Q: Who is eligible to apply? 
A: For-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations may apply. Applicants must be located in New Mexico and registered as a federally recognized for-profit or nonprofit entity.

Q: What are the grant amounts?
A: There are two types of funding opportunities for the 2024 grant cycle: 

Innovator:
Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Innovator applicants may apply for up to $50,000 for project implementation. A 1:1 funding match is required for the amount requested. 

Incubator:
Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Incubator applicants may apply for up to $10,000 for project implementation. Two letters of support are required and should be from entities or stakeholders that will benefit directly from the proposed project. Please note, a total of up to six Incubator Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grants will be awarded in the 2024 grant cycle.

Q: What types of projects are eligible?
A: Potential project types could include development of products or assets for experiences, infrastructure improvements or arts and culture programs. Please see the Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Guide for example projects.

Preference will be given to projects operating in the city of Albuquerque that build new, innovative experiences or assets with an estimated completion date on or before June 30, 2025. Additionally, applicants that demonstrate collaboration between multiple community organizations of various sizes are more likely to receive grant funding. 

Q: When is the deadline?
A: 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2024 

Q: Who decides what project(s) receive funding?
A: The Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program committee reviews applications and considers project viability, capacity to build community and benefit tourism and ability to demonstrate project strength using THRIVE criteria (Last page in Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Guide).

Q: Who can I contact with application questions and support?
A: grants@visitabq.org

COMMUNITY Q&A

In the interests of transparency and to give all applicants access to additional information provided via the grants@visitabq.org contact, Q&A will be posted publicly weekly. The last date to submit questions is Monday, May 20, to ensure a transparent and equitable process. Some questions have been edited to protect privacy. Information that has been edited is shown in brackets.

Q: Can the matching requirement for the Tourism grant be in-kind or does it have to be hard dollars? Also, is the $50,000 ceiling for project implementation include the match (so $25K to $25K match)? 

A: The matching requirement is hard dollars; however, you can use another grant as your match. $50,000 is the maximum that Visit Albuquerque would award, so the maximum would be ($50k grant, $50k match). 

Q: I have an ask out to a local nonprofit organization to fund a variety of markets/events we’re doing this year. If we are chosen for that grant would that work as a matching grant for your funding?

A: Yes, you can use another grant to match your funding request.

Q: If multiple organizations/business associations wanted to partner, is it possible for one nonprofit to apply and then disperse funds to those partner orgs? Nonprofit or for-profit? 

A: Yes, a nonprofit can act as the funding entity and collaborate with multiple entities, including for-profits. Collaboration is encouraged, please include the names of your partners in your application. 

Q: I am inquiring whether the Tourism grant allows for funding of fiscally sponsored projects. 

A: Yes, just as the match can be cash or another grant source, a sponsor could also provide the matching funds for a proposed project.

Q: Can you tell me if the other info session is happening or if you’ll be rescheduling this one?  The questions we have are mostly financial ones, specifically related to how the match works, what budgetary requirements from us that you’ll need, how funds are tracked, spending guidelines and what is required as follow-up report to the grant being awarded.

A: For the financials, we require that you have matching funds for the amount requested, this could be cash on hand or another grant. When you look at the application form you will see what information we are requesting up front on financials. If you read the Grant Guide linked out on the website, we describe a payment system where 1/3 of the funds will be paid at project milestones.
Some of the other financials for reporting purposes, etc are still being determined as this is a pilot year for the grant program. We will share finalized details when grants are awarded. The follow-up reports would be results, photos, numbers, etc. and demonstrate how you made an impact with the funds. 

Q: Is there a timeframe (or deadline) for 1:1 matching funds to have been secured by applicants?

A: The Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program Committee expects applicants to have secured 1:1 funding matches for projects when grant interviews begin. Please see the full timeline on the Tourism Grant Program homepage.

Q: Will applicants be interviewed or asked to provide project presentations?

A: If needed, the Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program Committee will conduct applicant interviews and project presentations. Please see the full timeline on the Tourism Grant Program homepage.

Q: Our business is between Santa Fe and Albuquerque and many of our customers are Albuquerque residents or visitors. Does part of this program include "day trips from Albuquerque?"

A: We are accepting applications from all over New Mexico. In your application, please explain how your business impacts Albuquerque visitors and how it builds new, creative visitor and resident experiences that can grow a more diverse and thriving tourism economy.

Q: What qualifies an applicant to be considered for an Incubator Grant?

A: For-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations may apply. Applicants must be located in New Mexico and registered as a federally recognized for-profit or nonprofit entity. Incubator Grants are designed for projects that may be in the developmental stage and/or as an entry point for applicants not prepared to meet the 1:1 funding match requirement or ask for a lot of funding.
 
Q: Does the form have to be filled out all at once?
A: No, you can save your application as a draft and continue to work on it. It must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. May 24, 2024.
 
Q: Do applicants need to have matching funds for the total amount of grant funds requested?

A: Yes, a 1:1 match is required for Innovator Grant applicants. 1:1 Match Example: If $25,000 in grant funds is requested, applicants must have $25,000 cash available for the proposed project. Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Innovator applicants may apply for up to $50,000 for project implementation and in that case would need to show a $50,000 match.

There is not a 1:1 match required for Incubator Grant applicants. Applicants may apply for up to $10,000 for project implementation. Two letters of support are required and should be from entities or stakeholders that will benefit directly from the proposed project. 

Q: Is project information kept confidential?

A: Yes, applicant and project information will be kept private both externally and internally. When grants are awarded and announced proprietary project details will not be shared. 
  
Q: How do businesses get listed in Visit Albuquerque’s Visitors Guide?

A: Becoming a partner of Visit Albuquerque is the first step. Visit Albuquerque would love to promote your business and our community. Here are a few of the many benefits that all Visit Albuquerque partners receive. Please email Alisha Zierden at Partner@VisitABQ.org for more information.

Q: Can an agency apply on behalf of a client?
A: Applicants are welcome to work with a 3rd party to prepare and submit their application, however all funds will be distributed to the federally recognized entity in whose name the application is submitted.

Q: Can an organization apply to both the Incubator and Innovator level for different projects, e.g., seeking support for two new exhibits, one through each tier?

A: If you would like to apply more than once, you may do so at any level that fits the project; this is not prohibited. That said, please do be aware that this is a competitive process and there are limited funds available to distribute, this will be a factor to consider when submitting multiple projects.

Q: Do you need your own 501c3 or can you use or have a fiscal sponsor?
A: No, applicants do not need to establish their own nonprofit. Partnering with a fiscal agent is permissible. For-profit applicants without a nonprofit partner are strongly advised to research the tax implications of receiving a grant from this program. We will also award funds to for-profit organizations or businesses located in New Mexico that are registered as a federally recognized for-profit or nonprofit entity. 

Q: Any restrictions on the use of grant funds? Can they be used for the purchase of equipment used to complete the project?
A: In the application you will be given an opportunity to provide your project budget provide and also provide a breakdown of the following project expenses:
a. Subcontractor costs
b. Materials, equipment and supplies
c. Personnel
d. Construction costs
e. Administrative costs (example: permits)
f. Rental or lease expenses
and project equipment is one of the expenses 

Q: I understand the goal of keeping visitors overnight. May we gear something toward Airbnb lodgers? My community has MANY - we’d like to work on something that makes sure they are spending money in the neighborhood.
A: The Albuquerque Tourism Marketing District (ATMD) is a coalition-organized effort to increase demand for overnight visitation to Albuquerque. The ATMD is funded by guests who stay overnight at the roughly 150 assessed lodging properties within the district and provides additional funds to expand marketing of Albuquerque, enhance visitor services and develop destination assets. Visit Albuquerque does not have direct access to Airbnb audiences and our understanding of the Airbnb business model does not include promotion of local businesses or assets. That said, if you are confident your project or asset will be appealing in its neighborhood, creates a new and transformative experience, and increases demand for overnight visitation to Albuquerque we encourage you to apply.  

Q: Do you expect grantees to be able to actually quantify their impact on overnight lodging and if so, how do you expect that to be done?
A: There is not an expectation for applicants to quantify impact on overnight lodging. Applicants should describe and provide rationale for why they believe their project will increase demand for overnight visitation in Albuquerque. Visit Albuquerque collects visitation data and can quantify visitation impact when assessing project outcomes and success. 

Q: Are the grants only for projects in the city of Albuquerque or can projects serving areas such as Placitas, Rio Rancho or Los Lunas apply?
A: The grant program will give preference to projects operating in Albuquerque. If your project or asset is located outside of Albuquerque city limits, please describe and demonstrate how visiting your project or asset can also increase overnight visitation in Albuquerque. 

Q: If we have an established event and want to do a secondary one similar but different should we do separate applications?
A: The overarching goal of the Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant program is to spark innovative ideas that contribute to Albuquerque’s vibrancy and benefit tourism. Preference will be given to projects operating in the city of Albuquerque that build new, innovative experiences or assets (or enhance an existing experience or asset) with an estimated completion date on or before June 30, 2025.

Q: Can an organization which acts as a fiscal sponsor for one project application also apply for a grant for a separate project?
A: Yes, this is permissible. 

Q: How many Innovator grants do you expect to award, or will it depend on the number of applicants and funds requested?
A: Two levels of grant funding are available: the Innovator level provides up to $50,000 for project implementation, and the Incubator level provides up to $10,000 for project implementation. There is approximately $250,000 to be awarded within the 2023 Visit Albuquerque Tourism Grant Program cycle. Total awards will depend upon amounts granted.

Q: Are businesses allowed to apply for both grants separately if they have multiple project proposals?
A: Yes, applicants may apply for both Innovator and Incubator Grants.