Opportunity Fund 2024: Letter of Intent (LOI)

The City of Charlotte and the Arts and Culture Advisory Board are offering grants of up to $40,000 for one-year projects by local artists and arts and culture groups to support near-term, one-time projects and initiatives that align with the Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan. The Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan is available in both English and Spanish. Please find the respective versions linked below for your convenience:

• English Version 
• Versión en Español

Application Overview & Eligibility Requirements:

Before you begin, please review this Application Guidelines & Eligibility Requirements document.

1. Letters of Intent (LOIs) will be accepted March 6 - March 28, 2024. The LOI form will close at 6 pm ET on March 28 and applications will not be accepted after that time. Applicants are encouraged to submit their LOIs prior to the final deadline of March 28. 
2. LOIs will be evaluated as they arrive. Applicants are encouraged to submit their LOIs prior to the final deadline of March 28. 
3. If an LOI is deemed eligible, the applicant will be invited by email to submit a full proposal with final proposal budget for further consideration. 
4. NEW FEATURE! For this cycle, grant writing coaches will provide complimentary coaching and support to applicants to assist with development of strong proposals. Applicants can benefit from grant writing coaches in a variety of ways (virtual info session; in-person workshop; one-one-one virtual coaching sessions for applicants in Stage 2).

Questions? Please refer to the Opportunity Fund FAQ page. 

For any additional questions about Opportunity Fund eligibility or the LOI application, please email: OppFundSubmissions@charlotteiscreative.com.

Timeline, Info Session Dates & Registration:

Applicants are encouraged to attend or watch the recording(s) of at least one information session prior to submitting an LOI  in order to familiarize themselves with the guidelines and Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan so they can determine the best fit for their project with this grant opportunity. 

STAGE ONE: Letter of Intent (LOI) 

• MARCH 6, 2024 - Click here to watch: General Info Session - Virtual: Overview of Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan Priorities and Letter of Intent (LOI) submission form opens 
• MARCH 8, 2024 - Click here to watch: Virtual Info Session: Overview of Priorities 1 and 8
• MARCH 11, 2024 - Click here to watch: Virtual Info Session: Overview of Priorities 4, 5 and 7 
• MARCH 13, 2024 - Click here to watch: Spanish Language Info Session: Overview of Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan Priorities | Click here to view the Spanish-Language Info Session Deck.
• MARCH 20, 2024 - Click here to watch in English | Click here to watch in Spanish: Virtual Info Session: Developing a Strong Grant Proposal & Budget
• MARCH 23, 2024 (10am - 12pm) - In-person Grant Proposal Workshop Location: The Parr Center at CPCC (1201 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204). Parking: Deck 4, (1225 E. 4th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204), behind the Overcash Building.
• MARCH 28, 2204 (6 pm ET) - Deadline for LOI submissions 

If LOI submissions are found eligible, applicants will be invited by email no later than April 5, 2024 to proceed to the full proposal stage.

STAGE TWO: Full Proposal

• APRIL 26, 2024 (6 pm ET) - Deadline for full proposal and budget submission

Awards will be made in late June 2024, and grant contracting and payment of funds is slated for July 2024.

Eligibility & Intended Use of Funds

The grants made through the Opportunity Fund will support implementation of new projects or expansions of existing projects, programs, initiatives that are aligned with Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan.

Nonprofits, artists and creative groups that are located in Charlotte or Mecklenburg County, North Carolina can request dollars through the Opportunity Fund. Artists and groups that are not nonprofits must apply with a nonprofit fiscal agent or sponsor. For-profit groups are not eligible for this grant. 

Grants are restricted to projects, programs and initiatives that: 

• Advance a specific Priority and related Strategy in the Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan. (Applicants will be asked to indicate which specific Priority and related Strategy in the plan their project aligns with, and how.)
• Take place wholly or primarily in Charlotte or Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
• Take place between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. 
• Do not require unrestricted or multi-year funding.
• If the applicant was previously supported through the Opportunity Fund, the project funded first must be completed or on track to be completed by June 30, 2024.

Click here for examples of projects previously funded by The Opportunity Fund.

Only one application per applicant will be accepted.

For any questions about Opportunity Fund eligibility or the LOI application, please email: OppFundSubmissions@charlotteiscreative.com.

How to get started and use Submittable:

• To start your LOI form, click the "Apply Now" button below. That is where you will create your free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit your form.
• Submittable allows you to save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
• If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
• The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.

Upon submission of the LOI form, you will receive a confirmation email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly. 

Need technical support?

Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions here.

Contact Opportunity Fund Staff

For any questions about Opportunity Fund eligibility or the LOI application, please email: OppFundSubmissions@charlotteiscreative.com.

Charlotte Is Creative is the City of Charlotte’s administrative partner in managing the application process and review panels for the 2024 Opportunity Fund.