Tier I
Overview
Tier I or Large Cultural Organizations
The Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) Program provides funding for twenty-two large cultural organizations under Tier I. This funding is available to organizations with three-year qualifying expenditures averaging $367,200. Organizations that receive Zoo, Arts and Parks funding in Tier I enhance economic development for the entire state, have professional staff, and often serve as ambassadors to Utah. Their activities are available to all Salt Lake County residents and visitors.
TIER I + ZOO APPLICATION DUE DATE: Friday, June 26 at 5pm
Organizations funded in Tier I in 2019:
- Art Access
- Ballet West
- Discovery Gateway
- Hale Centre Theatre
- Natural History Museum of Utah
- Pioneer Theatre Company
- Preservation Utah (formerly Utah Heritage Foundation)
- Red Butte Garden
- Repertory Dance Theatre
- Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company
- Salt Lake Acting Company
- Salt Lake Arts Council
- Salt Lake Film Society
- Spy Hop
- Tanner Dance
- Utah Arts Festival
- Utah Film Center
- Utah Humanities
- Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
- Utah Museum of Fine Art
- Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
- UtahPresents
Process
The 2021 Tier I & Zoological grant application is NOW OPEN. Please refer to the Apply tab for more information.
They are carefully reviewed by our Tier I Advisory Board. The board makes funding recommendations to the County Council. Once the County Council approves the funding recommendations, ZAP staff will invite the recommended organizations to sign contracts. The percentage of funding each organization receives is based on qualifying expenditures. This process takes almost a full year. 
- Application Due Date: June 26 2020 at 5pm
- Review by Volunteer Advisory Board: June-October 2020
- Advisory Board Recommendations: November 2020
- County Council Approval: December 2020
- Contracting: January 2021
Eligibility
| Must be | 501(c)3 organization |
| Minimum budget size | $367,200 (3-year average) |
| Miscellaneous | Must have main office in Salt Lake County |
| Financial requirements | 3 years of audited financial statements |
| Type of organizations funded | Must be an arts, botanical, or cultural organization. See complete list of funded disciplines. |
| Funding | Based on qualifying expenditures after Advisory Board review and recommendation |
| Note: If you apply, but are not recommended for Tier I funding, you ARE eligible to apply for Tier II funding. | |
Apply
TIER I + ZOO APPLICATION DUE DATE: Friday, June 26 at 5pm
2021 Tier I and Zoological Application Workshop
Applicants should plan to attend an application workshop offered by ZAP staff annually. The workshop will give you an overview of the application, an opportunity to ask questions and a hands-on start to filling out your application.
During each application cycle, we highly recommend viewing the Application Webinar, which will be posted onto this website early April. Please return to this page (or sign up for the ZAP newsletter) for more information.
Staff will be send information regarding the availability of workshops in April.
Submit an Application
ZAP 2021 Tier I + Zoo Application HERE
If your organization is eligible and you've attended an application workshop, it's time to apply for funding. The Tier I & Zoological Application must be submitted online through ZoomGrants by Friday, June 26 at 5 pm.
Application Workshop
The 2021 Tier I application workshop will be held online on Thursday, May 7 2021 from 10am-12pm. This workshop will review the 2021 application, any changes that have been made this year, and the QE worksheet. It will end with time for questions.
To attend, please use the link below to RSVP.
ZAP 2021 Tier I + Zoo Workshop RSVP HERE
Starting Your Application
You will submit your ZAP Tier I application through ZoomGrants.com.
- If you already have a ZoomGrants account: Open the link below and log into your existing ZoomGrants account in sign-in fields in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
- If you do not already have an account: Open the application link below and click "New ZoomGrants Account" on the right-hand side to create your account. Then click the orange 'Apply' button for the ZAP 2021 Tier I Application under the 'Open Programs' list.
- There have been some changes made to this year's application. Please be sure to read all application help text before answering.
You can only access the application for the first time through the button above.
After you have opened the application through this link and started your application, you MUST access your application through your ZoomGrants log-in (https://www.zoomgrants.com/login) in the future.
PLEASE NOTE: Only use this link to access the application the first time. Using this link after you have already started an application will create a new/duplicate application. You can access your existing application on the dashboard of your ZoomGrants log in.
Contractual Obligations
Once your organization is recommended for funding, your organization must enter into a contract with Salt Lake County. Our contracts are approved by the district attorney's office.
- View a Sample Contract
- Submit an event on NowPlayingUtah.com
- Send your Press Release to PRZAP@slco.org
- Invite the Tier I Advisory Board to your Events
- Invite the Elected Officials to your Events
- Contractual Media Obligations Guide
- Sign up for Direct Deposit (email form to Jenn Waterhouse)
- Sign up for the ZAP newsletter
ZAP 2020 Tier I Contract
Funding contracts for the 2020 Tier I cycle are now available on ZoomGrants to be signed. The signing deadline is March 6 2020.
Funded organizations are required to watch the contract webinar every year. Click the button below to navigate to the 2020 Tier I contract webinar.