Arts Match Program
Creative Waco’s Arts Match Program, "AMP," is a fund for supporting great ideas for high impact and/or innovative arts projects by providing matching grants that will help grow our community as a vibrant cultural hub. Projects are evaluated by a panel of community members and cultural arts experts based on their abilities to further the Waco Cultural Plan.
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about the Arts Match Program, including eligibility, matching requirements, and application details.
If you need more support, contact us anytime.
Non-profit arts organizations based in the City of Waco or McLennan County are eligible to apply to the AMP Fund.
You are a non-profit corporation with an IRS 501c(3) determination, and You have a mission to advance the creative or performing arts. IF you have an amazing idea, but do not qualify under the above criteria, please email us: [email protected]
We encourage you to partner with an eligible local non-profit arts organization. Contact us if you need help creating a partnership.
- High impact and/or innovative projects that will advance any of the goals in Waco’s Cultural Plan.
- Creative arts projects that can get at least half the resources they need from other sources, and need AMP support to become reality.
- Creative arts projects that need the support of the Local Arts Agency to secure funding from other sources.
Typically, grants range from $2,500 to $10,000. If your project requires more or less funds than the typical range, please contact Creative Waco before applying.
“High impact” means something that makes a significant, positive, measurable difference to our community by advancing one or more of the goals and objectives listed in the Waco Cultural Plan.
“Innovative” means a project that takes a creative, fresh or different approach to something and does not already happen in our community (e.g. a new kind of festival, performance, program, collaboration, or piece of public art).
AMP is designed to be flexible. its purpose is to allow great artistic ideas to get off the ground. If you are in any doubt about whether your project or idea is eligible, or a good fit, please contact Creative Waco. These are the kinds of projects AMP is designed to support:
- Projects that encourage artistic talent, skill and expertise to come, stay, grow and flourish in our community,
- Projects that promote and increase artistic excellence,
- Projects that encourage new creative partnerships between arts organizations, or between the arts and other sectors,
- Projects that will encourage participation or develop new audiences – especially from people that are traditionally under-represented,
- Projects that help arts organizations or programs to reach “the next level,”
- Projects that enhance quality of life in Waco and McLennan County,
- Projects that have a positive legacy, or lasting impact.
- Projects that have no plan for securing the required match support
- Existing annual, regular, or core programs
- Ongoing operational costs
- Projects whose main purpose is fundraising
- Rescue packages for organizations in financial difficulty
- Projects without a non-profit arts applicant or partner
- Projects unable to supply the required documentation
- Projects that promote a religious or political ideology
The short answer is yes. Up to 50% of your match funding can be "in kind" support. Check out the application form to find out how much "in kind" support you can use as match funding in your application.
If your match support is materials or services, the easiest way is to calculate what you would normally have to pay for those materials or services at “fair market” value.
You may include donated professional or artistic services (e.g. design of publicity material), but not simply volunteer helpers. Donated services should be calculated based on an hourly rate at local market value, but no higher than the rate advised by Independent Sector.
The Arts Match Program runs on a quarterly basis, with the following deadlines:
- Spring Deadline: March 1st
- Summer Deadline: June 1st
- Fall Deadline: September 1st
- Winter Deadline: December 1st
Applications are reviewed after each deadline. You will be contacted in the weeks following the deadline for the round in which you applied to let you know if you are invited to submit a Phase 2 full application.
- Once you’ve submitted Phase 1 of your application, a panel of readers will review it to ensure eligibility and alignment with AMP goals. You may be asked some basic questions about your project.
- If invited to Phase 2, you will submit additional materials, including financial documents. You will be contacted within two weeks of the Phase 2 submission deadline to inform you if the AMP Board would like to schedule an interview. At the interview, you will give a short presentation and answer questions about your project.
- You’ll be notified whether your project was recommended for funding within 24 hours of the panel interview. Funding will be released on a timeline appropriate to each individual project.
The entire process — from the Phase 1 application deadline to a final decision on funding — typically takes around six weeks per round.
Still have questions?
Whether you’re exploring Arts Match for the first time or preparing an application, we're here to support you. We can help clarify requirements, review next steps, and point you toward helpful resources.
Let’s make sure you feel confident moving forward.
Arts Match Program Application
Before starting your application, please read through the program info above as well as the Waco Cultural Plan. If your proposed project meets the AMP requirements, please complete the Phase 1 online application form below.
All Arts Match Program (AMP) grant applications to be submitted at least 10 weeks before the start of the proposed project or event.
Arts Match Program runs on a quarterly basis:
- Spring Deadline: March 1st
- Summer Deadline: June 1st
- Fall Deadline: September 1st
- Winter Deadline: December 1st
You may submit your application at any time throughout the year. Applications are reviewed after each quarterly deadline, and you will receive an email from us in two weeks following the deadline for the round in which you applied.
You will be contacted within a few weeks of the submission deadline, at which time you will either be invited to complete Phase 2 or informed if your application is not eligible for AMP funding.
If invited to Phase 2, you will be required to submit your most recent 990 and financial statements.
If you have any questions before starting, please contact us.
You can view the complete application form in PDF or Word format below for your records, but please note that all applications must be submitted online.
Before starting your application, please read through the program info above as well as the Waco Cultural Plan. If your proposed project meets the AMP requirements, please complete the Phase 1 online application form below.
Arts Match Program runs on a quarterly basis:
- Spring Deadline: March 1st
- Summer Deadline: June 1st
- Fall Deadline: September 1st
- Winter Deadline: December 1st
You may submit your application at any time throughout the year. Applications are reviewed after each quarterly deadline, and you will receive an email from us in two weeks following the deadline for the round in which you applied.
You will be contacted within a few weeks of the submission deadline, at which time you will either be invited to complete Phase 2 or informed if your application is not eligible for AMP funding.
If invited to Phase 2, you will be required to submit your most recent 990 and financial statements.
If you have any questions before starting, please contact us.
You can view the complete application form in PDF or Word format below for your records, but please note that all applications must be submitted online.