Apply to The Fund
2012 Program Guidelines
The deadline to apply to The Fund for Creative Communities (The Fund) has passed.
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About the Program
The Fund for Creative Communities (The Fund) is part of the New York State Council on the Arts’ (NYSCA) statewide Decentralization program (DEC), which was established in 1977 by the New York State Legislature as a statewide, community arts regrant program. LMCC administers The Fund for the borough of Manhattan.
The program seeks to support projects and activities that will enable Manhattan communities to experience and engage with the arts. Each year, the program supports over 80 arts projects in Manhattan, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings and more.
How The Fund Works
The Fund supports small and midsized non-profit organizations that provide high-quality local arts programs. The Fund also seeks to increase access to arts and cultural activities in neighborhoods throughout Manhattan and to encourage new arts activities in communities where the need exists.
Grants ranging from $750 to $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organizations and to artists applying through a fiscal sponsor for arts projects with a public component that will benefit Manhattan communities. Through The Fund, LMCC awards close to $300,000 each year. In our most recent cycle, the program awarded 87 grants to enable projects in neighborhoods from Washington Heights to the Battery.
Application Assistance
Get an overview of The Fund for Creative Communities and learn about the components of a well-prepared application. First-time applicants and applicants who have not attended an information session since 2008 are required to attend.
For dates and locations : http://www.lmcc.net/grants/info_sessions
If you have trouble filling out the Online Application Form or have questions about The Fund, LMCC staff is available to assist you in person or on the phone. Contact: Haowen Wang, Program Manager, at thefund@lmcc.net or 212-219-9401 x129.
Application Deadline: September 13, 2011
All components of the application must be submitted to LMCC by 5PM on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. This includes the online application and printed supporting documents.
Applicants will be notified by mail in January 2012 whether their projects have been funded.
Applicant Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations, such as arts organizations, social service agencies, senior centers, faith-based organizations, folk societies and cultural centers. You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Organizations must be based in Manhattan, and proposed activities must serve Manhattan residents
- Organizations must not have applied directly to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for a grant for the same fiscal year
- Organizations must have proof of nonprofit status
- Organizations must provide arts, cultural and creative programming to specific communities
- Individual artists and groups may only apply through a nonprofit organization acting as a fiscal sponsor. Note: The fiscal sponsor organization must adhere to all of the organizational requirements stated above.
- First time applicants and applicants who have not attended an information session since 2008 are required to attend a session before applying. For dates, locations and to RSVP for a session near you, visit: www.lmcc.net/grants/info_sessions.
Project Eligibility
Applications will be accepted for ongoing or new projects in any artistic discipline. Projects must meet the following requirements:
- Project activities must take place between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
- Project must include a public component: an opportunity for the public to experience and engage with the arts. The opportunity must be promoted and available to the general public. Note: Projects that are intended to be experienced solely through or by the Internet will not be considered.
- Project activities, including the public component, must be located in Manhattan.
- Individual artists residing in other boroughs may apply if their nonprofit fiscal sponsor is Manhattan-based and their project takes place in Manhattan. However, they will not be eligible to apply to another borough for DEC funding in FY12.
- Applicants may only submit one (1) proposal requesting support for one (1) project.
- Applicants may not be a lead artistic facilitator or key partner in more than one proposal.
- Project budget must show at least 25% of planned project income from sources other than The Fund.
Funding Restrictions
Under this program funding is not available for:
- Organizations applying directly to or receiving funding from NYSCA in the same year, regardless of that application’s status
- Projects receiving money from NYSCA-funded programs, or projects funded by NYSCA individual artist grants
- Public school districts, affiliates or components exclusively serving student audiences such as in-school and after school programs
- New York State agencies and departments
- Any organization previously funded with outstanding final reports to LMCC
- 100% of project costs; applicants must show at least 25% of the project income from other sources
- Establishing a new organization
- Offering fellowships
- Cultural activities restricted to an organization’s membership; eligible projects must be promoted and remain available to the general public
- Arts programs that are solely socio-economic, recreational, rehabilitative, religious or therapeutic in nature
- Entertainment costs, such as opening parties, receptions or fundraisers
- Payment for facilities or purchase of capital equipment
- General operating support
- Work-in-progress showings solely for the development of new work
- Humanities projects
- Proposals requesting support solely for educational workshops; eligible projects must have a culminating event that is promoted, and available, to the general public
Review Process and Criteria
A panel of artists and arts professionals will review and evaluate projects using the following five criteria:
- Artistic merit of the proposed project
- Clarity of project description, including outcomes and audiences, feasibility of successful completion, and soundness of project budget
- Clarity and feasibility of proposed outreach and marketing plans
- Community benefit generated by the project
- Project accessibility
The criteria are not listed in order of priority; each is equally important. Please make sure that your application materials, taken as a whole, address these criteria.
Applying to The Fund is a competitive process. Proposals should accurately describe the project, the communities targeted, and the project’s impact. Project budgets and budget narratives should be precise, reflect actual needs, and demonstrate the ability to raise funds from additional sources.
Grant Requirements
The grant award is a contract for arts services; grantees are required to carry out the following during the grant period:
- Sign and return letter of agreement to LMCC
- Include funding credit and logos on all marketing and event materials, print and electronic
- Submit an event notification form at least 6 weeks before the funded event (an auditor may be present to monitor the project)
- Submit final report, no later than 30 days after completion of all project activities
Grantees who do not comply with the above requirements will jeopardize their funding status and future grant consideration. LMCC may also require grantees to submit interim reports and/or attend an LMCC grant clinic (one-on-one grant assistance) to maintain eligibility to apply.
Appeals Process
Applicants may appeal decisions in writing within ten (10) days of funding notifications. Applicants must request an appeal in writing, effectively arguing the case for appeals based on the criteria below. Dissatisfaction with either an unfavorable decision or the recommended level of support cannot be used as an appeal.
Grounds for appeals are limited to the following:
- Misrepresentation of information: an applicant’s information was improperly presented by LMCC staff in a way that may have adversely affected the review process
- Non-presentation of information: the applicant’s information was not presented by LMCC staff prior to or as part of the panel’s decision-making process
- Improper procedure: conflict of interest on part of a panelist
Application Instructions
We are pleased to announce that The Fund for Creative Communities application can now be completed and submitted online. However, certain supporting documents will need to be mailed or delivered in hard copy to complete the application. Applicants must complete both an Online Application Form AND submit organizational documents by mail before 5PM on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.
Follow these THREE STEPS to apply:
STEP 1: READ
Thoroughly read all sections of these program guidelines before starting the application process. Make sure your project is eligible for consideration before you apply.
STEP 2: COMPLETE and SUBMIT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
You may view the Online Application Form at any time. Unfinished applications can be saved online and resumed at a later time through an user email and password system. Application forms are not considered final until submitted.
The Online Application Form includes the following sections:
- Applicant Profile: Submit general information including: contact information, electoral district numbers, funding history, annual operating budgets and demographic information. Applicants with fiscal sponsors should provide the sponsor’s general information.
- Project Profile: Submit important details about your proposed project, including project venue/location, project summary, artistic discipline and audience information.
- Applicant Narrative: Describe your overall mission, constituents, history, partners and goals.
- Project Narrative: Describe in detail the essentials of your project and how you plan to promote it and carry it out successfully. Include biographies of key artistic personnel.
- Project Timeline: Submit a timeline for planning & carrying out your project. Be sure to include the anticipated date(s) of your public event(s).
- Project Budget: List your project expenses, income and in-kind contributions.
- Work Samples: Upload or provide weblinks to samples of past or current work. Applicants who only have CD or DVD recordings can submit them by mail or deliver in person to LMCC. Include written details for each sample. See Work Sample Instructions at the end of this page for complete instructions on preparing your work samples.
- Certification of Application: Verify the information in the application form and confirm you have attended an information session.
STEP 3: MAIL OR DELIVER OR ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS
In addition to completing the Online Application Form, you must submit by mail or deliver in person one (1) printed copy of each of the following items for your organization or fiscal sponsor.
- Required documents include:
- Item 1. Proof of nonprofit status for your organization or fiscal sponsor. Choose ONE (1) of the following options:
a. Letter of determination of 501(c)(3) status from U.S. Internal Revenue Service
b. Form: BSM 189 from the Department of State
c. Certificate from the NY State Office of Charity Registration
d. Certificate of Incorporation under NY State Section 402 (Non-profit) e. Charter issued by Board of Regents under NY State Section 216 (Education) - Item 2. Board of directors and staff list
- Item 3. Audited financial statement for most recently completed fiscal year or, if unavailable, a copy of the most recently filed IRS Form 990, signed by your treasurer, bookkeeper or accountant
- Item 4. Projected organizational budget for the fiscal year in which the proposed project takes place (i.e. FY12 or FY13)
- Item 5. One set of support materials related to the project or the applicant. Examples include press clippings or printed promotional materials. 5 printed pages or items maximum.
- Item 6. If you are using a fiscal sponsor for this application, submit a signed letter from your fiscal sponsor confirming the relationship.
- Item 7. Include your work sample CDs or DVDs if you are not submitting audio or video samples online.
**Submit documents and work samples disks (if applicable) in ONE package received (not postmarked) by LMCC before the application deadline: 5PM, Tuesday, September 13, 2011. **
Submit to:
Fund for Creative Communities
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
125 Maiden Lane, Second Floor
New York, NY 10038
Work Sample Instructions
Work samples are a critical element of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that best represents your work and relates to the proposed project. The grant review panel will spend approximately five minutes reviewing your work samples.
The aim of the work sample is to bring the panel as close as possible to an actual experience of the work. Submit samples of work created and/or presented in the last three years. Do not submit edited promotional or interview materials.
Work Sample Formats
Submit samples of past and current work through the Online Application Form in ONE (1) of the following formats, based on the discipline or form of your projects. Contact our staff if you wish to combine formats.
PERFORMING ARTS, FILM, MEDIA AND OTHER TIME-BASED PROJECTS
Submit recordings via YouYube, Vimeo or SoundCloud: 2 samples maximum
Submit for up to two (2) recordings of past/current works or projects in performing, media, music, film or other time-based art forms. LMCC accepts time-based samples in two formats:
- Weblinks to video or audio clips hosted on external sites, preferably YouTube.com, Vimeo.com, SoundCloud.com.
- You must include these links in the Online Application Form.
- Samples should be accessible online through February 2012.
- Do NOT submit personal website URLs.
- CDs or DVDs, mailed or delivered to LMCC offices before the application deadline.
- Indicate in the Online Application Form that you are submitting CDs or DVDs.
- Mail or deliver your work samples disks to LMCC before the application deadline.
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) if you want the samples to be returned to you.
- Label your CD/DVD as "[applicant name]: Sample #". Use a permanent marker. Do not submit stickers on DVDs or CDs as these can jam equipment.
The selection panel will view each recording for up to 2.5 minutes. However, we encourage you to submit full-length work, if possible. Provide a cue point for any work sample that is longer than three (3) minutes total. Theater artists without video documentation should consult the staff about alternative work sample formats.
- LITERARY PROJECTS
- Upload manuscripts: 10 pages maximum
- Upload samples of scripts, poetry or prose in one (1) document no more than ten (10) pages in PDF, Microsoft Word or JPEG format. Maximum file size: 5MB. The manuscript must be typed, in 8 1/2” x 11” page formatting. Minimum font size is 12pt.
- File name must begin with applicant name, e.g. ApplicantNameWritingSample.pdf.
- VISUAL ARTS PROJECTS
- Upload images: 10 maximum
- Submit documentation of past/current works or projects in painting, sculpture, photography or other image-based art forms.
- Submit a maximum of ten (10) digital images. Images must be in JPEG format, no larger than 800 x 800 pixels at 72dpi. File size for each image should not exceed 2MB. Each filename should be saved as “Applicant Name #” (e.g. ArtsOrg01.jpg, ArtsOrg02.jpg, etc.).
Questions or Technical Issues?
Contact Haowen Wang, Program Manager, Grants & Services 212-219-9401 x129 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
