Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant Application

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Deadline: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST

The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA). This grant program aims to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military-connected populations through cost-sharing grants of $10,000 to $25,000 for emerging and advanced arts engagement projects that take place after July 1, 2026 and end on or before June 30, 2027.

See the Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant Website for the complete grant program guidelines.

M-AAA recommends using the latest version of Google Chrome or Firefox as your internet browser to complete this application form.
We strongly discourage the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate answers to the narrative application questions. It is, however, acceptable to use AI to proofread and edit your responses to character limits.

I. APPLICANT INFORMATION

1. Applicant Organization Legal Name

Organization's business name as it appears on its Federal Employer Identification document.

Is the applicant organization known by a name other than its legal name?

What is the applicant's other name?

Name of the organization if different from its name on its incorporation documents.

Applicant Mailing Address

City/Town

State

Zip Code

Does the applicant have a street address different from its mailing address?

Applicant Street Address

City/Town

State

Zip Code

Applicant Website Address

Applicant Email Address

Applicant Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Does the applicant maintain a social media presence?

Which ones?

FacebookX (Formerly Twitter)

Instagram
Other

Applicant Facebook

Applicant X (formerly Twitter)

Applicant Instagram

Which other social media outlets?

2. Applicant Primary Contact Person Information

Primary Contact First Name

Primary Contact Last Name

Job Title or Artistic Discipline

Work Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Primary Contact Email Address

Would you (Primary Contact) like to receive M-AAA’s monthly e-newsletter for updates on additional opportunities?

3. Secondary Contact Person Information

Secondary Contact First Name

Secondary Contact Last Name

Job Title or Artistic Discipline

Work Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Secondary Contact Email Address

Would you (Secondary Contact) like to receive M-AAA’s monthly e-newsletter for updates on additional opportunities?

4. Applicant Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Numbers only. No dashes or hyphens.

5. Applicant Unique Entity Identifier Number (UEI) as registered in sam.gov

Numbers and letters only. No dashes or hyphens.

6. U.S. Congressional District Number

Numbers only. If N/A please enter 00. For more information: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

State House Legislative District Number

Numbers only. If N/A please enter 00. For more information: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

State Senate Legislative District Number

Numbers only. If N/A please enter 00. For more information: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

7. Choose the category that best describes the applicant's legal status.

Applicants must be a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)3, U.S. organization, a unit of state or local government, or a federally recognized tribal community or tribe. For-Profit entities are ineligible to apply.

You answered "Other" for #7, please explain.

8. Choose the type of institution that best describes the applicant.

You answered "None of the Above" for #8, please explain.

9. Choose the artistic discipline that best describes the applicant's primary area of work in the arts.

10. What is the applicant's mission statement?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

11. What is the applicant’s annual operating budget for its most recently completed fiscal year? The applicant may enter the most recent budget prior to March of 2020 (Pre-COVID) if that is a more accurate representation of a typical annual organizational budget.

Under $25,000
$25,000 - $50,000$50,001 - $100,000$100,001 - $250,000$250,001 - $500,000$500,001 - $1,000,000$1,000,001 - $5,000,000$5,000,001 - $10,000,000Over $10,000,000

12. What is the population of the applicant's geographic service area?

Population less than 50,000
Population 50,000 or more

13. Does the applicant have a history of creative/artistic endeavors?

You answered "Yes" for #13, describe those creative/artistic endeavors.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

14. Does the applicant have a history of implementing programs with/for the military community?

You answered "Yes" for #14, describe those programs.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

15. Are there arts and military programs or resources available in the applicant's service area?

You answered "Yes" for #15, in what ways is your project unique and does not duplicate existing resources/services in your community?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

16. Identify the extent to which a clinic to community recommendation process is in place across clinics/hospitals/community arts organizations and your organization.

17. Applicant's Accessibility Information

a. The applicant has a stated policy or mission statement regarding accessibility.

b. The applicant has accessible information/accommodations with appropriate disability symbols included in all its publicity.

c. The applicant has an accessible website, including alt tags and captioned audio.

d. The applicant has a designated staff member responsible for overseeing accessibility and Section 504/ADA compliance.

e. The applicant has an access committee that includes people with various disabilities to advise on access issues.

You answered "Not Applicable" or "No" to at least one of the statements above, please explain.

APPLICANT ACCESSIBILITY CALCULATION (HIDE)

II. PROJECT INFORMATION

18. Project Title

19. Project Start Date

All projects must begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Project End Date

All projects must end on or before June 30, 2027.

20. Project Contact Person Information

Project Contact First Name

Project Contact Last Name

Job Title or Artistic Discipline

Work Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Project Contact Email Address

Would you (Project Contact) like to receive M-AAA’s monthly e-newsletter for updates on additional opportunities?

21. Project Summary: In two or three sentences, describe the project.

22. What is the project's primary discipline?

You answered "Interdisciplinary" or "Multidisciplinary" for #22, please designate a secondary discipline for the project.

23. What is the primary type of activity involved in the project?

You chose "None of the Above" for #23, tell us more.

24. Is there another type of activity involved in the project?

What is the secondary type of activity involved in the project?

25. Choose the one statement that best describes the amount of arts education involved in the project:

50% or more of the project activities are arts education.
Less than 50% of the project activities are arts education.
None of the project activities involve arts education.

26. Project Description

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

27. Is this a pilot project?

28. Which grant tier are you applying for?

Upload the Project Logic Model if available

Upload the Project Evaluation Plan if available

29. Project Accessibility Information

a. Persons using wheelchairs and/or prosthetics will be able to participate in the project.

b. A sign language interpreter, an assistive listening system, or other assistance for persons with hearing impairments will be provided upon request.

c. Large print materials or descriptive audio recordings will be available upon request for persons with visual limitations.

d. Seats near the speaker/performer/interpreter will be available for persons with hearing and/or visual limitations along with their companions.

You answered "Not Applicable" or "No" to at least one of the statements above, please explain.

30. How will the project be implemented? Select all that apply.

Ongoing Class/Other Ongoing Engagement: a class group, and/or ensemble that meets regularly for a distinct time period
Ongoing Drop-in Program: ongoing, drop-in programs, such as an open-studio, where participation may or may not be consistent
Single Event: single event, such as a workshop, exhibition, or cafe', where individuals participate one time
Participant Cohort: participant exhibition or performance to showcase their work
Passive Art Engagement: participants attend a performance, exhibition, etc.
Community Building: outreach within a community at large, targeting community members with a goal of improving connections between civilian and military-connected populations
Network Building: build organizational connections/networks to serve military-connected populations
Other

You answered "Other" for #30, tell us more.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

31. How will the project take place? Select all that apply.

In-Person at the Applicant's Street Address Listed Above
In-Person at a Venue Other than the Applicant's Street Address
Online/Live Streamed

Applicant's Venue Accessibility

a. The applicant's venue has designated accessible parking spaces with adjoining curb cuts and an accessible route from parking to the venue entrance.

b. The applicant's venue has ground-level entry, ramped access, and/or elevators.

c. The applicant's venue has integrated and dispersed wheelchair seating in assembly areas with companion seating.

d. The applicant's venue has signage at inaccessible entrances with directions to accessible entrances.

e. The applicant's venue has a wheelchair-accessible toilet stall, including a 60" diameter or T-turn clear floor space, free of the door swing.

f. The applicant's venue has accessible emergency exits and audio/visual emergency alarms.

You answered "Not Applicable" or "No" to at least one of the statements above, please explain.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY CALCULATION (HIDE)

You answered the project will take place "In-Person at a Venue Other than the Applicant's Street Address" in #31, provide additional information below.

Other Venue Information

Venue Name

Venue Street Address

Venue City

State

Zip Code

Other Venue Accessibility

a. The venue has designated accessible parking spaces with adjoining curb cuts and an accessible route from parking to the venue entrance.

b. The venue has ground-level entry, ramped access, and/or elevators.

c. The venue has integrated and dispersed wheelchair seating in assembly areas with companion seating.

d. The venue has signage at inaccessible entrances with directions to accessible entrances.

e. The venue has a wheelchair-accessible toilet stall, including a 60" diameter or T-turn clear floor space, free of the door swing.

f. The venue has accessible emergency exits and audio/visual emergency alarms.

You answered "Not Applicable" or "No" to at least one of the statements above, please explain.

OTHER VENUE ACCESSIBILITY CALCULATION (HIDE)

You answered the project will take place online/live streamed in #31, what platform will be used?

Streaming Platform

Streaming Online Accessibility

a. Real-time captioning will be provided for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

b. Automatic captioning or subtitles will be provided and synced up in post-production for later streaming.

c. Real-time American Sign Language Interpretation will be provided on screen.

d. Real-time audio or visual description will be provided.

e. Images will include alternative text tags for people who are blind or have low vision that use screen-reading software.

f. Screen reader support will be available.

You answered "Not Applicable" or "No" to at least one of the statements above, please explain.

STREAMING ACCESSIBILITY CALCULATION (HIDE)

APPLICATION ACCESSIBILITY TOTAL(HIDE)

32. What are the intended project outcomes for the applicant? Select all that apply.

Networked Organization: Grantees build networks and partnerships that support the design, implementation, evaluation of programs for participants leading to stronger outcomes for participants.Strengthened Capacity: Grantees build their capacity to design, implement, and evaluate programs that meet the needs of participants.Increased Value of the Arts: Grantee partnerships and activities lead to an increased understanding of the value and impact of the arts across local participating networks and communities.

33. Are there potential risks to military-connected participants in implementing the project?

Describe those risks and how the applicant intends to mitigate or manage them.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

34. How will the applicant gauge the success of the project?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

III. PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

35. Approximately how many participants will your project serve? Enter an estimate below.

36. Who are the intended participants in the project? Select all that apply.

Service Member: Active Duty
Service Member: National Guard/Reserve
Veteran
Family Unit
Spouse/Partner
Children (Age 0-18)
Caregiver: Residential
Caregiver: Clinical

37. What are the intended project outcomes for the participants? Select all that apply.

Creative Expression: Participants have a better understanding of themselves and others by creating or engaging with art.Social Connectedness: Participants have supportive relationships in their life and a sense of belonging to a community. Resilience: Participants feel they can rebound from stress, unexpected events, or life's challenges.Independence and Successful Adaptation to Civilian Life: Participants have both an individual and shared sense of purpose, as well a positive self-worth, that support adapting and readjusting to civilian life.

38. Why were these participants selected and what, if any, need does this project address on their behalf?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

39. How will these participants be recruited to participate in the project?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

IV. PARTNER INFORMATION

40. Will the project involve at least one organizational Partner?

At least one organizational or individual partner must be named in this application.

Organizational Partner Information

A. Partner Organization Legal Name

Organization's business name as it appears on its Federal Employer Identification document.

Is this partner organization known by a name other than its legal name?

What is the partner organization's other name?

B. Partner Organization Street Address

City/Town

State

Zip/Postal Code

Does this partner organization have a mailing address different from its street address?

Partner Mailing Address

City/Town

State

Zip Code

Partner Work Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Partner Email Address

Partner Website Address

Does this partner maintain a social media presence?

Which ones? Select all that apply.

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Other

Partner Facebook

Partner X (Formerly Twitter)

Partner Instagram

Which other social media outlets?

C. Choose the category that best describes this partner's legal status.

D. Choose the type of institution that best describes this partner.

E. Partner Organization Mission Statement

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

F. Does this partner have a history of creative/artistic endeavors?

Describe those creative/artistic endeavors.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

G. Does this partner have a history of implementing programs with/for the military community?

Describe those programs.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

H. What is the status of this partnership at the time of application?

I. What is the nature of this partnership? How does this partner advance or support the project?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

J. What are the intended project outcomes for this partner? Select all that apply.

Networked Organization: Partners build networks and partnerships that support the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs for participants leading to stronger outcomes for participants.Strengthened Capacity: Partners build their capacity to design, implement, and evaluate programs that meet the needs of participants.Increased Value of the Arts: Partner's partnerships and activities lead to an increased understanding of the value and impact of the arts across local participating networks and communities.

K. Upload letter(s) of support for project partner(s)

41. Will the project involve at least one individual partner?

At least one organizational or individual partner must be named in this application.

Individual Partner Information

L. Partner First Name and Last Name

Name as it appears on individual partner's social security card.

Is this partner known by a name other than its legal name?

What is this partner's other name?

Job Title or Artistic Discipline

Partner Street Address

City/Town

State

Zip Code

Does this partner have a mailing address different from its street address?

Partner Mailing Address

City/Town

State

Zip Code

Partner Work Phone Number

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Partner Email Address

Partner Website Address

Does this partner maintain a social media presence?

Which ones? Select all that apply.

Facebook
X (Formerly Twitter)
Instagram
Other

Partner Facebook

PartnerX (Formerly Twitter)

Partner Instagram

Which other social media outlets?

N. Choose the category that best describes this partner.

Partner Artist Statement

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

O. Does this partner have a history of creative/artistic endeavors in the last three to five years?

Describe those creative/artistic endeavors.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

P. Does this partner have a history of implementing programs with/for the military community in the last three to five years?

Describe those programs.

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

Q. What is the status of this partnership at the time of application?

R. What is the nature of this partnership? How will this partner advance or support the project?

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

S. What are the intended project outcomes for this partner? Select all that apply.

Networked Organization: Partner builds networks and partnerships that support the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs for participants leading to stronger outcomes for participants.Strengthened Capacity: Partner builds their capacity to design, implement, and evaluate programs that meet the needs of participants.Increased Value of the Arts: Partner's partnerships and activities lead to an increased understanding of the value and impact of the arts across local participating networks and communities.

Upload the Artist Partner's Work Sample Summary Document(s).

Include title of the art work, website address, and other context including the date created or performed, and where applicable the names of artists involved or medium and dimensions.

T. Upload letter(s) of support for the project from the individual partner(s)

U. Upload the Individual Partner Resume(s)

V. Project Budget

Include information that is relevant to the Project described in this grant application. Round all amounts to the nearest dollar. Later in the application you will be prompted to upload a detailed budget for which you may optionally use the M-AAA Creative Forces Budget Template if your organization does not have a budget template already in use. The M-AAA Creative Forces Budget Template can be found on the grant program website: www.maaa.org/creativeforces

Project Expenses

42. What amount of the project budget will be spent on applicant organization salaries/wages?

43. What amount of the project budget will be spent on artist/contractual personnel not employed by the applicant organization?

44.What amount of the project budget will be spent on other direct costs such as, equipment, services and access accommodations?

45. Total Project Expenses

46. Comments Regarding Expenses

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

Project Income

47. What is the amount of Creative Forces grant funds being requested?

48. What amount of the project budget income will come from grant requests made to entities in the applicant's local area?

49. What amount of the project budget income will come from grant requests made to state agencies?

50. What amount of the project budget income will come from grant requests made to national foundations?

51. What amount of the project budget income will come from grant requests from Federal agencies? (Cannot include NEA funds)

52. What amount of the project budget income will come from the applicant organization’s cash reserves?

53. What amount of the project budget income will come from corporate or other private sponsorships?

54. What amount of the project budget income will come from ticket sales or participation fees?

55. What amount of the project budget income will come from merchandise sales?

56. What amount of the project budget income will come from donations from individuals?

57. What amount of the project budget income will come from in-kind contributions from the applicant organization or a partner organization?

58. Total Anticipated Project Income

59. Comments Regarding Income

Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

VI. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT UPLOADS

60. Project Timeline

The timeline should include milestones or significant event associated with the project.

61. Other Personnel or Artist Resume'

Limit 5 documents. This includes artists or personnel that are employed by the applicant or partners as staff that play a significant role in the project, but are not listed above as a partner.

62. Project Budget with Details (Applicants are allowed to upload this budget narrative using their own organizational budget templates. If your organization does use its own budget template, the M-AAA budget template may be used and is located on the main page of the CFCE grant website.)

63. Additional Support Documents

Limit 5 documents. This includes other letters of support or documentation relevant to the project described in the application.

CERTIFICATION

Certification and Assurance of Compliance

By submitting this application, the applicant certifies that the information contained in the form is true. Furthermore, the applicant certifies that it is in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related M-AAA regulations, will maintain records, and will submit all necessary reports.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion

The applicant confirms that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from receiving federal funding by any federal department or agency.

Nondiscrimination Statutes

The applicant certifies by checking the box below that all information contained in this application is true, and further, that it does not discriminate:

on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.);
solely on the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), as amended,, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
on the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42U.S.C.6101 et seq.), and
on the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.)

Executive Orders

In addition, the applicant agrees that, if the applicant is selected and becomes a grant recipient:

The applicant will comply with all applicable Executive Orders while the award is being administered. Executive orders are posted at whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions.
The applicant’s compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the U.S. Government’s payment decisions for the purposes of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729(b)(4), pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, dated January 21, 2025.
The applicant does not operate any programs promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, in accordance with Executive Order No. 14173.

By virtue of submitting this form online I, the representative of the applicant, certify that all information contained in this form is true.

Name of Person Submitting Application

Email Address of Person Submitting Application

Date

Do you have technical difficulties with this application form or concerns about this grant program?

Please email M-AAA staff at CreativeForces@maaa.org.

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