2012 Impact-Based Grantmaking Applications and Processes
In 2011, a team of key stakeholders, including community volunteers, arts partners, and ArtsWave leadership, spent many months considering how to make changes to the grantmaking process, while being sensitive to the needs of our arts community.
Working in concert with local and national experts, ArtsWave developed a set of key outcomes for the community that we believe local arts organizations can help us achieve. Our ultimate goal is to increase investment in the ArtsWave Community Campaign and in its arts organizations because more investment in the arts will lead to greater economic vibrancy and a more connected and engaged community.
We are excited to be leading a local and national conversation about measuring the value of the arts. Foundations and funders here in greater Cincinnati and across the nation are changing their priorities to fund projects and organizations that demonstrate impact. Ultimately, we believe that funding, measuring, and sharing the impact of the arts in our community will lead to increased public support for ArtsWave’s annual community campaign and for our local arts organizations.
Working together, ArtsWave and the arts and culture groups supported by the community campaign will gather data that demonstrates how a lively arts scene creates vibrant neighborhoods and brings people together.
Below is a simple guide to lead you through the various steps of this new grantmaking process. The bulk of the content is contained in the links and the attachments, so please be thorough in your initial review.
Once you have noted your questions and comments, you may call Teri Haught at 513-632-0122 or email at teri.haught@TheArtsWave.org, or Heather Hallenberg at 513-632-0128 or email heather.hallenberg@TheArtsWave.org for more information and clarification.
Along the way, ArtsWave is open to suggestions for simplifying and improving the process. Thank you for continuing with us on this journey.
Note: This process is for non-profit organizations with requests over $10,000. For a $10,000 and under Project Grant application, please click here.
Basic Steps:
1. If the applicant organization is unfamiliar with the ArtsWave publication The Arts Ripple Effect: A Research-Based Strategy to Build Shared Responsibility for the Arts, a visit to the Research Report Page or a review of the Report’s Executive Summary is a recommended first step.
2. Next, scan the 2012 ArtsWave Grantmaking Review Calendar to ensure that you have the resources available to meet deadline expectations, the most important of those being Tuesday, January 31 (Letter of Interest (LOI) due) and Monday, April 2 (Application due). Note dates for supplemental workshops and Q&A sessions.
3. Moving forward, it is important to understand the Guiding Principles that ArtsWave has adhered to in developing this grantmaking process.
4. Additionally, it is vital for you to have a thorough understanding of how your organization meets the Minimum Eligibility and Application Requirements for a particular Annual Impact Grant Size. The following cautionary reminder may help in your selection of the most appropriate Impact Grant Size and subsequent Applicant Requirements for your organization.
Note: due to transition funding commitments to former Member and Associate Member organizations, it is unlikely that ArtsWave will be able to provide significantly increased support to a new or currently funded organization in the first two-year cycle of funding under the new impact based funding model unless the community campaign growth results in significant more dollars available for distribution.
5. If your organization can meet the Applicant Requirements in the appropriate time frame, the next step is to review the Letter of Interest Guidelines and submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by Tuesday, January 31, 2012.
The LOI process is being introduced to provide early guidance to organizations relative to eligibility, proposal’s alignment with ArtsWave’s Arts Community Impact Agenda, realistic grant request range based on available dollars, and relative strength of LOI compared to other applicants. Applicants will be notified by Friday, February 17, 2012, whether or not they are invited to submit an application and which application they should complete.
6. Invited organizations will be asked to complete Application 1 for requests in excess of $50,000 or Application 2 for requests for $10,000 through $49,999. Read Application Guidelines thoroughly before preparing either Application 1 or 2. Both submissions are due on Monday, April 2, 2012. Notification of awards will be made in mid-June.
7. Of additional interest are the scorecard templates for each application: Application 1 Scorecard and Application 2 Scorecard. Depending on the size of the final award, there are (Sample) ArtsWave Marketing, Campaign and Recognition Policies for Grants $250,000 and over and for Grants $10,000 through $249,999 and expectations that will require fulfillment.
List of Documents:
Letter of Interest Guidelines
Letter of Interest Application
Research Report Page
2012 ArtsWave Grantmaking Review Calendar
Guiding Principles
Applicant Requirements
Application Guidelines
Arts Community Impact Agenda
Application 1 for Grant Requests of $50,000 or more
Application 2 for Grant Requests between $10,000 and $49,999
Application 1 Scorecard for Grant Requests of $50,000 or more
Application 2 Scorecard for Grant Requests between $10,000 and $49,999
Recognition for grants $250,000 and over
Recognition for grants $10,000 through $249,999
Outcomes, Activities, Outcome Measures, Data Sources Summary Spreadsheet
OCDP Mapping Report
