I got some unfortunate news via email yesterday: "We didn’t get the grant." In November, I applied for funding from an Alaskan foundation. I thought the project proposal was strong: in three rural Southeast Alaska Native communities, guiding youths in conducting community/elder interviews about their cultural history and identity, then working with the young people to create and produce a play based on those interviews. The grant was available only to applicant organizations, not to individuals, so I asked the leadership of an Alaskan theatre company if we could apply together. They agreed. The theatre was a natural fit for a host for this project, but the staff--overwhelmed as ever with productions, fundraising, etcetera--failed to submit a complete application in the very limited time we had. They were short one letter of support. I scrambled to help, and submitted a letter about one week late.
I’m frustrated, because it seems likely that our application wasn’t even considered because the theatre submitted it late.
I have renewed interest and enthusiasm for creating a non-profit organization of my own. As I imagine it, this organization would
- Function as a virtual/philosophical gathering place for Alaskan teaching artists and community artists
- Give artists like me a structure from which they could apply for projects that require an organizational application rather than an individual
It would also
- have no physical home
- function under the 501(c)3 umbrella of the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council
- have no staff and no overhead
- begin with the membership of a core group of invited artists
- potentially evolve in future years into a more complex entity
What are your thoughts, Rubics?
Do you have any ideas, inputs, challenges for me?
Any model organizations I should investigate?
What are some promising Next Steps?
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Thanks for posting. Here's a Bay Area organization very similar to what you are proposing
http://www.teachingartistsorganized.org/
I have more comments but too tired to be coherent. I'll get back to you soon.
-Constance
thank you, constance!
ReplyDeletei'm going to check this out as a possible model. i appreciate the link--and your taking time to read the good ol' blog...
happy new year to you, too.
ryan
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!
I'm sorry to hear that you did not get the grant. Did you contact the foundation and request panel comments. A record is usually kept and sometimes the panel is willing to share comments depending on the foundation's policy.
Have you looked into fiscal sponsorship? That way you can apply for grants without having the 501 c 3 status. It's commendable that you want to start a nonprofit organization, but just be careful with the amount of administrative time that might be needed. You might want to investigate other alternatives first and have a town hall sort of meeting to see what kind of obstacles other teaching artists are coming across.
I recommend looking at Fractured Atlas, an arts service organization that fiscally sponsors organizations. Unfortunately I think only for New York based organizations. Also look at similar projects to yours and where they received their funding that will give you an idea of where to seek funding.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps.
Chanika