Visit Beloit Grants

Destination Grants | Visit Beloit

The mission of Visit Beloit is to attract visitors to the Greater Beloit area to experience our attractive, vibrant community and to ensure our guests enjoy our friendly and warm hospitality.

Objective 1.1 – Redesign the JET and Destination Grants programs with the goal of grant recipient organizations becoming self-supporting.

Purpose

Matching grants will be awarded to organizations that meet Visit Beloit’s goal to build Beloit as a tourism destination.

Applicants may receive less than the maximum amount. Applying for a Grant does not guarantee receipt of funding.

Organizations currently in receipt of their 3rd year of funding may be ineligible to apply for the grant. For eligibility, there must be new elements created within the event that meet grant criteria.

Event and/or attraction must be located in Greater Beloit and have a substantial influence on the tourism industry (overnight stays) in Greater Beloit

Eligibility and Criteria for Funding

  • Only one project/event per organization will be funded each calendar year.
  • Event and/or attraction must be located in Greater Beloit or have a substantial influence on the tourism industry in Beloit.
  • The event or project must be designed to increase leisure, event, motorcoach or meeting and convention travel to the City of Beloit.
  • Applicants are required to submit a written proposal along with a Visit Beloit grant application form.
  • All proposed projects/events must show a budget depicting revenue from other sources.
  • Encourage collaboration between organizations and other types of community groups.
  • Grant does not include Visit Beloit staff time or resources.
  • All organizations are required to submit a written final report. Failure to submit a final report will disqualify the organization from receiving the matching grant.
  • Event and/or attraction must be able to measure effectiveness of project.
  • All applications will be reviewed by the grant advisory committee and submitted to the Visit Beloit Board of Directors for final approval.

Ineligible Organizations and Projects

  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age or sexual orientation.
  • Political organizations, candidates for political office and organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation.
  • Building – brick and mortar – capital campaigns.
  • Individuals.
  • Staffing and operational costs.
  • An existing deficit from a previous year or project/event.
  • Grants that fail to demonstrate other revenues or matching dollars to support the project/event.
  • Applicants which submit late and/or incomplete applications.

General Information

The applicant must complete the following application materials to be considered eligible for a Grant. Applicant materials must be submitted in the following order:

  • Proposed Marketing Budget for project/event.
  • One original application form.
  • Statement of assurances, narratives and demographic information.
  • One copy of proof of not-for-profit status.
  • Copy of organization’s operating budget for the current year.
  • List of the organization’s current officers and directors
  • Submit application by deadline. Incomplete/late applications will not be accepted.

Criteria for the Grant Advisory Committee

The Grant Advisory Committee reviews and evaluates applications. The bullets under each criterion are examples of issues the Committee considers. These bullets do not represent the only means of evaluating the criteria but are provided as a guide to the Committee.

  • Need and Justification
    • Originality of project/event
    • Need for project/event is adequately demonstrated to warrant funding.
  • Organizational Capacity
    • Documented project plan for the project/event (including paid staff and volunteers).
    • Evidence of sound management and planning.
    • Demonstrates financial responsibility and evidence of public and private financial support other than the grant request,
    • A demonstrated personnel support to implement the project/event whether paid staff and/or volunteers.
    • Appropriateness and adequacy of facilities and equipment.
  • Community Involvement
    • Enhances quality of life.
    • Impact of project/event on the community (community events are strongly encouraged to show an economic impact).
  • Evidence of Community Support
    • Impact of volunteer services on organization.
    • Impact of in-kind contributions on organization.
    • Evidence of organization’s support.
    • Other evidence of community contributions.
  • Assessment
    • Did the event meet the funding guidelines
    • The level of community support demonstrated for the project/event.
    • Capacity if the community to contribute to the event.
    • Financial budget.
    • Evaluation of outcomes of the event.

Grantees are required to include and display an approved, appropriately sized and prominently displayed Visit Beloit logo on all related project/event materials and promotion.