The Operational Operation Grant program provides grants to high-quality, established Ely-area arts organizations that produce or present fine arts activities or provide services to artists.
Description
This program recognizes that organizations with an established record of programmatic service and administrative stability should have access to funds to support their organizational goals and objectives, rather than specific projects. This program makes funding available to qualified organizations to maintain or increase their ongoing programs, services, and facilities.
An Operational Funding grant will cover the eleven (11) month period following the date you are notified of your award. Final reports are due 30 days after the completion of your grant year. If you are applying the following year, final reports are due one month before the grant round meeting.
Organizations may apply for UP TO fifteen percent (15%) of their operating cash expenses for their most recently completed fiscal year.
Who May Apply?
To be eligible to apply to this program, an arts organization or group must:
be a federal non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)3 arts organization located in Ely or the surrounding area with an operating board and member term limits;
be an arts producing, arts presenting, or artist service agency, dedicated primarily to the fine arts ("Primarily" is defined as more than 75% of your organization’s activities must be solely dedicated to the arts);
be legally incorporated and registered as a non-profit in the State of Minnesota;
have received at least two Trust project grants prior to making an application to this program;
have at least one designated administrative staff person (volunteer or paid) or designated grant project director.
What kind of expenses may be funded by this program?
This list is intended to help you understand the purpose of the operational funding program and is NOT a complete list of eligible opportunities.
Pay general operating expenses (rent, insurance, supplies, utilities, travel, etc.).
Hire paid staff for the first time or increase current staff’s time or pay.
Purchase equipment that will help accomplish your organization’s artistic and administrative goals.
Pay for board and staff training or long-range planning.
The following organizations are INELIGIBLE to apply for this funding:
Schools, universities or for-profit organizations.
Trust grant recipients with an overdue final report.
Funding from this program can not be used to support activities that:
require artists to pay excessive entry fees to exhibit or perform;
are designed for a private audience which is not open to the general public;
replace or substitute for basic arts or music curriculum in public schools;
serves as a benefit or fund raiser;
The Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust has attempted to provide a thorough and clear articulation of its eligibility rules but reserves the right to declare an application ineligible for reasons not explicitly stated here. If you have questions about the eligibility of your grant, please contact us.
Review Criteria
The Trust board will use the following criteria to evaluate your application.
Artistic Excellence and Leadership
This criteria applies to:
the qualities and characteristics of the organization's artistic activities or services;
the effectiveness and appropriateness of the activities to the organization's mission statement
how the activities help the art form and artists to develop;
evidence of artistic impact in the community or region;
opportunities for the involvement and support of artists; and
the qualifications of the individuals responsible for the artistic administrative leadership of the organization.
Management and Fiscal Responsibility
This criteria applies to:
organizational stability;
board composition and roles;
staff qualifications and responsibilities (paid or volunteer);
board commitment to a balanced budget;
evidence of sound financial planning and marketing in support of the artistic programs;
evidence of a planning and evaluation process;
evidence of a long-term planning process; and
evidence the organization is addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with the artistic/fine arts discipline it serves and the availability of resources.
Community Accessibility
This criteria applies to:
the services and programs that are approachable and available to a broad public audience;
efforts to create community understanding and awareness of works of art and arts programming; and
the role of the organization and its leaders as advocates for the arts in the community.
Application Narrative
The narrative portion of the application is designed to help your organization address the review criteria listed above. Please provide the following information about your organization. Please be as concise as possible.
Provide a brief 1-3 sentence description of how the funds will be used. (Programming, administration, staff, equipment purchase, etc.)
Provide an overview and organizational summary.
Provide your organization's artistic mission statement.
Summarize your organizational plan for the next 1-2 years by listing and briefly describing your major goals and objectives. Who is involved and consulted when working on these short and long-term planning processes.
Describe how your organization evaluates its operations and programs.
Describe any plans your organization has to maintain or broaden its audience or membership.
Describe your organization's recent activity. Describe your administrative and programming highlights for its most recently completed fiscal year. Please feel free to attach program or publicity copies.
Provide administrative information. Include a brief description of the board of directors and its role in helping the organization achieve and strengthen its fiscal and management goals.
A list of principal artistic and administrative personnel for this grant; including name and title, paid or volunteer.
A list of current board members, terms, and one or two lines of biographical information.
Provide financial information.
Explain the reasons for a change of 20% or more from one year to another in any operating expense or revenue category.
Comment on the existing or potential commitment of any surplus funds accumulated by your organization.
If your organization has a deficit, describe the reason for its existence, and the plans for its reduction or elimination.
If applicable, describe any short and long-term debt liabilities.
A profit-loss / expense-revenue report for your most recently completed fiscal year.
A board approved proposed budget/expense-revenue report for the upcoming year.
If you have a large budget for the next year, please also provide a smaller itemized budget for the grant work to be completed. Clearly show where Trust funds will be used.
Timeline
Board decisions and award contracts will be mailed within 30 days after the application deadline. The Trust
will make funds available within 4 weeks of receiving signed award contracts