McBrier Family Fund

• Amount: $6,000 total available for grant awards

• Source: Endowment

• Eligibility: Erie County 501(c)(3) arts organizations

• Application Window: Rolling applications until October 31. 

• Grant Activity Period: February - January

• Notification Date: January 31

Applications meeting the following priorities will be given consideration for McBrier Family Fund support:

• Demonstrated active involvement of the artist in the planning process.

• Commitment to building authentic relationships with folk and traditional artists.

• The program will occur within the grant period (February 2025 - January 2026).

• Only applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations are accepted.

Erie Arts and Culture upholds equitable pay for artists as a core value, and awards from the McBrier Family Fund will support artist stipends as part of overall program costs. The stipend may be negotiated with the artist partner, but for reference, the PA Council on the Arts pays artists a minimum of $200 per day.

The McBrier Family Fund will make a total of $6,000 in grant awards. Organizations are invited to apply for the amount of support they require and may apply for more than one stipend if the program is developed with multiple artists. No partial stipends will be given.

Project Description: In one page, provide a project description addressing the following:

• How the artist was actively involved in the planning process

• If applicable, the organization's relationship with folk and traditional artists

• Project timeline

• Total cost for the project (with provided budget form)

• Amount requested

Virtual information sessions will be held to assist applicants. Specific dates for these sessions will be announced on our social media pages and via email.

• Project (50 points):

  • Well-planned and relevant to the Erie County community (15 points)

  • Alignment with Erie Arts and Culture’s strategic priorities (15 points)

  • Appropriate timeline for scale and scope (10 points)

  • Appropriate budget for scale and scope (10 points)

• Impact (25 points):

  • Commitment to delivering a quality artistic product (15 points)

  • New and innovative or implements an audience development initiative (10 points)

• Stakeholders (25 points):

  • Confirmed sources of funding (15 points)

  • Qualified internal stakeholders with new perspectives and/or professional expertise (10 points)

Applications reviewed by EAC staff for eligibility. Staff determine funding recommendations, which are approved by the Programs Committee and BOD. 

• Interim check-in calls with grantees to track progress and identify additional needs

• End-of-cycle round table, oral reports in small peer groups