About the California Arts Council

Client: California Arts Council 
Industry: Private Foundation – Arts 
Key Stakeholders: Kala Kowtha (IT Specialist) 
Client Since: 2017 
Tools Used: SmartSimple Cloud 

Overview 

The California Arts Council is a state agency whose mission is to advance California through the arts and creativity. Appointed by the Governor and State Legislature, its members promote public participation in the arts, support arts organizations and leaders, and fund programs to enrich lives across the state. 

Challenges 

In 2017, the California Arts Council faced a major disruption: their grants management system was being phased out by its provider, leaving them just six months to find a replacement. 

Key Pain Points: 

  • Outdated, inflexible software limited to handling incoming applications
  • Manual processes for contracting, payments, and data tracking 
  • A disjointed experience for both staff and applicants 
  • Inadequate support from the outgoing vendor during transition 
  • And with over 1,500 annual applications and 1,000 organizations funded each year, the stakes were high.  

Solutions Implemented 

Faced with urgency and complexity, CAC reviewed seven different solutions and chose SmartSimple Cloud for its scalability, configurability, and rapid implementation capability. 

Why SmartSimple? 

  • Highly configurable user roles and classifications 
  • Built-in flexibility to evolve and scale alongside program needs 
  • Intuitive tools that empower internal staff to manage and adapt workflows independently 
  • Responsive, client-focused support 

Impact & Outcomes 

With SmartSimple Cloud, the California Arts Council is no longer limited by technology. Their team now has the freedom to create, customize, and scale grant cycles without developer reliance. 

  • Greater operational control
  • Clean role-based access for user transparency 
  • Entirely staff-configured application cycles 
  • More organizations and programs added with ease 
  • A platform that adapts to new funding needs 

Client Testimonials 

“Whenever I need support, it’s there. The one-on-one attention to the clients is truly an admirable quality of SmartSimple. We felt listened to.” 
— Kala Kowtha, IT Specialist 

“We liked the flexibility offered and felt like we were best able to scale our programs with SmartSimple’s platform.” 
— Kala Kowtha, IT Specialist 

Key Takeaways 

What started as a scramble to replace a failing system became an opportunity to build something better. With SmartSimple Cloud, the California Arts Council turned a six-month deadline into a lasting foundation for flexible, scalable grantmaking, and they’re just getting started.