GO Queens Grant
General Operating Support Grant for Queens-based Arts Organizations

This program is funded by The Howard Gilman Foundation.

View our list of 2024 Grantees

The Flushing Town Hall GO Queens Grant program will fund Queens-based performing arts and culture organizations to support their mission and work in the community. Flushing Town Hall (FTH) will award twenty-five $10,000 grants to Queens-based arts and culture nonprofit organizations that have the performing arts as a core focus/component in their organization's identity with annual operating budgets under $250,000.  These unrestricted funds can be used for General Operating Support (GOS) to help the granted organization grow. Some funds may be used for 2025 programs, at the discretion of the applying organization.

With this new funding, we look to help sustain local not-for-profit organizations and further promote their growth and creativity as they recover from the impacts of COVID and its economic fallout.
 

Application Now Open: click here to access through Submittable
Application Deadline: Thursday, December 19, 2024, 11:59pm ET
Grantee Notification: April 2025

Sign up for a required information session to learn more about the program.


Guidelines in Spanish: Beca GO Queens 2025 - Apoyo operativo general
Guidelines in Chinese: 2025 年 GO Queens 贈款 —— 一般運營支持
Guidelines in Korean: 2025년도 GO Queens 보조금 - 일반 운영 지원
Guidelines in Hindi: 2025 GO Queens अनुदान - सामान्य संचालन सहायता
 

2025 GUIDELINES

Types Of Activity/Programming Eligible For Support
These funds will be for General Operating Support rather than project-based, and can be used for eligible expenses including, but not limited to:

• Staff Salaries (for current employees, as well as for hiring new employees)
• Space/Office Rent
• Marketing Costs
• Equipment and Supply Purchases
• Other Day-to-Day Operational Needs
• 2025 program expenses

Eligibility Requirements For Applicants
Eligible organizations must:

• Be Queens-based performing arts organization, or a multidisciplinary organization with the performing arts as a core focus/component of their mission and organization identity.
  • Have a valid mailing address in Queens (PO Boxes are accepted.)
• Have been in existence and active for at least one year
• Have an operating budget of $250,000 or less in the most recent completed fiscal year
  • Applying organizations must submit their operating budget from the most recent completed fiscal year for panel review
• Have not received the GO Queens Grant in the previous year.
• Have the performing arts be a central part of the organization’s mission and work.
• Show how their work in the community strengthens and enriches Queens and NYC
• Have nonprofit status
  • The following proofs of nonprofit status are acceptable:
    • A 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS
    • Documentation of charter by the NY State Board of Regents under section 216 of the State Education Law
    • A current NY State Bureau of Charities filing receipt
    • Documentation of incorporation under section 402 of the NY State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law
•  If an organization does not have nonprofit status, they can apply with a fiscal sponsor
  • Eligible fiscal sponsors can be NYC-based (not just Queens), but the applying organization must still be Queens-based
  • Fiscal sponsors must provide the same proof of nonprofit status as previously mentioned for
  • Fiscal sponsors are not subject to the $250,000 operating budget restriction, but the sponsored organization applying must show they have met this budget threshold

• Knowledge and understanding of grant opportunity criteria and relevant guidelines.
• Ensuring work for which funding is sought will occur within the appropriate contract period and required service area.
• Consulting with the organization regarding eligibility and conveying all relevant grant application information, including deadlines and online access details.
• Registering requests and submitting applications with all required supporting information, including an Organizational Budget and Proof of Nonprofit Status (where applicable).
• Executing a letter of commitment with the sponsored organization that clearly outlines the administration of the grant and defines mutual responsibilities.
• Informing sponsored group/artist of funding decisions in a timely manner (prior to the expiration of the appeals period).
• Receiving and disbursing granted funds and ensuring that all relevant tax filings and reporting are executed as appropriate. Fiscal sponsors must issue W-9s to grantees that are organizations without nonprofit status, with grants greater than $600 prior to issuing the grant award check, and a 1099 tax form must be issued for the grantees' tax purposes.
• Submitting a final report on the expenditure of the grant funds after the end of the contract period.

• Application Narrative
• Proof of Nonprofit Status or Fiscal Sponsorship Documentation (see below)
• Annual Operating Budget from the most recent completed fiscal year
• Overview of the organization’s principal members (board of directors, advisory board, or any other oversight structures) and primary team members (paid staff and/or unpaid volunteers, if applicable)
• Work Samples & Promotional Materials from programs held in the past 1-2 years

• Fiscal Sponsor proof of nonprofit status
• Fiscal Sponsor’s annual operating budget from the most recently completed fiscal year
• A letter of commitment with the sponsored organization that clearly outlines the administration of the grant and defines mutual responsibilities.
  • The letter of commitment is required on the fiscal sponsor’s letterhead.

• Organizational Merit – Through their mission statement and narrative, does the applying organization show that they are a strong, active arts and culture organization that offers distinct, well-designed programs that align with their mission?
• Financial & Managerial Competency – Does the applying organization demonstrate sound financial management? If an organization has had a deficit in previous fiscal years, are they able to explain to the panel the circumstances around those shortfalls?
• Community Impact – Does the applicant clearly define the communities that they work with, and is their programming aligned with the needs and goals of that community? Does the organization effectively enrich the arts and culture of their defined community (and Queens as a whole)?

• The above scoring criteria
• Available funding
• Competitive evaluation against other applicants

Grantee Requirements
Selected organizations will receive $10,000 to support their operation for the calendar year of 2025. The funds may be spent according to their proposal in their application.

Throughout the year, grantees will have 1-2 site visits with a representative of Flushing Town Hall. During these onsite meetings, the FTH representative will have conversations with funded organizations to learn about the work they are doing, what supports they need and if FTH can help, as well as to continue to form active relationships with our grantees. 

At the end of December 2025, grantees will be required to submit a final report detailing what the grant funds were used for (along with receipts and invoices), and how the funds helped the organization grow and achieve their mission.
 

About the Howard Gilman Foundation: Howard Gilman believed in the power of the arts to transform lives. THE HOWARD GILMAN FOUNDATION honors his legacy by supporting the most robust, innovative, and promising performing arts organizations in New York City. More information on the Foundation’s cultural investments may be found on its website  www.howardgilmanfoundation.org

Please join our mailing list HERE to stay up to date on the GO Queens Grant and other artist services.
Any questions? Please email Dan Bamba, Director of Arts Services at dbamba@flushingtownhall.org