The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) enables qualifying cultural organizations to apply for grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs.  The agency encourages participation in the process by the widest possible representation of the City’s diverse cultural constituency.  Currently, we receive applications from more than 1,000 organizations and administer grants to more than 880 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations representing a wide range of disciplines and providing cultural experiences for the City’s residents and visitors.

The current application cycle is for activities taking place between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Any arts or cultural organization interested in applying for a future grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs must be:

• Located and operating in any of the five boroughs of New York City;
• Incorporated in New York State and compliant with annual State and Federal filing requirements for nonprofit organizations, including NYS Charities Bureau filings;
• In possession of a Federal Employee Identification Number (EIN); and
• Certified tax exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)(3).  Incorporated non-profits without 501(c)(3) status may apply through a Fiscal Sponsor that is certified tax exempt under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3).

Be sure to read the CDF Guidelines to determine eligibility. 

Registration

If you are an eligible arts or cultural organization and have not already registered for a Cultural Affairs Account, please complete the registration process to access the Agency’s online forms.

Download and review the Registration Help Guide before beginning the registration process.

The Fiscal 2013 CDF Application period closed on February 13, 2012. Funding panels will convene in the spring; the outcome of the Fiscal 2013 CDF process will be announced once panels have concluded and the Agency’s Fiscal 2013 budget is finalized.

If your organization missed the Fiscal 2013 CDF deadline and is still interested in seeking support for Fiscal 2013 cultural programming, contact your local arts council to determine if you are eligible for support through the New York Arts Development Fund, a regrant program administered by each borough’s local arts council.

Organizations interested in applying for CDF support in Fiscal 2014 should review the eligibility requirements and the Fiscal 2013 application materials to get a sense of the current process and requirements:

• CDF Guidelines
• CDF Application Instructions
• CDF Application Checklist
• Blank Application Form

Organizations which meet the eligibility criteria and have not recently submitted CDF applications may register at any time; however, the CDF Application will not be available until early 2013. If you are a new applicant and would like to be added to the Programs Unit mailing list for the Fiscal 2014 application period, please email your full name, the legal name of your organization, your email address, website address, telephone and primary borough to vcharles@culture.nyc.gov.  

Existing CDF Applicants or Grantees may view past or current submissions at any time by logging into the online application:

The Fiscal 2012 CDF Renewal period is closed.  

Notification regarding the release of the Fiscal 2013 Renewal will be sent to organizations receiving multi-year support (for Fiscal 2011-2013 or Fiscal 2012-2014) in the spring; review your Fiscal 2012 award letter to determine your organization’s multi-year status.

Review the eligibility requirements and the Fiscal 2012 Renewal materials to get a sense of the current process and requirements. The Renewal Guidelines detail applicable eligibility and funding requirements; the Renewal Instructions explain the level of programmatic and financial detail expected in your submission, as well as provide essential tools to help you navigate the online form; the Renewal Checklist itemizes the materials required for your submission to be considered complete; and the Blank Renewal provides printable screenshots of each section of the online form.

• CDF Renewal Guidelines
• CDF Renewal Instructions
• CDF Renewal Checklist
• Blank Renewal Form

Please be aware that participation in New York State’s Cultural Data Project (CDP) is mandatory for all CDF Applicants, and that CDP’s “CDF Funder Report” is one of the required items on the CDF Renewal Checklist. To learn more, visit CDP’s website at www.nysculturaldata.org.

Existing CDF grantees may view their past submissions at any time by logging into the online renewal:

The Department of Cultural Affairs will open the Fiscal 2012 online reporting process in early spring. Notification regarding this release will be sent to all Fiscal 2012 grantees at that time. The deadline for Final Reports is Wednesday, August 1, 2012.

If your project’s expenses have changed by 20% or your organization’s actual services have differed significantly from those proposed in the Fiscal 2012 Application, your organization must submit written requests to revise those services using the Scope of Service Request for Revision form as soon as possible. The signed and completed form, which should be mailed or emailed to your Program Specialist, can be found below. Contact your Program Specialist if you think your organization might need to submit a Request for Revision.

• Scope of Service Request for Revision

Download and review the Fiscal 2011 Final Report materials below to get a sense of the current process and reporting requirements:  the Reporting Instructions explain the level of programmatic and financial detail expected in your submission, as well as provide essential tools to help you navigate the online form; the Reporting Checklist itemizes the materials required for your submission to be considered complete; and the Blank Final Report provides printable screenshots of each section of the online form.

• CDF Reporting Instructions
• CDF Reporting Checklist
• Blank Final Report Form

LAUNCH THE FINAL REPORT >>