About the Ohio Arts Council

Client: Ohio Arts Council 
Industry: Private Foundation – Arts 
Key Stakeholders: Dan Katona (Deputy Director) 
Client Since: 2014 
Tools Used: SmartSimple Cloud 

Overview

The Ohio Arts Council is a long-standing champion of arts and cultural growth across the state. With up to 2,000 grant awards managed at a time, the agency once relied on a custom-built system that, after a decade, could no longer meet the evolving demands of its programs or stakeholders. In search of a modern, secure, and highly configurable solution, OAC chose SmartSimple Cloud for Grants Management. The platform provided the flexibility, transparency, and self-sufficiency they needed to future-proof their operations, without compromising on power or usability. Today, OAC is more agile, efficient, and better equipped to serve the artists and communities that depend on its support. 

$13 million

in grants awarded since 2015

Challenges 

OAC first adopted an online system for grants management back in 2005, becoming one of the early state arts agencies to move away from paper-based processes. While their custom-built platform served them for a time, it ultimately became a barrier to innovation. A major overhaul of the aging system would have been costly, and wouldn’t have solved the core issues of flexibility, user control, or security. OAC needed a new system that was intuitive, scalable, and powerful enough to support their unique needs as stewards of public funding. 

Solutions Implemented 

SmartSimple Cloud provided OAC with a modern, cloud-based platform that could evolve with their processes. What stood out to the team was the perfect balance between ease of use and deep configurability. From initial setup through ongoing support, SmartSimple worked closely with OAC to modernize their entire grant administration process, helping them uncover smarter ways to work and build on best practices. 

Impact & Outcomes 

  • Complete Flexibility Without Technical Overhead 
    • SmartSimple Cloud’s intuitive interface and robust training allowed OAC’s small team to manage their system independently. They could implement changes quickly, test new ideas, and adapt to evolving program requirements—without depending on IT experts or costly development cycles. 
  • Transparent and Secure Operations 
    • With $13 million in grants awarded since 2015, OAC takes its responsibility for data and fiscal transparency seriously. SmartSimple Cloud’s advanced security features ensure protection for sensitive intellectual property and applicant identities—especially important for the artists and organizations they support. 
  • Seamless Support and Collaboration 
    • Throughout the implementation, OAC worked directly with SmartSimple leadership and architects to reimagine their workflows. That strong relationship continued even after go-live, making them feel fully supported every step of the way. 
  • Real-Time Reporting and Accountability 
    • SmartSimple Cloud’s robust reporting capabilities allow OAC to generate performance insights on demand. This ensures they remain accountable to both the public and their internal stakeholders while meeting strict compliance standards. 

Client Testimonials 

“As a grants management system that could grow with us, SmartSimple Cloud for Grants Management struck the perfect balance between being easy to use and still being nuanced enough to handle how we do things… SmartSimple Cloud allows us to be nimble and won’t ever hold us back from executing big ideas or initiatives.” 
— Dan Katona, Deputy Director 

“Right from the start, we were very impressed with both the balance of functionality and power that were the guts of the system.” 
— Dan Katona, Deputy Director 

Key Takeaways 

By transitioning to SmartSimple Cloud, the Ohio Arts Council replaced an outdated, inflexible system with a powerful, adaptable platform that enhances transparency, strengthens data protection, and streamlines grantmaking. As a small team with a big impact, OAC now has the confidence and capability to respond to the ever-changing needs of Ohio’s arts community, without sacrificing agility or accountability.