Capital Grants

Capital Grants support specific capital projects, equipment purchases or construction, to small Dane County nonprofit arts, culture, and local history organizations. Range of activities supported include: purchase of permanent equipment, construction of permanent exhibitions, building construction, improvements or expansion, and historic preservation initiatives. Capital grant opportunity details are described in WebGrants.

• Nonprofit Organizations (with proof of 501(c)(3) status)
• Qualified Designated Fiscal Receivers in Dane County for organizations without formal nonprofit status
• Projects and programs must be located in Dane County, Wisconsin
• Applicant organization must be located in Dane County

• Applicants may not submit more than one Capital Grant Application per cycle
• Schools, school districts, and municipalities may apply only if the capital project directly serves the greater community
• Capital grants are not available to individuals, public libraries, fraternal groups, churches, commercial businesses, neighborhood centers, and higher educational institutions
• Capital grants for any single ongoing project will be limited to a total of five Dane Arts grant awards. This limit does not apply to capital grants awarded prior to 2011
• Applications will not be considered from grantees that have not fulfilled obligations to the Commission under terms of prior grant awards

• Dane Arts grants may account for no more than 50% of a total project.
• The amount requested must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Application budgets must include cash contributions in fulfillment of the matching requirement.
• A budget error may disqualify an application.
• Dane Arts grants may not be matched by other Dane County tax dollars.
• A grant award in a lesser amount than what is requested by an applicant may be offered.
• A grant in any amount carries no commitment for future support by the Dane Arts beyond terms of the project supported.

• Permanent equipment, i.e., a durable product having a useful lifespan of more than two years
• Capital projects with permanent, lasting significance

• Purchase of artwork
• Purchase of historical artifacts
• Theater scripts, stage properties, costumes, music and dance scores
• Books and other printed materials
• Computer equipment, systems or software
• Improvements to private residential or commercial property