Funding Your Art: Grant Writing in the Arts
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Transcript Funding Your Art: Grant Writing in the Arts
A Guide to
Grant Writing in the Arts
Presented by the
MSU Writing Center
Grace Bernhardt and Brit Austin
Our Objectives for Today
To give you a brief overview of
the grant writing process;
To provide you with resources
to start your grant-seeking
process.
Overview of The Grant Writing Process
Define your project
Locate appropriate funding sources
Read through proposal guidelines
Contact the funding agency
Develop a plan
Write the proposal
Submit the proposal
Follow up
Define Your Project
You must start the process by
defining what it is you want to do
and why.
Identify a need for the work you
want to do.
Locate Funding Sources
With a project in mind, begin
researching grant agencies.
Michigan sources:
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
General Motors Grants (for organizations)
Other states:
Kentucky Foundation for Women
Arts Midwest
Locate Funding Sources
Determine grantmakers’ goals,
objectives, and priorities.
If your project does not match their goals,
you are less likely to be funded.
Read through Guidelines
Thoroughly read and understand the
guidelines!
Make sure you are eligible!
Note things like the submission deadline,
page limit, required attachments!
Note the format that your proposal should
be in!
Contact the Funding Agency
Making personal contact is a good way to
make yourself stand out.
Ask for clarification or further explanation
of the guidelines.
The Pieces of a Proposal
Determine what pieces you will need to
include in your proposal.
Cover sheet,
Narratives:
Needs assessment,
Project goals and objectives,
Methodology,
Evaluation,
Budget/Funding Requirements,
Qualifications,
Conclusion,
Appendices.
Cover sheet
One page
Typed on letterhead
Overview of the organization
Purpose and reason for funding request
Amount of the funding request
Show how you meet the grant makers
goals and mission
Narratives
Narratives answer:
What do we want?
What concern will be addressed and why it is
important?
Who will benefit and how?
What specific objectives can be accomplished
and how?
How will results be measured?
How does this funding request relate to the
funder’s purpose, objectives, and priorities?
Who are we (organization, independent
producer) and how do we qualify to meet this
need?
Needs assessment
Problem Statement
3-4 Pages
Purpose, goals, measurable objectives, and
a compelling, logical reason why the
proposal should be supported.
Background provides perspective and is
often a welcome component.
Project goals and objectives
1–2 pages
Describe the proposed project outcome and
accomplishments.
Include:
your overall goal(s)
specific objectives or ways in which you
will meet the goal(s).
Methodology
4+ pages
Restatement of problems and objectives.
Clear description and explanation of
program/project scope and activities.
If relevant to the project state the
sequence of activities, staffing, clients, and
client selection.
Time line of activities.
Evaluation
In general:
1-2 pages
Determine the plan for meeting
performance and producing the
program/project.
Justify how you will measure the
effectiveness of your activities.
State the expected outcome/achievement
at the end of funding period.
Evaluation (cont’d)
Evaluations should include
Plan for evaluating accomplishment
of objectives.
Plan for modifying process and
methodology.
Provide methods - criteria, data,
instruments, analysis.
In some cases:
Some grantmakers require very technical
measurements of results. Inquire about
expectations.
Budget/Funding Requirements
Most grants will require you to submit a
budget which lays out how you will
allocate the money if awarded the grant.
Be sure to only include items that the
funder will cover--some funders will not
cover administrative or overhead costs.
Present a reasonable and well-thought
out budget.
Some funders will supply a form to fill
out.
Qualifications
Your qualifications will show your
past projects and work that make
you qualified to carry out the
proposed project.
Typically you will include a copy of
your resume or CV.
Conclusion
Summarize the important points of
your project proposal and highlight
why you should be funded.
Be convincing!
Appendices
The attachments to your proposal
will vary but often include:
letters of support,
proof of tax exempt status if you are
part of a non-profit organization, or
other financial documents.
How to Describe your Project
Make clear …
What project you wish to
undertake,
Why this proposed work is
meaningful and valuable to others
in the field or the public,
Who you are and why you are
qualified to undertake the
proposed project,
How to Describe your Project (cont’)
What you have previously worked
on,
How you plan to accomplish your
objectives,
How your funding request fits with
the grantmaker’s purpose and
objectives.
Writing Style
Use clear language in describing
your proposed project.
Limit jargon that your reader might
not be familiar with and explain
terms as needed.
Be persuasive!
Convince them your work is valuable
Include pieces of your previous work
when possible
Submit your Proposal
Plan to submit your proposal before
the submission deadline.
Follow all guidelines for submission
make sure your proposal is in the correct
format and submitted the correct way (by
mail, electronically etc.)
Follow Up with the Grant Agency
Confirm they received your proposal.
Inquire as to any next steps.
Mistakes to Avoid
Starting too late
Not following instructions
Applying for the wrong grant or not
meeting eligibility requirements
Missing deadlines
An underdeveloped project
Bad grammar, punctuation, spelling
Not learning from past grant applications
Proposal Writing Online Courses (for a fee)
Foundation Center
http://fdncenter.org/getstarted/learnabo
ut/proposalwriting.html
Money for Art.com
http://www.moneyforart.com
WRA 451: Grant and Proposal Writing at
MSU
Grant Agencies in Michigan
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
General Motors Grants
http://mott.org/programs/programs.asp
provide “support to organizations that
promote appreciation of the arts,
recognition of diverse cultures and
awareness of arts in education programs.”
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/c
ommunity/guidelines/index.html
Top 50 Michigan Foundations that Give
Grants
http://www.tgci.com/grants/Michigan/foun
dations.asp
Grant Agencies in Michigan, cont’d
Michigan Community Foundations
www.forgoodforever.org/Community
Grants.htm
Grant Agencies in Other States
Idaho Commission on the Arts
www.arts.idaho.gov/grants
Kentucky Foundation for Women
www.kfw.org
Grant Funding Databases
National Endowment for the Arts
Database:
http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/index.html
Foundation Center
Database: http://fdncenter.org/findfunders/
E-newsletter: http://fdncenter.org/afw/
Creative Capital
www.creative-capital.org
Grant Funding Databases (cont’d)
MSU Database
NYFA Interactive
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3arts.h
tm
http://www.nyfa.org/nyfa_source.asp?id=47&fi
d=1
Arts Midwest
http://www.artsmidwest.org/funders/funders.asp
http://www.artsmidwest.org/links/links.asp
Proposal Writing Tips
Arts Resource Network
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
http://www.artsresourcenetwork.org/professio
nal_growth/business_of_art/grant_proposal_w
riting.asp
http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html
Arts and Humanities Proposal Writing
http://www.research.umich.edu/humanities/wr
ite.html
Fellowships and Internships
MSU Graduate School
MSU Arts & Letters:
http://www.metmuseum.org/education/fellows
hip.html
National Gallery of Art in D.C.
http://www.cal.msu.edu/portals/GraduateFundi
ng.htm
Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.C.
http://www.grad.msu.edu/funding.htm
http://www.nga.gov/education/interned.shtm
The Getty in L.A.
http://www.getty.edu/research/scholarly_activi
ties/
Further Questions?
MSU Writing Center
[email protected]
http://writing.msu.edu
Phone: 517-432-3610
Or
Walk In