The Grant Cycle

Grant Cycle Timeline

A broad overview of Local Cultural Council business throughout the year.

LCCs conduct community input.
LCCs update their local priorities based on community input.
LCCs recruit new members. (Have at least five members appointed to the LCC.)
LCCs start making the following updates in the grants management system:
- LCC contact information.
- Whether the LCC will use a direct grant or reimbursement payment process.
- Local guidelines and priorities.

LCCs update the content in their Council Profile – contact information, local guidelines and priorities, etc. – and Member list in the grants management system by August 31.
LCCs publicize the grant program locally.
Mass Cultural Council notifies LCCs of their allocation amounts.
Mass Cultural Council sends Municipal Fiscal Officers the LCC Account Form.
LCCs recruit new members. (Have at least five members appointed to the LCC.)
LCC members register and create accounts in the grants management system.

New grant cycle opens September 1. LCCs’ local guidelines and priorities are published to their Council Profile on Mass Cultural Council’s website.
LCCs meet with Municipal Fiscal Officer to determine grant amount for fiscal year no later than October 16.
LCCs hold grant workshops.
LCCs publicize the grant cycle.
Mass Cultural Council sends LCC contracts to Municipal Fiscal Officers.

Grant applications must be submitted through the online grants management system by the deadline, October 16 at 11:59pm (ET).
LCCs complete the Financial Report in the grants management system by October 16. This includes:
- LCC Account Form
- Calculating amount available for granting
LCCs generate their panel books in the grants management system and begin reviewing applications.
LCCs schedule voting meeting(s) to review applications and publicly post the meetings according to the Open Meeting Law.

LCCs conduct their grant cycle voting meetings.
LCCs use the grants management system to send disapproval notifications immediately following their voting meeting.
Mass Cultural Council receives reconsideration requests and notifies LCCs.
LCCs observe the 15-day reconsideration period.
LCCs Complete their Annual Report due by January 16.
A brief approval notification is sent through the online grants management system, but LCCs must send the detailed approval letter to grantees outside of the system.
Final reports from the previous fiscal year’s Council Program are due by January 16.
After the Annual Report is complete, LCCs publicize grant awards.
LCCs begin processing reimbursement or direct grant requests.

LCCs process reimbursement requests.
LCCs ensure grant recipients acknowledge Mass Cultural Council and LCC funding.
LCCs hold grant receptions and invite grantees, broader community, Mass Cultural Council program staff, and elected officials.
LCCs conduct community input.
LCCs update local guidelines and priorities based on community input.
LCCs present at their municipal’s annual meeting about the programs and individuals they have funded.