On Tuesday, July 16, 2025, Metro Council approved the guidelines for FY26 Thrive grant applications. Applications were opened by Metro Arts on Wednesday, July 16 and are due by August 15. This timeline drives internal ABC deadlines necessary to support FY26 Thrive grant applications from projects planning to apply. To ensure that everyone understands the process, we prepared the following FAQs for applying for FY26 Thrive grants under ABC’s Fiscal Sponsorship program.
1. Can I apply for a Thrive grant as a fiscally sponsored project of ABC?
Yes! If you meet the qualifications set by Metro Arts, ABC can support an application for a Thrive grant for your project as the fiscal sponsor. From an ABC perspective, Thrive grants are generally treated like any other grant in terms of Fiscal Sponsorship with adherence to the grant terms and requirements set forth by Metro Arts. (Please note that we can not support applications unrelated to the project for which you are fiscally sponsored.)
2. Since Metro Arts is paying fiscal sponsors separately, does that mean that I do not need to include ABC’s fees in the grant budget?
That is correct. For your Thrive grant application, you do not need to include ABC’s fees in the grant budget. Metro Arts is paying fiscal sponsors separately, so that payment will function as the fee payment for Thrive grants. This exception only applies to FY26 Thrive grants and is subject to change based on Metro Arts’ future guidelines for the program and/or internal ABC guidelines. Projects are responsible for any and all additional fees under their fiscal sponsorship agreement not related to Thrive grants.
3. Does that mean that I don’t have to pay the minimum monthly fee?
Projects are still responsible for paying the $25 minimum monthly fee and 7.5% of any other funds received for those projects. ABC will not charge any fees to projects for Metro Arts Thrive grants, since support is being paid to fiscal sponsors separately from the grant funds. This is true even if the administrative support provided by Metro Arts is less than the fee would have been per your fiscal sponsorship agreement. No Metro Arts Thrive grant funds will be used to cover any fees owed by projects, and no fees will be charged to the project for Thrive grant funds.
4. I plan to apply for a Thrive grant. Who do I tell?
If you plan to apply for Thrive, please let us know immediately. Then, review and follow the instructions provided by Metro Arts on their website here to prepare your draft application.
5. Does ABC need to review my Thrive application before I submit it?
Yes! Per the program manual, we require that projects submit draft grant application materials to us at least 10 days before the grant application deadline. We will be reviewing Thrive grant applications on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning that application materials will be reviewed in the order they are received. Because we expect to have a large number of applications to review within the same 10 business day time frame, we are not able to review and support applications submitted to us less than 10 days before the deadline. Because of this, draft applications are due to us by August 5 at 11:59 p.m. We will begin reviewing application materials on August 6 in the order they are received.
6. I have questions, can I call you while I am working on the application?
Unfortunately, no. Instead of calling, please email questions to me before July 24, and I will respond via email by the end of the day on July 25. After July 25, I will be out of the office through August 5, when draft applications are due. I will begin reviewing draft applications submitted at least 10 days before the deadline on August 6.
7. I know someone who is looking for a fiscal sponsor so they can apply for a Thrive grant. Can I connect them to ABC?
Unfortunately, we are not able to support projects solely for one-time applications for Thrive grants. Fiscal sponsorship through ABC is designed to allow projects to raise funds through donations and grants from multiple sources to achieve their long-term goals. We are focused on supporting applications by current fiscally sponsored projects at this time. Anyone seeking one-time fiscal sponsorship to apply for Thrive would be better served by a fiscal sponsor offering sponsorship for that purpose specifically.
8. The application asks for documentation from the fiscal sponsor. Can you provide it?
Yes, we will provide all supporting materials needed for your application as part of the review process.
9. I am working on a Thrive grant application now. Do I add ABC as a collaborator in Submittable?
Yes, use the email address info@abcnashville.org to add ABC as a collaborator on your Thrive grant application.
10. Assuming ABC will review/add documents through Submittable?
This is the first time that Metro Arts has made fiscal sponsors collaborators in Submittable, so we’re not 100% sure what access we will have and what we wont. We assume we will be able to add documents, but we will have to wait and see how that works to be sure.
That said, as stated in the fiscal sponsorship program manual, we recommend always drafting grant applications in a separate app, such as Word or Google Docs, and not working only on the Submittable platform. If there is a problem with Submittable, having a working copy in another format will be a lifesaver.
This is also important for ABC’s review of and feedback on applications. We can’t make comments and suggestions to your application directly in Submittable, only edits. So it’s important that you send your application materials to us in a Word document or Google Doc to review. This allows us to make comments and suggestions without changing the application in Submittable. If you do work in Submittable, at least make a copy of everything in Word or Google Docs.
When you submit the application materials for review, submit them through the online dashboard and not solely through Submittable.
When you submit the application materials for review, submit them through the online dashboard and not solely through Submittable.