General Operating Support (GOS) Funding Opportunity FY26

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant administered by Creative Flagstaff is a pivotal funding opportunity designed to sustain and empower nonprofit organizations and nonprofit-sponsored entities operating in the arts, science, and cultural sectors within the Flagstaff, Arizona area. Creative Flagstaff manages this grant using Bed, Board, and Beverage (BBB) tax revenues allocated by the City of Flagstaff. The primary purpose of the GOS Grant is to provide unrestricted operational support to organizations whose core mission includes presenting or producing public-facing programs in the arts, science, or cultural preservation and awareness. It is specifically structured to bolster the foundational capacities of eligible organizations, thereby enhancing their ability to serve the local community through consistent, quality programming and engagement. Eligible applicants must be located within the greater Flagstaff area as defined by the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization. The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with a 501(c)(3) sponsor while pursuing their own IRS nonprofit designation. The organization’s mission must demonstrate a primary focus on artistic, scientific, or cultural activities. Multidisciplinary organizations may qualify if at least half of their public programming is dedicated to these eligible areas. Additionally, applicants must show a minimum annual budget of $5,000 and commit to incurring eligible expenses during the designated funding period. For FY27, the funding period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Applications open on February 16 and close on April 3 at 11:30 PM. A mandatory review panel meeting occurs on April 8, followed by a possible Q&A round where applicants may be asked to respond to additional reviewer questions by May 29. A second panel meeting is scheduled for June 10, and the final board approval will be completed in the June 2026 board meeting. Award notifications will be issued by June 30, 2026, and funded organizations are required to submit a final report by August 31, 2027. GOS Grant funds may be used for general overhead and operational expenses such as staff salaries, program delivery, production, and administration. The grants are disbursed quarterly—August, October, January, and April—contingent on current insurance documents being on file. Grants up to $15,000 require no matching funds, whereas awards over $15,000 necessitate a 1:1 match, with up to 50% of the match permitted as in-kind contributions. The cash portion of the match cannot come from other Creative Flagstaff or City of Flagstaff BBB-supported revenues. This condition supports financial diversification and reinforces sustainable budgeting practices. Applicants must submit their materials through the Submittable online platform. Required documentation includes a completed narrative application, either the Creative Flagstaff GOS Alternative Budget Form or the SMU DataArts Funder Report, the most recent Form 990, and (for fiscally sponsored entities) a signed Fiscal Letter of Agreement. New applicants must also provide a Federal Tax Exemption Letter. Additionally, all grantees must supply two Certificates of Liability Insurance listing both Creative Flagstaff and the City of Flagstaff as additional insured entities. Evaluation of applications is conducted by a committee of 7–10 local arts and science professionals, including at least one representative from the City of Flagstaff and a Creative Flagstaff Board Member. The committee scores each application based on alignment with mission, community impact, organizational sustainability, and financial transparency. Recommendations are submitted to the Creative Flagstaff Board for final approval. Successful applicants are expected to acknowledge Creative Flagstaff and the City of Flagstaff BBB funding in all promotional materials and event listings and comply with all reporting and accountability standards by the designated deadlines.

Acknowledge funders in all marketing materials; Submit correct financial documents; Maintain active COI for each payment