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General Project Grants
Deadline: August 3, 2012 (for projects between November 1, 2012-September 30, 2013)
Grant Coordinator: Cassandra Mason
cassandra.mason@dcr.nh.gov
(603) 271-7926
These FY2013 Grant Guidelines are valid for fiscal year July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013
Communities benefit from a lively arts and cultural sector both socially and economically. General Project Grants are designed to help Main Street Programs, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and schools bring arts presentations and activities into communities to enhance the quality of life for citizens, attract visitors and help stimulate local economies through the arts. This competitive and matching grant category supports a wide range of activities including:
- Performances, concerts, exhibits, workshops, local festivals, collaborative public art projects, etc., that engage the arts and artists for the benefit of New Hampshire residents and communities.
- Short-term arts presentations and activities in schools or after school programs for youth of all ages.
- Projects that help to preserve, document and showcase heritage & traditional arts.
NOTE: This General Project Grant category was created in response to the continued need to consolidate grant categories. Grant applicants who sought funding for Traditional Arts Project Grants are asked to apply in this category and answer the narrative questions addressed to the new “heritage & traditional arts” focus enfolded in this grant category.
Organizations seeking funding in this category are strongly encouraged to develop projects that:
- Include and compensate New Hampshire artists.
- Bring arts presentations and activities to underserved populations in New Hampshire, including people living in rural areas; people with economic or social circumstances that restrict their access to the arts including recent immigrants and refugees; youth; seniors; and/or people with disabilities.
- Incorporate sustainable and “green” principles (e.g. energy conservation, recycling, and utilization of renewable resources).
Heritage & Traditional arts projects are required to:
- Have a clear focus on artistic excellence and authenticity of traditions being featured and tradition bearers presenting them.
- Include educational materials such as program notes, signage and stage presenters who can explain the history and cultural context of the traditional arts being featured.
- Have the involvement of a cultural specialist and/or folklorist who can assist in researching community resources, planning the project, and developing educational materials for the project.
- Have project components that benefit both the public and traditional artists (e.g. workshops for public prior to a festival, artist receptions prior to an event so they can network, master’s workshops, special tours, etc.).
Maximum Grant Request
Requests may be made for $750 - $4,500.
FUNDING DISCLAIMER: All grant categories and amounts are subject to change, depending upon availability of state and federal funds for any fiscal year.
Required Match
At a minimum, grants must be matched on a one-to-one basis. EXTENDED FOR FY2013: In-kind contributions may comprise one half of the required match and will also be considered by the reviewers as evidence of support and commitment by the community and/or partner organization. State Arts Council funds may not be matched by other State Arts Council or National Endowment for the Arts funds.
Who May Apply?
Any state, federal, county, municipal, or government agency, school, unit of a post secondary educational institution, or cultural organization (e.g. gallery, museum, or television channel), or organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS and not-for-profit incorporation in the State of New Hampshire that:
- Makes its facilities and programs accessible to people with disabilities;
- Has submitted all required reports on past State Arts Council grants;
- Is in good standing with the N.H. Secretary of State’s Office and the N.H. Attorney General’s Office; and
- Has at least a one-year history of arts programming prior to application deadline.
- Organizations that are incorporated within 30 miles of the New Hampshire border, with a significant representation of N.H. residents on their board and can demonstrate that over 50% of the individuals who benefit from their work are N.H. residents are also eligible.
Note: Operating Grant recipients may apply for the Traditional Arts focus of General Project Grants.
Restrictions
This grant does not support:
- Projects/activities that are not open to the general public.
- Commercially viable "for-profit" publications, recordings, or films.
- General operating expenses not directly related to the project or fundraising costs.
- Projects already receiving funds from another State Arts Council grant category for the same project.
- Any cost item listed in the glossary under “ineligible expenses.”
Sample Projects
- A series of public performances for the local farmer’s market or town center.
- A series of community social dances featuring live music.
- A series of art activities/workshops for families with pre-school children at the local community center.
- An “Arts Walk” for downtown to coincide with local productions and a holiday celebration.
- A partnership with a local Main Street program, library and historical society to create a community mural on a downtown building or a series of banners that reflect the history, cultural heritage, or landscape of the town created by an artist working with local students.
- A concert featuring compositions by a New Hampshire composer or playwright of national significance accompanied by an open rehearsal and public discussion following the performance.
- A heritage festival featuring educational demonstrations of traditional crafts and performances by traditional musicians and dancers.
- A series of hands-on workshops on traditional crafts for local residents.
- A writing enrichment camp for young people.
- A presentation/hands-on workshop by an artist in a local school.
Application Review Process
A panel with expertise in the focus area of the grant category meets to review and rank applications according to the funding criteria listed. Whenever possible, a State Arts Councilor facilitates the meeting. After discussion and review of work samples submitted, applications are ranked by the panel. Funding recommendations are forwarded to the State Arts Council for review and approval. If the organization’s cumulative total of grants received from the State Arts Council for that fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) is $5,000 or more, the grant recommendation must also be submitted to the Governor and Executive Council for approval.
Funding Criteria
The following criteria are used by reviewers to rank applications for this grant category:
Goals
- Clearly stated project goal/s and desired outcomes.
- Connection to organization’s mission and/or long range plan.
Quality of Arts Programming
- Quality of participating artists.
- Inclusion of New Hampshire artists.
- Quality of project planning.
For Traditional & Heritage Arts focus:
- Traditions and tradition bearers with a high degree of authenticity and artistic excellence.
- Clear plan to develop and provide educational information such as program notes, signage, introductions, etc.
Administrative Capacity
- Feasible project plan with realistic timetable.
- Appropriate qualifications of project staff.
- Sound publicity plan to attract audience/participants.
- Realistic budgetary projections. Please see the glossary for a list of ineligible costs.
- Ability to meet cash match.
- Evidence of effort in making project activities fully accessible to persons with disabilities and to underserved populations.
Public Value/ Community Support
- Evidence of support from community benefiting from the project/activities. (Up to three letters may be submitted with Support Materials; in-kind donations may be indicated in budget.)
Evaluation & Documentation
- Clear method of evaluating the effectiveness, outcomes and/or success of the project.
- A plan for documenting the project/activities.
How to Apply
Before submission: Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Council’s grant information sessions and to discuss a proposal with the grant coordinator noted above before writing an application. Applicants should also review the legal and reporting requirements relevant to State Arts Council grants.
Draft applications may be reviewed if submitted at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline. First time applicants are especially encouraged to submit draft copies.
When sending in a draft, please clearly indicate DRAFT FOR REVIEW in BOLD letters on your submission.
Submitting the application:
Errors and omissions may affect a panel’s evaluation of your application, so please prepare your application carefully and follow instructions.
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Narrative Questions
Please answer the following narrative questions on no more than four typed pages. Margins (not less than 1 inch), fonts (not smaller than 12 point), and spacing should provide easy reading for the panelists. Please number and respond to the following questions in the order in which they appear, noting the section titles in bold.
INTRODUCTION: Tell us about your organization
- Provide a profile of your organization including its mission and goals. Please keep in mind that some panelists may not be familiar with your organization or its importance to the arts in New Hampshire.
1. Why do you want to undertake this project?
- Explain the goal(s) and intended outcome(s) of the project/activities.
- Explain how your project relates to your organization’s mission, goals and (if available) long-range plan.
Special Focus Question for Projects in Schools:
Special Focus Question for Heritage & Traditional Arts:
- Explain how your project will help to preserve and educate people on aspects of heritage & traditional arts.
2. What are you planning to do?
- What are the activities, programs or services you are planning?
- When will the project/activities occur?
- Where will the project/activities occur?
- Who are the participating artists* and cultural advisors you will be involving? (Note: If you have not fully identified them, name as many as you can.)
- Who is/are your targeted audience(s) and or participants?
Special Focus Question for Heritage & Traditional Arts:
- Describe the educational or interpretive materials you plan to develop and how these will help people better understand the cultural context, historical background, and artistry of the tradition being presented. For example: program notes, brochures, text panels, photo murals, displays, inclusion of a community scholar/folklorist in the program, etc.
* Note: Resumes or background summaries (2-4 paragraphs) and work samples must be included for all artists.
3. How are you going to accomplish your project?
- What is the timeline for the planning and implementation of the project?
- Include the name and qualifications of the Project Director who will be involved with this project/activity and attach his/her biography or resume.
- Describe your marketing/promotion plan or other methods you will use to attract participants or audiences. Include a plan for crediting the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting projects that are funded.
- Describe how you plan to meet the cash match. (Note: For FY2013 half of the 1:1 match may be in-kind goods or services.) Helpful hint: Make sure that the project costs outlined on the budget forms correspond with the activities you have described.
- Identify the ways you will provide access to people with disabilities and senior citizens so they may benefit from this project (i.e., physical access, programmatic access via large print programs and signage, sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, transportation, etc.).
4. What community support do you have and how will the community benefit?
- How will this project benefit the public and/or your community?
- Please tell us what organizations, businesses, and leaders are in support of this/these project/activities.
- Will volunteers be used for this project? If so, how? Is there a Volunteer Coordinator?
5. How will you evaluate and document your project?
- How will the outcome of the goals listed for the project/activities be measured? Please include a copy of your evaluation form in Support Materials, if available.
- How do you plan to document the project/activity (i.e., photography, video, web site)?
Required Support Materials
Six sets (original plus five copies)
- One-page resume or biography of project director.
- Selected written materials on outside contractors.
- Letters of support by community members and/or participating partners.
- Evaluation form for the project/activities, if available.
- Selected relevant program materials such as reviews, season performance schedule, exhibition catalogues, etc. of previous programming.
One copy of :
- List of current board or arts advisory committee members with addresses and occupations.
- Board-approved financial statement for most recently completed fiscal year.
- An arts organization embedded within an institution (a university art gallery, for example) should submit an income statement for the past two years and other financial documents, approved by a financial officer, of the supervisory institution. This income statement should detail how much support the arts organization has been receiving from internal and external sources, as well as where those funds have been going. These organizations should submit a balance sheet, if available.
- Work samples for all artists (e.g., CDs, DVDs, audio or videotape(s), manuscript pages).
- First-time applicants only: Tax exempt status letter from the IRS and a copy of the Letter of Good Standing that was received upon registering with the Attorney General's office.
- A completed New Hampshire Nonprofit Checklist: http://www.nhcf.org/document.doc?id=91. This checklist conveniently lists all the Legal requirements for NH Nonprofit Organizations.
NOTE: Registration of IRS 501 (c) (3) nonprofits is required every five years, for the years ending in 0 or 5. This registration may be done on-line at http://www.sos.nh.gov/.
How to Prepare the Application Package
1. Fill out and sign the original application & budget form and make five copies.
2. Complete and make five copies of the answers to the narrative questions.
3. Collate the original signed application form and copies to result in six sets. Each set should contain the following items arranged in the order in which they are listed.
1) the signed application form (the original application should be with the first set)
2) narrative questions
3) project director biography or resume
4) written materials on outside contractors
5) letters of support (optional)
6) sample evaluation form(s), if available
7) sample program materials
4. Include work samples of artists. See Preparation of Work Samples for instructions on preparing work samples/support materials.
5. Include with your first set (original signed application):
A) List of current board or arts advisory committee members with addresses and occupations.
B) Board-approved financial statement for most recently completed fiscal year.
C) The completed New Hampshire Nonprofit Checklist.
First-time non-profit organization applicants only (municipalities and schools are exempt from this requirement):
D) Include one copy of IRS letter certifying 501(c)(3) status.
E) Include one copy of the Letter of Good Standing that was received upon registering with the N.H. State Attorney General’s office.
IMPORTANT: If applying for more than one project grant, include only one IRS letter and one Letter of Good Standing and make a note in your packet that you have submitted these with another application.
6. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for any materials that need to be returned.
7. Please do not use binders, folders, or protector sheets for the six separate sets of materials. Staples or clips are acceptable. Separate large envelopes may be used to contain the collated materials. It is helpful if you use post-it notes or label the application cover sheets to indicate original set, 1,2,3, etc.
8. Make one copy of everything for your files!
9. Put everything together in one package, putting the set with the application with the original signature on top. Mail or hand-deliver to: N.H. State Council on the Arts, 19 Pillsbury Street, 1st Floor, Concord, NH 03301.
Why all these copies?
The original is for the State Arts Council files. Additional copies are for the panelists who will review your application prior to discussion at the panel meeting.
Deadline
Applications must be postmarked or hand delivered to the N.H. State Council on the Arts office at 19 Pillsbury Street, 1st Floor, Concord, by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date noted above. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The office is closed all state and most federal holidays. Late applications will not be accepted. The Council cannot accept applications transmitted by facsimile (FAX) or e-mail and is not responsible for applications lost in transit. Errors and omissions may affect a panel's evaluation of your application, so please prepare your application carefully and follow instructions.
Notification
Applicants will be notified of their application status within approximately 10 weeks of the application deadline.
Payment
The NHSCA disburses funds appropriated from public sources, both federal and state. Checks are issued by Administrative Services of the State of N.H., not the Department of Cultural Resources or the State Arts Council. Upon receipt of properly executed grant forms, the State of New Hampshire generally pays grants under $5,000 to grantees within four to six weeks. If an organization is awarded $5,000 or more or has received other State Arts Council funds which bring the cumulative total received for that fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) to $5,000 or above, grants need to be approved by Governor and Executive Council; consequently, payment can take up to 10 weeks. All awards are subject to availability of state and federal funds. Therefore, we ask grantees to plan cash flow accordingly.
IMPORTANT:
- All grant agreements must be returned by January 15 of the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) they are awarded. Failure to return the grant agreement by that date could result in the cancellation of the grant and reallocation of funds.
- Payment of a grant will be withheld if the final reports for previous grants are not in compliance with policy below.
Grant Period and Reporting Requirements
The grant period is noted above. A final report is due 30 days after the completion of your project. An extension of up to three months may be requested. The request for extension must be made in writing, before the deadline for filing has passed, to the grant coordinator responsible for administering the grant and should briefly note why the extension is necessary and the date the report will be submitted.
Failure to submit the final report by the required date will result in the organization becoming ineligible to apply for NHSCA funding for two years. Additionally, failure to submit the final report may result in a withholding of funds from any currently awarded NHSCA grant.
Click here for the Final Report Download Center.
Last updated:
November 9, 2011
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