Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• Eligible to receive taxable income in the U.S.
• Organization is located in Western North Carolina (counties include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Qualla Boundary, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey). This includes organizations displaced or forced to relocate temporarily due to Hurricane Helene.
• A community and/or education-based organization with an emphasis on craft and/or dedicated craft programming. This might include nonprofit organizations, museums, galleries, archives, schools and education centers, heritage centers, community centers, organizations that provide studio space and/or workshops, guilds, membership organizations, artist cooperatives or collectives, and local arts councils. 
• In operation for at least a year before Helene.
• Currently operating or have plans to reopen
• Total annual operating budget of less than $2M
• Experienced at least one of the following due to Hurricane Helene:
  • Physical damage or loss to your organization’s facilities
  • Physical damage or loss to equipment, tools, inventory, or materials required for your regular operations
  • Business interruption (e.g. temporary closure or limited operations due to lack of utilities)
  • Staff turnover
  • Loss of revenue
  • Audience or market disruptions
  • Other unexpected impacts directly resulting from Hurricane Helene

Applicants cannot be:

• A current employee, consultant, board member, or major funder of the Center for Craft, or an immediate family member of such a person
• A  government entity, foundation, college, or university

For this opportunity, the Center for Craft understands craft to include 3D work produced primarily in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metals, and wood.

The Center for Craft prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or perceived disability, age, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category. The Center encourages applications from historically underrepresented populations. Applying does not constitute a promise or guarantee of being awarded this gift.

Requirements

This is a one-time unrestricted charitable gift. There are no reporting requirements.

Privacy and Use of Information

Recipients of the Craft Futures Fund - WNC Recovery funds will be published on the Center for Craft’s website and announced through social media. We plan to share statistics representing the impact of Helene on the craft sector, how these funds were distributed, and share unattributed quotes pulled from applications. We may approach individual organizations for the rights to publicly share attributed images and quotes on a case-by-case basis. 

All applicants will be automatically enrolled to receive the Center for Craft’s newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Alumni Network

Recipients of this opportunity are not eligible for membership in the Center’s forthcoming Alumni Network. 

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How to Apply

Applicants must apply using the online application program SlideRoom here.

Applicants will not be required to pay an application fee. Please review the sample application below before beginning your application. 

All applicants should create a login to be able to partially complete the form and return to finish it at a later date. Before submitting your application, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you can review your form and return to edit or delete your uploaded files as needed. Your application can not be accessed once submitted. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application form has been successfully submitted. A virtual application information session will be held on December 13, 2024 at 2pm ET.

DEADLINE: 

Applications must be submitted via SlideRoom no later than 11:59 pm ET on January 13, 2025. Notification of awards will be sent in February 2025.

NOTIFICATION: 

Recipients will be notified of funding at the e-mail address listed on the application form. Please be sure that it is a valid account that you check regularly. 

SAMPLE APPLICATION

Cover Sheet

• Organization’s Name
• Physical Address
• Website 
• Social media handles
• EIN
  

• Primary Contact’s name
• Primary Contact’s pronouns (optional)
• Primary Contact's email address
• Primary Contact’s phone number
  

• What type of organization are you registered as? (501c3, LLC, etc.) 
• What Western North Carolina county is your organization located in? [drop-down menu]
• Is your organization an artist-led or run organization (Y or N)
• Which craft practices/materials  does your organization support (select all that apply): ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metals, wood, other, not applicable
• Our organization is applying for [  ] $5,000 [  ] $10,000
  

Organizational Details

1. What was your organization's total annual operating budget in the fiscal year that ended prior to Helene?
2. What was your organization's total annual operating revenue in the fiscal year that ended before Helene?
3. Approximately what % of your organization is dedicated to craft?
   1. If less than 100%, please explain:
4. How many full-time and part-time staff worked at your organization before Helene?
5. In what kind of community is your organization or business located?
   1. Urban
   2. Suburban
   3. Rural
   4. Other (please specify): ____________________.
6. Approximately how many people  does your organization serve annually (members, studio tenants, exhibitors, vendors, workshop participants, visitors)
7. Approximately what percentage of people you serve are craft artists?
8. Please list up to three communities with whom you most frequently work. You might consider age, skill, materials, identity, sexuality, geographic area, or other characteristics that the people you work with have in common (for example, veterans, refugees, queer communities, youth, textile artists, residents of Western North Carolina, or other groups and communities of practice not mentioned here)
   

Application Questions

1. Please describe your organization, including its mission and scope of programs before Helene (up to 1500 characters)
2. How does your organization support craft education and/or craft communities? (up to 1500 characters)
3. Which of the following has your organization experienced as a result of Hurricane Helene? (Select all that apply, please explain up to 1500 characters)
   • Physical damage or loss to your organization’s facilities
   • Physical damage or loss to equipment, tools, inventory, or materials required for your regular operations
   • Business interruption (e.g. temporary closure or limited operations due to lack of utilities)
   • Staff turnover
   • Loss of revenue
   • Audience or market disruptions
   • Other unexpected impacts directly resulting from Hurricane Helene.
4. If you experienced property damage, loss of revenue, and/or incurred unexpected expenses related to Hurricane Helene,  what is the approximate dollar value of your losses?
5. What are your recovery goals, what do you need to recover, and how will this funding help you get there? (Up to 3000 characters)
   

FAQ

If I am awarded, will I have to pay taxes on my award?

This funding is being offered as a charitable gift and may not be taxable depending on your individual situation. We advise you consult with a tax advisor.

Craft is only one part of my organization’s services, are we still eligible to apply?

As long as your organization’s total annual operating budget is under $2M, you are eligible to apply. 

How do I calculate what percentage of my organization is dedicated to craft?

This calculation is up to you. However, if your answer is under 100%,  we encourage you to explain your rationale in the space provided.  You might consider the percentage of your budget that supports craft programming, the number of staff dedicated to craft programming, the percentage of craft exhibited compared to other art forms, or the percentage of studio spaces occupied by craft artists, to name a few ideas.

What are the reporting requirements? Do I need to report on how I spend the money?

This is a one-time unrestricted charitable gift. There are no reporting requirements. 

How can I use the funds? 

This is an unrestricted charitable gift. 

May I mail a hard copy of my application materials to the Center for Craft’s office?

Hard-copy submissions will not be accepted. The application must be completed and submitted through SlideRoom.  

Can I work on my application and return to complete it at a later date?  

Yes, creating a login account will enable you to complete the form in several online sessions.  

I just submitted my application, but I want to return to it and make an edit. Is this possible?

No, once your application is submitted you cannot return to the form or change any submitted information. 

I have a question that wasn’t answered. How can I reach the Center for Craft?

If you have any further questions, please contact grants@centerforcraft.org, or call 828-785-1357.