2025 OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULE & WORKSHOP RECORDINGS
OFFICE HOURS
In 2025, members of the RAC Grants Team will be available to answer questions regarding the application and process. Office hours will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration not required.
LOCATION
RACSTL @ City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis, MO 63110)
ORGANIZATIONAL & PROGRAM SUPPORT GRANT OFFICE HOURS
– Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 – Organizational and Program Support Grant Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
– Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 – Organizational and Program Support Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
– Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 – Organizational and Program Support Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
ARTIST SUPPORT GRANT OFFICE HOURS
– Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Artist Support Grant Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
– Tuesday, April 22, 2025 – Artist Support Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
– Tuesday, April 29, 2025 – Artist Support Office Hours, 3 – 5 PM
IN-PERSON/LIVE WORKSHOP SESSIONS
VLAA presents Financial Statements Clinic (Organizational Applicants ONLY)
WHEN: TBD
LOCATION: RACSTL @ City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis, MO 63110)
The Financial Statements Clinic is an in-person clinic for Organizational Grant applicants who would like support with compiling financial statements for their Organizational Grant application. A team of volunteer accountants from St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountant for the Arts (VLAA) will review the required Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities. They’ll look for clear presentation that will inspire the confidence of the application reviewers. Please note that the volunteers will not review program budgets. This clinic is by appointment only.
If you (or someone from your organization) would like a free one-on-one consultation, please send an email to vlaa@vlaa.org with the person’s name, cell phone number, email address, and your organization’s name. VLAA will be making appointments in 15-minute blocks.
Completing the RAC Organizational Grant Application (Organizational Applicants ONLY)
WHEN: Thursday, January 23, 2025, 4–5:30 PM
LOCATION: RACSTL @ City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis, MO 63110)
RAC staff will walk through the Organizational Grant application and answer questions regarding the application and process. REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON.
Completing the RAC Program Support Grant Application (Program Support Applicants ONLY)
WHEN: Thursday, January 30, 2025, 4–5:30 PM
LOCATION: RACSTL @ City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis, MO 63110)
RAC staff will walk through the Program Support Grant application and answer questions regarding the application and process. REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON.
Completing the RAC Artist Support Application (Artist Support applicants ONLY)
WHEN: Thursday, April 3, 2025, 4–5:30 PM
LOCATION: RACSTL @ City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis, MO 63110)
RAC staff will walk through the Artist Support application and answer questions regarding the application and process. REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Basic Grant Application Writing (All Applicants)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDED 2024 WORKSHOP
The Basic Grant Application Writing Workshop is for applicants who want to gain basic knowledge of grant application writing best practices. This session will provide an overview of the menu of workshop sessions.
Artist Statements (Artist Support applicants ONLY)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDED 2024 WORKSHOP
The Artist Statement Workshop is for Artist Support Grant applicants. In this workshop, artists will learn how to put together an effective description (written or videotaped) of their artistic practice and/or work.
Building Your Application Budget (All Applicants)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDED 2024 WORKSHOP
The Budget Workshop is for applicants who want to learn more about how to fill out the RAC application budget form. This session will provide a brief overview of the budget forms.
Dates are subject to change, check back here for updates. Questions? Contact grants@racstl.org
NEW IN 2025
Our approach to grantmaking is rooted in our values. We strive for equity, transparency, and to be responsive to the needs voiced by the community we serve. Efficient processes and accountability have guided some important updates to our process in 2025, which you may review below under, are stated on each individual grants page and listed in the guides for each grantmaking area.
BLACKBAUD CHANGES
The grants management system, Blackbaud, which is utilized by RAC and all applicants is undergoing updates in 2024-2025. Please be patient with the RAC team while we navigate these changes and work with each applicant to ensure they have met their requirements.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties such as system access and password reset, please email MS_RACSTL_Grantmaking@blackbaud.com.
ARTIST SUPPORT GRANT UPDATES
The Artist Support Grant will run for one single cycle in 2025. The application will open in late March, and application materials will be published in February. Please go to the Artist Support Grant page for important information and updates.
POPULAR ASPECTS THAT ARE STAYING THE SAME
Returning in 2025 will be free workshops accessible to all with the purpose of strengthening your grant submission. Please Note: We strongly suggest reading the application guidelines carefully and take advantage of the workshops – we anticipate a highly competitive grants cycle and the amount of available funding will likely not be sufficient to fund all eligible applications.
And as always, we will enlist the help of grant reviewers to ensure accountability and community perspectives. St. Louis City and County residents can nominate either themselves or someone else to review and score grant application submissions based on their experience and interest. Eligible reviewers receive an honorarium of $200. Click here to learn more and submit a brief form to be considered as a grant reviewer.