Taxpayer funded
Arts & Tourism
Small Business Grants.
Our proposition is this...
Wealthy donors have a right to decide to whom and for what their donations go. Shouldn't taxpayers have the same right?
A tax paying, for-profit small business, having a similar focus and motivation as a non-profit, should be allowed to compete for TAXPAYER funded grants.
It's not fair to give tax dollars to a non-profit, that already has tax advantages over their for-profit counterparts, while FORBIDDING their taxpaying counterparts from competing for those taxpayer funded grants.
Small businesses are already at an economic disadvantage when competing with much larger businesses and chains. To set them up with an additional disadvantage to their non-profit counterparts, just adds to the challenges that small businesses face.
Local governments and institutions should want to help small businesses, not hurt them.
BUT
1. So often in Tulsa, taxpayer funded grants, and support for the arts, are limited only to non-profits.
2. So often, the commercial arts and arts based businesses, are not considered equally in the cities "arts ecosystem". And many times the artists themselves, in these industries, are not given equal consideration and respect, as artists.
About GRANTS
Grants aren't given out to just, do whatever one wants.
Grants require "getting something specific, achieved".
They usually require reporting and showing that the "achievement" has been accomplished in order to get the full grant amount.
And, you usually have to compete, showing that you are the best entity to achieve the goals of the grant.
Whether you are a non-profit, or a for-profit. The rules for competing for the grant, and meeting the goals of the grant, are the same.
However, in Tulsa another rule is often added.... only non-profits need apply.
But, in Tulsa they will often say a for-profit can apply...
IF
1. You find a non-profit sponsor.
Or
2. You start, or become, a non-profit yourself.
But again, in other cities, with similar funding sources, a for-profit can apply without having to jump through the additional hoops.
Is it simpler, and more cost effective to...
Find and work with a non-profit sponsor?
OR
Apply for the grant directly? (as can be done in similar curcumstances in other places)
Is it simpler, and more cost effective to...
Start, and or become a non-profit yourself?
OR
Apply for the grant directly? (as can be done in similar curcumstances in other places)
Why add additional layers of complication, time and work?
Even the "simpler" solution of going through a non-profit sponsor, if its even allowed for a particular grant, is not that simple. First you have to go on a hunt to finding a potential sponsor for each different grant. Then, them having to go throught a process with a board and or committies to take you on, then approve the grant process. Back and fourth with multiple meetings, e-mails, phone calls, etc. etc. Us reporting to them, them to us, before, during and after...When again, for similar grants in other cities, the for-profit just simply... applies ...directly.
Why in Tulsa do we have to add all the extra work and hassle?
Why in Tulsa do we have to add all the extra work and hassle?
It could possibly have something to do with the fact that so much of our Arts & Tourism ecosystem is controlled by very large interests that seek to "amass" as much funding as they can, taxpayer funded and that given by donors (Donors have a right to decide where and to whom their funds go, shouldnt the taxpayers as well?). They may genuenly want to do good, but though their non-profit "lense" they do not see and feel the negative impact their decisions and rules have on the for-profit arts and tourism sector.
And it is here where we want to have our voice heard, our concerns heard and understood.
And remember, what we are focusing on here is TAXPAYER funded grants. Paid for by, tax paying, for-profit businesses that are then forbidden from applying for the grants they help fund.