NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

Program Description and Eligibility

Applications for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)’s Capital Feasibility Planning (CFP) Program are now open for Fiscal Year 2026. The program will assist selected not-for-profit cultural organizations with 501(c)3 status considering a capital construction or renovation project. The CFP program will identify a path for the not-for-profit cultural organization to successfully define and initiate a capital project or recommend alternative strategies should another path become more desirable. During the program, each eligible organization will work with a consultant, contracted by DCLA, to conduct a review of the organization’s capital needs in relation to its existing operating model and develop a strategy that is scaled appropriately to align the organization’s capital needs with its administrative and fundraising capacity. If selected, organizations will likely begin work with the consultant at the start of the 2026 fiscal year.

Criteria for eligibility to apply for CFP include receipt of a CDF Panel Recommendation in FY23, FY24, or FY25 and an operating budget between $200,000 and $3,500,000 (based on FY23 filings).

Organization Requirements and Expectations

Accompanying the application is a fact sheet that further explains the process the organization and consultant will engage in throughout the program. Applicants should carefully read the document to better understand expectations for the organization’s engagement, time commitments and responsibilities, as well as the expected outcomes of the program.

Please review the “Fact Sheet for Organizations” for more information on the program’s goals and what is required of organizations taking part.

Some known requirements for an organization participating in CFP include:

• Designating a staff person(s) to be the lead liaison with the consultants and to act as the institutional “point person” for all project matters
• Providing the consultants with a range of background materials within the first month from the project launch
• Participating in bi-weekly check-in meetings with the consultants
• With guidance from the consultants, assembling a:
  • Steering Committee (3-4 internal project leads)
  • Planning Committee (6-10 individuals comprised of internal and external stakeholders)
• Reviewing all deliverables and coming prepared to discuss and ask questions at regular meetings
• Scheduling and participating in 4-6 Planning Committee meetings
• Scheduling and participating in a final presentation at the end of the project, the details of which will be decided in partnership with the consultants and DCLA staff

Criteria Considered in Review of Applications

Applications are reviewed by a panel of DCLA staff from across the leadership team, the capital unit, and the programs unit. The panel will particularly look for applications that demonstrate the organization’s understanding of the commitment and capacity required to take part in the program, a need for space and/or capital planning, and alignment with the organization’s strategic plan and/or future vision.

The deadline for applications is May 29, 2025, at 5pm.

DISCLAIMER: Participation in the Capital Feasibility Planning program neither guarantees nor precludes organizations from accessing City capital funding.

Letter from the Board on organizational letterhead must:

• Be addressed to:

Andrew Burmeister, Assistant Commissioner

Department of Cultural Affairs, Capital Unit

31 Chambers Street, 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10007

• Include the statement, “The Board of Directors [or Trustees] on behalf of [insert organization name] acknowledges that, if selected, participation in the Capital Pre-Scoping and Feasibility Planning pilot neither guarantees nor precludes organizations to nor does it prohibit the organization from accessing City capital funds.”;

• Include an explanation as to why the organization is interested in participating in the pilot program;

• Include information about how the organization currently operates, a brief description of program activity, space utilization, staffing, Board engagement and activity from the organization, and details about what the organization and Board hope to achieve;

• Explain how these improvements directly relate to and support the mission of the organization;

• In reference to the fact sheet included as part of the application, include acknowledgement that participation in the program will involve the commitment of staff members, the formation of planning and steering committees and a list of background materials will be required within the first month of starting the program. Responses should include a brief outline of how the organization will complete this requirement;

FY22 IRS 990 Forms; and either FY23 Audited Statements or FY23 Independent Accountant’s Review, depending on what is available. Additionally include FY24 and FY25 Operating Budgets (understanding these may not yet be audited and/or verified).

Note: Please combine the two documents into one pdf for upload 

Optional: A Strategic Plan if the organization has completed one within the last 5 years