NEA Our Town, FY 2025 | 2024NEA01OT

NEA Our Town (FY 2025) Grant Opportunity: FAQs

What is the NEA Our Town, FY 2025 grant opportunity?

NEA Our Town, FY 2025 (Funding Opportunity Number 2024NEA01OT; CFDA 45.024) is a discretionary grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts that funds creative placemaking projects. It supports project-based work that intentionally integrates arts, culture, and design into broader local efforts to strengthen communities over the long term.

What does "creative placemaking" mean in this opportunity?

In the context of Our Town, creative placemaking refers to projects where arts, culture, and design are used as practical strategies to advance community goals. Competitive proposals are expected to show that arts and culture are central to the approach, not simply added programming.

What types of projects is Our Town trying to support?

The opportunity is aimed at place-based projects that weave arts, culture, and design into local civic and community development efforts. Projects are expected to help strengthen communities over time and build momentum toward longer-term systems change that reflects local needs and opportunities.

What is the program looking for in competitive proposals?

Competitive proposals generally demonstrate: (1) arts, culture, and design as a clear strategy for achieving community goals (not an add-on), (2) an emphasis on equity, and (3) momentum toward longer-term systems change and durable community benefits beyond the grant period.

Is equity an explicit emphasis of the program?

Yes. The program description notes an emphasis on equity, along with a focus on local needs and opportunities and longer-term community strengthening.

Is Our Town a project-based grant or general operating support?

Based on the description provided, Our Town funds project-based work (project-specific activities and outcomes), not general operating support.

What is the required partnership structure for an Our Town application?

Every application must include a partnership between a single lead applicant and one committed partner organization. Together, the applicant and partner must include (1) a nonprofit organization and (2) a local government or quasi-government entity. This means the project must be jointly led across the nonprofit and public (or public-like) sector.

Who submits the application: the applicant or the partner?

Applications are submitted by a single lead applicant, but the application must include one committed partner organization that completes the required nonprofit/government pairing.

Does the lead applicant have to be a nonprofit?

Not necessarily. Eligibility includes both nonprofit and public entities. However, the required partnership must ensure that, taken together, the lead applicant and partner include both a nonprofit organization and a local or quasi-government entity.

What is meant by a "local government or quasi-government" entity?

The opportunity requires the applicant/partner team to include a local government or quasi-government entity, described as a public or public-like sector organization. This requirement is intended to help ground the work in civic infrastructure and increase the likelihood of sustainability and influence beyond the grant period.

Why does Our Town require a nonprofit and government (or quasi-government) partnership?

The partnership structure is designed to ensure the project is grounded in both community-based capacity (nonprofit sector) and civic infrastructure (public or public-like sector). The intent is to increase the likelihood that the work can be sustained and can influence policies, practices, or cross-sector collaboration beyond the grant period.

What is the award amount range for NEA Our Town, FY 2025?

Awards range from $25,000 to $150,000, with $150,000 noted as the award ceiling.

Is the Our Town grant a matching grant?

Yes. Funding is provided as a cost share/matching grant.

What is the match requirement?

The match requirement is at least one-to-one. The applicant must contribute a minimum cost share/match equal to the amount awarded by the NEA.

Can you provide a simple example of how the match works?

Yes. If an organization receives a $100,000 Our Town grant, it must document at least $100,000 in non-federal match. That creates a minimum total project budget of $200,000.

What does the match requirement signal about what NEA wants to fund?

The structure signals that the NEA is looking for projects with strong local commitment and financial participation, rather than efforts that are fully funded by federal dollars.

What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are eligible (other than institutions of higher education).

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

If an organization is eligible, does it still need a partner?

Yes. Even with broad eligibility, the partnership requirement still applies. The applicant must pair with an appropriate counterpart so the combined applicant/partner team includes both a nonprofit and a local or quasi-governmental entity.

What is the application closing date for this opportunity?

The original application closing date is August 1, 2024.

When can a funded project begin?

If funded, NEA support for a project may begin on July 1, 2025, or any time after that start date.

How long is the grant period?

The program allows a grant period of up to two years.

Why does the program allow up to two years for the grant period?

The two-year window provides time to plan, implement, and document outcomes. The description notes that place-based work often requires extended community engagement, coordination among multiple stakeholders, permitting or design phases, and iterative implementation.

Does the program expect outcomes beyond the grant period?

Yes. The description emphasizes building momentum toward longer-term systems change and creating conditions for enduring change beyond the life of the grant.

What is the overall goal of NEA Our Town, FY 2025?

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at communities using arts, culture, and design as tools for civic improvement and long-term community strengthening, supported by a credible cross-sector partnership and a clear plan that advances equity.