What is the process to review a grant?

Part of the job of Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust board members and the executive director is to review each grant based on the Trust’s review criteria and then have a discussion at the meeting about what people liked in an application or where there could be improvement. “What’s super hard it that Ely is a small community where most of us know each other,” stated Keiko Williams, the executive director. “So while we try to be objective and look at just what is written or proposed in a grant narrative, it is sometimes hard not to bring up personal feelings or knowledge about an artist or project during a discussion. Therefore the review process is being updated a bit this year to help board members assess applications more consistently and fairly. This updated process is part of the Trust’s ongoing work to keep its grant program as current and effective as possible.”
 
The Trust’s review criteria has been adapted to fit into just three categories, which will be weighted by importance. For instance, how well an artist or project provides Community Impact will now be worth 40% of the total grant rating. Artistic Quality, Merit and Need is worth 30% of the total grant rating, and Ability/Feasibility of the project is also 30%.
 
The Trust’s updated grant review criteria is listed below:
COMMUNITY IMPACT--40%
  • Project brings new opportunities or events to the community.
  • Project provides a measurable benefit to the community.
  • Project has Educational Quality—expands knowledge/appreciation of the fine arts.
  • The Trust encourages projects that impact or engage children and families.
  • The Trust encourages collaboration between artists and organizations.

ARTISTIC QUALITY, MERIT and NEED of the project and artists involved.--30%
  • Artistic quality is based on the quality of the artists involved in the project.
  • A project demonstrates merit by being closely aligned to the artistic/organization goals and current abilities, or the anticipated impact of the opportunity on the artists’/organizations’ work or career.
  • Artist/organization must demonstrate/clearly outline how this project will enhance development of artists or that of the audience it serves.

ABILITY/FEASIBILITY of the artist/organization to carry out the project.--30%
  • The artist/organization must demonstrate an ability to accomplish the project or program as described.
  • Ability is demonstrated by providing evidence of a planning process, the qualifications of the artistic personnel (resumes), publicity efforts and previous successful efforts carried out by the artist/organization.
  • Is the budget feasible?
  • Does the artist/organization describe adequate plans to let the public know about the project.
 
Individual artists should note that their application guidelines lists examples of how an artist might provide community impact or give back to the community as part of their grant award.