Apply for a Festival Fund

Festival Fund Purpose

The International Center Festival Fund, supported by the Indianapolis Foundation, affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), will serve internationally focused organizations that showcase and celebrate cultural diversity in Central Indiana, namely Marion and surrounding counties. The Fund was established to promote the activities of organizations that enrich cultural life by celebrating cultural expression in a variety of forms and encourage understanding and appreciation for different cultures.

Preference of sponsorship will go to organizations promoting education about the nations that represent the residents of Central Indiana and that highlight the arts, cultures, foods and traditions of those nations. Consideration will be given to both single and multi-day events that are open to the public and where promoting a more diverse Indiana is fundamental to the event.  

The Festival Fund will be matched by the 2011 operating grant that The International Center received from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Applying Organizations are Advised of the Following

• The Fund supports not-for-profit organizations only
• The grant range is $500 - $2000
• Only one request per organization per calendar year should be submitted and the request should be signed by the organization’s Board Chair, Executive Director, President or CEO
• The entire award up to $2000 must be utilized for the event
• Follow The International Center’s publicity guidelines
• Submit a final report showing how the grant money was used, including photographic documentation of the event.

Collaboration & Partnership

Collaborative efforts utilizing the strengths and knowledge base of more than one organization are highly recommended. Priority will be given to collaborations that reduce duplication of efforts and maximize the number of people served by the program.  

What the Festival Fund Does Not Fund

• Grants to individuals
• Capital projects
• Organizations or projects that discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation
• Political campaigns
• Research projects
• Operational costs of the organization

Contact anaiken@internationalcenter.org for more information.

Application Process

Requests for event sponsorship are accepted on an ongoing basis but not less than 60 days prior to the event date, which allows enough time to accommodate any publicity deadlines (i.e. printing of brochures, flyers, etc.).  The Festival Fund is a competitive process with a limited budget, and application submittal does not guarantee funding. Acceptance/decline notification will occur within 7-15 business days of receipt of a completed Festival Fund application.  A complete Festival Fund application includes:

1. Festival Fund Application Form, including budget information. (download PDF below)

2. Brief publicity memo, (less than one-half page), outlining the projected types and quantities of materials that will be used to publicize the event, such as, “50 posters to be placed 2 weeks prior to the event in store front windows; 100 printed programs to be distributed to patrons at the event, 2 banners to be hung at the corners of Meridian and 30th and Binford Boulevard and 65th, etc.”

Publicity Standards

Any listing of this award in a publication or other printed material should identify it as a grant from The International Center and The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate. If needed, The International Center’s logo will be provided to the grantee with a written request to anaiken@internationalcenter.org.  Organizations are required to obtain The International Center’s staff approval of any proposed publicity including text, signage, and collateral related to The Center’s recognition prior to its release. Please note, no changes to the logo are allowed. 

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