Equity Expansion Grant Cycle 1
Period of Support: May 1 - August 31, 2025
Application due March 31, 2025 at 11:00PM PST
SUMMARY:
The Equity Expansion Grant is intended to provide programmatic funding to eligible organizations that expand equity through arts, culture, or heritage programs, services, or projects. The project/activity must utilize arts and culture to elevate and amplify cultural diversity. The grant prioritizes organizations historically facing social, financial, and/or geographic barriers. The grant prioritizes projects and activities that are by and for American Indian and Alaska Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, LGBTQIA+, disabled, seniors, and access-challenged communities.
La subvención de expansión de equidad (Equity Expansion Grant) tiene como objetivo proporcionar financiación programática a organizaciones elegibles que brinden servicios de arte, cultura y patrimonio. La subvención prioriza a las organizaciones que históricamente han enfrentado barreras sociales, financieras y/o geográficas. La subvención prioriza proyectos y actividades realizados por y para personas indígenas y nativos de Alaska, árabes y del Medio Oriente, asiáticos e isleños del Pacífico, comunidades con orígenes africanos y afroamericanos, hispanos y latinos, LGBTQIA+, con capacidades especiales, adultos mayores y comunidades con desafíos de acceso. Si desea asistencia o más información en español, comuníquese con el personal al bernerm@reno.gov.
Grant Amount
- Up to $4,000
Applicant Eligibility
- Applicants must be 501(c)3 organizations based in Reno. This includes colleges, universities, public schools, libraries, and federally recognized tribes.
- Organizations that do not have 501(c)3 status may use a fiscal sponsor. Organizations are eligible to apply for and receive funding through a fiscal sponsor for a limit of 3 years.
- The applicant organization must have at least one year of operating history in Reno.
- Organizations cannot apply for multiple Arts & Culture Grants for the same project. Each application must be distinctly unique. For example, if you are applying for an Arts & Culture Project Grant, your application for an Equity Expansion Grant must be for a different project with no overlap.
- Projects and programs must take place within the City of Reno boundaries. Projects taking place outside of the City of Reno are ineligible.
- City of Reno map
Funding may be used for:
- Education Programming (including demonstrations, lectures, and workshops)
- Entertainment Programming (including performances, events, festivals, and traditions)
- Public Art Programming (including exhibitions, materials, and artist fees)
Funding may not be used for:
- Hospitality Expenses (including food, beverages)
- Operating Expenses (including staff salary, rent, office equipment, or repairs)
- Competition Expenses (including scholarships, prizes, or grants)
- Activities with implicit religious content
Requirements
- Programming must be advertised, free, and accessible to the public.
- Programming must support and benefit underserved communities.
- Proposed project must expand equity through arts, culture, or heritage.
- The project/activity must utilize arts and culture to elevate and amplify cultural diversity.
- Programming must occur within the City of Reno between January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025.
- Applicants will be responsible for securing any appropriate public exhibition space and any permission or permits required regarding their proposal.
Submission
- Applicants must submit applications via Submittable according to the following deadlines:
- Deadline to apply for programming taking place between January 1 - April 30, 2025, is December 8, 2024.
- Deadline to apply for programming taking place between May 1 - August 31, 2025, is March 31, 2025.
- Deadline to apply for programming taking place between September 1 - December 31, 2025 is July 31, 2025.
Please note, organizations are only eligible to receive one Equity Expansion Grant per calendar year. If you apply and are denied, you can apply for a future date.
- Awardees will be required to submit a final report that includes a narrative of activities carried out, attendance/participation numbers, number of artists paid, and images of the activities carried out. The City of Reno also requires audience/participant surveys to be completed. Survey questions will be provided by the City upon award of grants.
Questions: Christian Davies Arts + Culture Program Assistant, daviesc@reno.gov
If you would like assistance in Spanish, please contact staff at bernerm@reno.gov.*
*Si desea asistencia en español, comuníquese con el personal al bernerm@reno.gov.
Special Event Sponsorship
SUMMARY:
The City of Reno Special Event Sponsorships are awarded to permitted events hosted in the City of Reno. The events may be anywhere within the Reno city limits. Sponsorships will be used to off-set City services billed in conjunction with the performance of the special event.
A Special Event is any planned gathering of 75 or more persons which is to assemble or travel in an organized manner on any street, park or other public property; or,
Any planned activity conducted by a person for a common or collective use, purpose or benefit which directly or indirectly involves the use of, and has an impact on, city street(s), park(s), or other public property or facilities which reasonable requires city management, regulation, or resources to protect the health, safety, welfare, or property of the city or its residents, coordinate multiple used of public property, control traffic, or address other substantial governmental interests at or around the activity.
Examples of special events include, but are not limited to:
- Parades;
- Street fairs and festivals;
- Live commercial music events;
- Athletic or sporting events (e.g. races, runs);
- Circuses or carnivals;
- Community celebrations and observances;
- Commercial shows, trade shows, and business promotions;
- Commercial promotional or fund-raising activities.
A competitive application will demonstrate economic, social, or cultural impact as well as a plan to reach in the following ways:
- Engages participants through a variety of means
- Event times, locations, facilities, and technology are accessible to the public
- Collects participant feedback and uses the results to improve future special events
- Demonstrates social, educational, cultural, and/or economic relevance for the community
- Contributes to vibrant, creative neighborhoods
ELIGIBILITY:
- Event permitted July 1st 2025-December 31st 2025
- Special Event Permit Application must be submitted PRIOR to your sponsorship application
- Payment for Special Event fees charged by the City must be paid in FULL to be eligible for sponsorship
- Your account with the City of Reno must be up to date and have no outstanding balances to be considered
- Held within City limits
Special Event Sponsorship applications will be evaluated based on the following:
1. The Event: All answers in this section address overall merit including overall benefit to the Community including tourism, open space activation, and cultural impact.
2. The Community: Questions in this section describe the organization’s ability to engage the community effectively. Answers should include evidence that the organization understands the economic impact or community engagement.
3. Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations: These questions will seek to learn your target audience, communication plans, and what resources will be dedicated to marketing and promoting your event.
4. Financial: This section will address the specific budget for the event or project. Show realistic numbers for costs related to the event.
FUNDING:
Committee discretion for allocation of up to $200,000 for events permitted in Reno. Limits per event will be set and determined by the Sponsorship Committee.
Sponsorship funds will not be dispersed until final billing for Special Events fees charged by the City is complete.
TIMELINE:
Sponsorship is eligible for events occurring between July 1st 2025-December 31st 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a semi-annual basis.
DEADLINE:
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY March 31st, 2025 FOR CONSIDERATION.
*If you need assistance, please reach out to Rachel Macintyre MacintyreR@reno.gov if you have any questions.
*If you would like assistance in Spanish, please contact staff at Arie Zamorano - (775) 348-6907, zamoranoa@reno.gov or Luci Ramos - (775) 348-6904, ramosl@reno.gov.
*Si desea asistencia en español o para asistir a un taller de becas en español, comuníquese con el personal al Arie Zamorano - (775) 348-6907, zamoranoa@reno.gov o Luci Ramos - (775) 348-6904, ramosl@reno.gov.