actively in the program, and be open and willing to accept the suggestions provided by a consultant.

Application letters should be no longer than 1 page and should be sent to Jessireé Jenkins, Manager of Grants and Programs at Jessiree-J@KeepArtHappening.org. Applications for the Elevate program are due Friday, October 7, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. A volunteer grant panel comprised of the Grants and Programs Committee of the Arts and Education Council’s Board of Directors determines grant awards. Awardees will be notified and announced in October.

For additional information contact Jessireé Jenkins, Manager of Grants and Programs at Jessiree-J@KeepArtHappening.org or 314.289.4015, or Eli Wennstrom, Grants and Programs Specialist at Eli-W@KeepArtHappening.org or 314.289.4012.