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Application Guidelines

NYC Cultural Innovation Fund Goals

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to contributing to the cultural vitality, energy and diversity that define New York, the Foundation's home since its founding in 1913.

New York City is currently experiencing tremendous economic, demographic, and social transformation, opening new possibilities to enhance the City's traditional role as a global capital of creativity, culture and diversity and to ensure the future vitality of its cultural sector.

The goal of the Rockefeller Foundation's New York City Cultural Innovation Fund is to recognize and support programmatic innovation and new opportunities in the cultural arena that will strengthen and advance the role the arts play in the future of the City.

The Rockefeller Foundation defines innovation as a new product, process or service that is discontinuous from previous practice and that yields new pathways for solving acute problems or fulfilling mission. Social innovation is often recombinant: a hybrid of existing elements that are combined across boundaries in new ways to yield better solutions, also leaving healthier social relationships in their wake.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, organizations must meet the following criteria:
  • Organizations must have tax exempt or other charitable status
  • Organizations must be located within the five boroughs of New York City.
NYC Cultural Innovation Fund grants are two year grants. Grants will range between $50,000 - $250,000 per grant for projects that fall into one or more of the following categories:
  • Creative engagement with the issues shaping New York City's future cultural and civic agenda.
  • Programming and premieres of new artistic work that demonstrate fresh perspectives and can activate new directions in the visual, performing and media arts.
  • New partnerships among cultural organizations, community-based institutions, universities and the private sector.
  • Interventions designed to confront longstanding bottlenecks and limitations on the expansion of cultural vitality with fresh approachs and solutions.

*Please Note:

  • APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 11:59 P.M. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012.
  • The Foundation will announce the Cultural Innovation Fund grants in the summer of 2012.
  • Organizations awarded funding in the 2012 round will not be eligible to apply for another award in 2013.
  • Arts and cultural organizations are now required to have completed a profile through The Pew Charitable Trust's Cultural Data Project.

If you need assistance or clarification regarding the application form, send an email to CIFHelp@Rockfound.org.