• Eligibility Requirements for Arts Organizations

  To be eligible to apply for a Capital Improvements Grant, an arts organization must be based in and serving the communities of Los Angeles County. The following requirements must also be met:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored visual and/or performing arts organization
  • Have a mission fully dedicated to the arts
  • Have active and ongoing programming, activities, and/or direct services performed, exhibited, or provided in LA County
  • Have staffing and operational capacity necessary to manage project, with at least three (3) paid full-time staff members for the current fiscal year
  • Have been established and operating as a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organization for at least five (5) consecutive years
  • Have an annual operating budget of less than $10 million
  • Have a Board of Directors and/or Advisory Council
  • Partner with, support, and/or represent communities that have been historically underfunded in the arts
  • Have received a minimum of 2 bids/cost estimates to inform budget request for project if under $50,000, or a minimum of 3 to inform request of $50,000 or over
  • Project that capital improvements can be implemented in less than 18 months

  Ineligible organizations include:

  • Organizations whose primary mission is not arts-related (for example: therapeutic and social services, entertainment, healthcare, housing, sports, and living collections). To be eligible, all programming and/or services must be dedicated to the arts
  • National and/or statewide arts organizations
  • Educational institutions that lead to a degree or diploma
  • Municipal or County government agencies and departments
  • Regranting organizations
• Timeline

  Application Submissions Window: January 19 – June 8, 2023

  • Application Opens: Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. PST
  • Application Closes: Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. PST
  • Please be mindful of the noon deadline, as we cannot guarantee an extension beyond this time.

  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 8, 2023. We encourage organizations to submit early and not wait until the final deadline.

  We strongly recommend submitting the application at least 3 working days prior to the deadline to allow ample time to troubleshoot and resolve any technical or system errors.

  Review Process: March through September 2023

  As part of our review process, we may conduct virtual meetings and/or in-person site visits. Those who applied before the end of April will receive a notification in late July. All later applicants will be notified in late October.

• Contact Our Team

  For questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for this grant, read through our Eligibility Requirements above before submitting a question.

  For technical issues or questions about the application process, read the Questions and Answers section below. If your question is not addressed there, contact our team.

  If you are unsure whether your capital improvements project fits into the scope of this grant or have a request that is under $10,000, provide the following in your question to receive guidance on whether to proceed with an application:

  • A brief summary (2-3 sentences) of what your project entails
  • The grant amount you would like to request from the Perenchio Foundation

  Ask a Question

• Apply Now

  Start Application

Frequently Asked Questions

• About Capital Improvements

  What is considered a capital improvements project?

  Our Capital Improvements Grants support arts organizations with short-term funding for maintenance, repairs, and/or upgrades of facilities and equipment that can be implemented within less than 18 months. These funds are intended to increase the functionality of workspaces, foster improved communication and collaboration, and help organizations lay the groundwork for a long-term future.

  See the Grant Overview at the top of this page for further details and examples of project types. 

  Does the Foundation fund capital campaigns and large building renovations?

  No. The Foundation does not fund capital campaigns, and large-scale building renovations fall outside the scope of this funding cycle.

  How much funding may I request?

  Grant amounts are anticipated to range from $10,000 to $300,000. Funding will vary based on the project needs and proposed budget submitted with each application.

  For requests of $50,000 or more, we require that the organization has already identified, allocated, or secured funds for at least 10% of the total cost of the project.

  May I request funding for more than one project?

  No. Applicants should include only one capital improvements project in their funding request, as these grants do not fund multiple projects per organization.

  Are organizations that have received funding from the Perenchio Foundation eligible to apply?

  Yes. However, organizations that are new to us and have not received funding from the Perenchio Foundation will be prioritized.

• Fiscally Sponsored Organizations

  Should fiscally sponsored organizations start an application under their own name or under the name of their fiscal sponsor?

  • A fiscally sponsored organization that is not in the IRS database should click “Entering an Organization Name” and enter their name there.
  • Then, they should enter their fiscal sponsor’s information within the application only when prompted, starting with the question “Does your organization have a Fiscal Sponsor?”

  I am a fiscally sponsored organization, but I started an application under my fiscal sponsor’s name. How should I fix this?

  • If you have not yet made significant progress in your application, please start a new application under the name of your own organization.
  • If you have already made significant progress in your original application under your fiscal sponsor’s name, notify our team here.

  What information will fiscally sponsored organizations need to provide about their fiscal sponsor?

  If you are a fiscally sponsored organization, you will need to provide:

  • Name, address, and Tax ID of your fiscal sponsor
  • Contact at the fiscal sponsor organization
  • Memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letter of agreement between your organization and your fiscal sponsor

  How should fiscally sponsored organizations answer the budget-related questions in the application?

  For organizations that are fiscally sponsored, be sure to include your own organization’s information in all budget-related questions, not your fiscal sponsor’s.

• Arts Service Organizations

  Do you accept applications from arts service organizations?

  Arts service organizations that have their principal offices in Los Angeles County, serve LA communities, and meet the rest of our eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.

  National or statewide arts service organizations are not eligible for this funding cycle.

• Review Process

  What is the timeline for your review process?

  Those who applied before the end of April will receive a notification in late July. All later applicants will be notified in late October.

  What criteria will you use to assess applications?

  The Foundation’s priorities when evaluating an application will include an organization’s ability to clearly describe their project and the need(s) that it is addressing. We ask organizations to write about their reach and programming in a simple, concise way that is free of jargon and would be easily understood by anyone reading about their work.

  After an arts organization has been confirmed to meet our eligibility requirements, the following criteria will also be taken into consideration:

  1. Project Need & Feasibility
     • Clear description of how proposed capital improvements project will address a need and help the organization operate more effectively and/or sustainably
     • Proposed capital improvements that can be feasibly implemented within 18 months and for the projected total cost
  2. Alignment with Foundation Values
     • Alignment of organization and proposed project with the Perenchio Foundation’s values of quality, accessibility, and permanence
     • Practice and culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  3. Community Engagement & Impact
     • Organization’s vital and demonstrable role in communities served
     • Increased access to arts and culture programming provided for historically underfunded communities
  4. Leadership & Operational Capacity
     • Effective leadership and sound financial management practices
     • Staffing to oversee project and/or a plan to hire contractor(s) to complete project

  Will you conduct site visits as part of the review process?

  We may conduct virtual meetings and/or in-person site visits for the Foundation team to learn more about the need(s) behind a proposed project and the organization’s operational capacity to manage it. If needed, we will reach out to organizations accordingly.

  How do I check on the status of my request?

  Please refrain from emailing or calling about the status of requests. The Foundation will contact you via email if more information is needed. Otherwise, all organizations will hear from us in either late July or late October.

• How to Apply

  How do I create and access my profile on your application portal?

  Click here to start the application.

  • On the right side of the screen, you will see a “Sign In” box and an option to create a new account. Click “Create an account” and enter your email address. This will be your username on the application portal.
  • Look for an email from Perenchio Foundation in your inbox, and check your spam folder if you do not see it. Click “Activate Your Account” to set up your password.
  • You will now be able to start a new grant application, enter your organization’s name, and take the eligibility questionnaire.

  If you previously applied for a grant using the Perenchio Foundation application portal, you will be able to access your account using the same login information.

  What attachments will I need to submit with my application?

  All applicants must submit the following attachments with their application for it to be complete and be deemed eligible:

  • A project budget (template provided by Perenchio Foundation in application)
  • A minimum of 2 bids/cost estimates to inform budget request for project if under $50,000, or a minimum of 3 to inform request of $50,000 or over
  • Current Annual Operating Budget with year-to-date (YTD) actuals
  • The organization’s most recent Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N
  • Audited Financial Statements for the two most recently completed fiscal years. If your organization has not yet received the most recent year’s audit OR is not subject to an audit requirement, submit a draft audit or an internal year-end financial statement (Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet).

  Can I start my application and come back to it later?

  Yes, the system autosaves so you can come back to it anytime.

  Can I print the application prior to, during, or after filling it out?

  Yes, you can print the application at any time. The application can be printed with or without your answers.

  Will I receive confirmation that my application was received?

  Yes, when you submit your application, you will receive an auto-response email to confirm that your application was received. If you do not receive one, check your spam folder. If the confirmation is not in your spam or promotions folder, please reach out to us here.

• How to Contact Us

  For questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for this grant, read through our Eligibility Requirements above before submitting a question.

  If you have a technical issue or a question about the application process that is not addressed elsewhere on this page, contact our team below.

  If you are unsure whether your capital improvements project fits into the scope of this grant, provide the following in your question to receive guidance on whether to proceed with an application:

  • A brief description of what your project entails (2-3 sentences)
  • The grant amount you would like to request from the Perenchio Foundation

  Ask a Question