Arts and Culture Focus Area Guidelines

This teen, cast as "Joseph" joined nearly 150 teens from the Fargo, N.D., area, led by professional artists and technicians from across the country, as they performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Artistic expression sparks the imagination and thrives on diversity, bringing communities together in shared experiences to foster understanding. The Xcel Energy Foundation supports efforts to increase accessibility to artistic and cultural activities. In 2009, Xcel Energy Foundation committed $788,200 to programs providing access to arts and culture throughout our service territory.

Programs in the following areas are preferred:

• Programs that provide free or reduced admission to artistic and cultural activities for people who otherwise could not afford to attend;
• Organizations whose programming engages the public in art and cultural events;
• Nonprofit programs that enhance music education/performing arts in schools by offering concerts, musician or performer visits, family workshops or teacher training; and
• Programming that addresses social issues, concerns and challenges facing communities

Grants awarded in 2009

Apply for an Arts and Culture focus area grant using our online system.

For answers to specific questions, please contact your state's Xcel Energy Foundation representative.

Funding Restrictions

The following are ineligible to receive grant funding from the Xcel Energy Foundation:

• Organizations that are not designated 501(c)(3) by the IRS
• Programs outside of Xcel Energy’s regulated service area
• Individuals
• Political parties or national organizations
• Religious, political, veterans fraternal or other fraternal organizations
• Research programs or government agencies
• Endowment campaigns
• Capital projects/campaigns
• Energy efficiency projects or improvements
• Individual K-12, public, private or religious schools
• Athletic or scholarship competitions or sports and athletic programs
• Benefits or fundraising activities
• Programs of individual organizations that receive more than 50 percent of their program budget from the United Way
• Disease-specific organizations
• Multi-year commitments