Contact:  Kelly Allocco | (305) 375-4636 | kelly.allocco@miamidade.gov

Deadline: Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 11:59 PM

Maximum Request:  Refer to Program Guidelines

FY 2024-2025 Michael Spring Major Cultural Institutions (MCI) Grants Program Guidelines

The Michael Spring Major Cultural Institutions (MCI) Grants Program is designed to provide stable and substantial funding to fully professional institutions with year-round programs and annual fiscal operations specifically in Miami-Dade County that satisfy the eligibility requirements.  The objective of this program is to help support the annual operations of and programming provided to the community by Miami-Dade’s largest, exemplary cultural organizations.  In so doing, the Cultural Affairs Council reaffirms and carries out its fiduciary responsibility to maximize the impact of investing public tax dollars, and assures the steady provision of outstanding cultural products throughout Miami-Dade County and contributes to the County’s overall vitality as a community and as an attractive tourist destination.
 
MCI organizations must have a documented history of at least five years of providing high quality programming to large and diverse audiences from across Miami-Dade County and beyond.  They also have a documented impact on the local economy and contribute to the growth and development of artistic excellence.  These organizations provide a variety of programs to the public, implement outreach endeavors and provide services to a wide range of audiences and/or underserved communities.  Programs supported by MCI grants are multifaceted and demonstrate a sustained and significant commitment to achieving cultural and/or artistic excellence generally recognized throughout the local community, and within its discipline regionally, nationally and, often, internationally.
 
The MCI Grants Program operates with two categories of eligibility for designation/funding consideration:

Category A: addresses performing arts institutions with a three-year average annual operating revenue budget in excess of $3 million for operations and activities in Miami-Dade County only, exclusive of tangible collections, capital funds or assets, and/or endowment corpus; and

Category B: addresses collecting and exhibiting institutions with extensive public programming and outreach, including museums, botanic gardens and visual arts centers with a three-year average annual operating revenue budget in excess of $1.5 million for operations and activities in Miami-Dade County only, exclusive of tangible collections, capital funds or assets, and/or endowment corpus.

The Major Cultural Institutions Grants Program operates on a four-year review cycle with a pre-application qualification and invitation to apply, comprehensive application submission, and a full panel review completed in the first year (FY 2018-2019) and a more streamlined interim application form and review process for the subsequent three years (FY 2019-2020, FY 2020-2021 and FY 2021-2022).  FY 2018-2019 is a comprehensive review year.  Currently designated Major Cultural Institutions are eligible for renewed funding upon review and approval of the required interim application.  

Mandatory Pre-Application Requirements: 

All applicants are REQUIRED to schedule a pre-grant submission consultation at least one week prior to the application deadline, either in person or by telephone, with the MCI program administrator before access will be granted to the online application.

In addition, if you are a first-time applicant and/or a new staff member who is unfamiliar with the CGO grants system, your consultation appointment must be in person and will require additional time to cover the CGO system basics. 

There are no exceptions to these requirements.

To schedule your consultation, contact Kelly Allocco at 305-375-4636, or via e-mail:  kelly.allocco@miamidade.gov.

MCI Grants Program Timeline*

*Dates/times subject to change.