Eligibility and Application

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative 2024 grant cycle is no longer accepting applications.

2024 Grant Cycle Resources:

  • View the recording of our Informational Webinar held on Thursday, February 15, 2024 here and access the slides here.

Grant Types

Application details, reporting requirements, and time requirements increase in complexity with each step.

  • Catalyst Grants ($15,000 maximum) support stand-alone projects with a quick turnaround and are perfect for small spaces or first actions at any site or institution—and can include an additional award of up to 5 hours of in-project coaching. New to 2024 Cycle.

  • Scoping Grants ($25,000 maximum) help to identify energy efficiency needs and clean energy options by supporting assessments conducted by an independent environmental engineer or appropriate consultant. These grants benefit institutions that are beginning to reduce their emissions footprint.

  • Technical Assistance Grants ($50,000 maximum) support projects where initial inquiries are complete. This may include providing designs and specifications, or connections to energy services companies who provide project support and financing. These grants also support more complex studies, specifications or testing necessary for pursuing major implementation projects.

  • Implementation Grants ($100,000 maximum) support ambitious, innovative, and transformative projects that directly address institutional climate impact. Implementation Grants are highly competitive, involve multiple stakeholders and collaborators, and often lead to matches for larger capital projects and strategic campaigns.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Organizations are nonprofit entities based in the United States and Territories and regard the visual arts as the primary focus of their mission and activities.

  • • Art Museums

    • Collecting and Non-Collecting Arts institutions

    • Nonprofit Art Galleries

    • Archives whose Primary Area of Collection or Preservation Involves Art or Art-Related Fields where the visual arts are the primary activity and focus

    • Community Art Centers and Cultural Organizations that Display the Arts of their Community

    • Artist-Endowed Foundations

  • art schools or departments/divisions within an accredited college, university, or other non-profit institution of higher education whose focus entails art or the study of art

    university museums or galleries

    centers for the study of visual art (independent or housed within nonprofit entities)

    artist residency programs

    art education centers where the primary focus and mission are the visual arts

  • Arts Events and Projects capable of monitoring their energy consumption or generation, including:

    biennials, triennials, periodic exhibitions hosted by nonprofit entities

    multi-institutional collaborations

    temporary exhibitions

    large-scale public art exhibitions

    traveling exhibition structures

FCI projects involve strategies intended to promote clean energy generation, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices in the art world. Through baseline reporting, benchmarking, and ongoing tracking tailored to federally-recognized standards, FCI-supported projects reduce environmental impact and lower operational costs.

  • solar panel Installation

    transitioning away from fossil fuel-based heating

  • installing LED lighting systems

    replacing windows

    adding insulation

  • Innovative building (re)designs that lower energy demand (redesigning spaces to minimize energy requirements, incorporating efficient design principles);

  • Feasibility assessments and energy efficiency audits to identify opportunities for improvement in buildings, systems, and processes; and

  • Sustainability measures related to collections management and other museum or art-specific practices.