| Grant Application Form |
| NWRDC/McKnight Small Capital |
Fiscal Years 2008
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008
DEADLINES
August 1, 2007
November 1, 2008
February 1, 2008 (if funds available)
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council
Northwest Regional Development Commission
115 South Main
Warren, MN 56762
(218) 745-6733
Instructions for Completing the Grant Application Form
1.
Before filling out this form, read the Small Capital guidelines at the end of this page.Please print out and read the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s Program Guidelines for more information on compliance requirements, the Council’s review criteria, and other important information about all our grants programs.
2.
The information requested in this form is needed for the Arts Council to adequately review your request for grant funds. Please answer, as completely as possible, all questions. The applicant is responsible for the quality and scope of responses.Suggestion for working with on-line application: Print out all the application pages first. Fill in the entire application with pencil as a draft. When satisfied, type your final information into the form and print. Make sure you send the completed form and all attachments to our office by the deadline date. (You will not be able to save your information into the form for future use.)
3. If space on the application form is inadequate, attach additional sheet(s), do not attempt to make the boxes larger than they appear on the form .
4. Send in the mail to our office one original of the grant application.
5. Applications must be postmarked by the deadline dates listed on the cover above to be eligible. Remember that it takes our office two months to process the grant application so your activity dates must be two months after the deadline in order to qualify.
6. E-mail your grant questions to mara@nwrdc.org or call Mara Wittman at 218-745-6733. Remember that only arts non-profit organizations with official addresses within our seven county service area are eligible to apply, they include the Minnesota counties: Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.
Small Capital Grant Application Form
GENERAL INFORMATION
Through the McKnight Foundation Arts Funding Plan, the Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC) will provide, on a competitive basis, funding to arts organizations in the seven counties of Region 1 (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Penn
ington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau). $5,000.00 is available to be awarded in Fiscal Year 2008 July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008).With the McKnight Foundation funds, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s goal is to help arts organizations improve their artistic resources and facilities. The Council also serves to assist in the growth of quality of the arts so that all the residents in the region can have access to and enjoy a variety of art forms as creators, participants, consumers, and audiences.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to apply for an NWRDC/McKnight Small Capital Grant each applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. The applicant must be an arts organization located in Region 1 and classified by the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) as tax-exempt nonprofit. The applicant must have Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Minnesota.
2. Applicant must be a professional or semi-professional regional arts organization administratively independent of state or national affiliation. (Example: A local chapter of a national group or a department of a state or private college or university is not eligible for this support.)
3. The organization must have been actively programming for at least two consecutive years.
4. The applicant must be arts producing with at least a six-month season, including planning and production or event.
5. A complete and accurate application providing all requested information must be submitted. The proposed budget must be accurate, detailed and appropriate to the purpose of the project.
6. The application must be postmarked by the deadline date indicated in the cover page of this material.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
1. Application for NWRDC/McKnight Small Capital funds may be made for the improvement of facilities. This may include equipment and small capital costs, excluding the purchase or major renovation of buildings or general maintenance/repair costs.
2. Application for NWRDC/McKnight Small Capital funds may be made for the improvement of the capacity of the arts organization by the purchase of long-life items.
3. Requests must be for items which are generally adaptable, i.e. usable for more than one performance or display.
4. The organization purchasing any items with NWRDC/McKnight Small Capital funds must agree to secure and maintain the purchased items:
a. The model number, serial number, and description of any purchased items must be on file with the NWRDC office.
b. If the organization ceases to use the purchased item, the NWRDC office must be notified so that the item can be transferred to another arts organization.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Preference for funding will be given to:
• Organizations which conduct more than one arts event per year.
• "Community-based" arts organizations rather than those associated with schools and/or units of government.
• Requests to purchase "specifically arts-related" items such as sound and lighting equipment, visual art display stands, etc. over "not specifically arts-related" items such as storage cabinets, tools, office equipment, etc.
FUNDING RESTRICTIONS
Applications for grant assistance will not be accepted for review if any of the following con
ditions exist:• The project is of benefit primarily to students.
• Funds are requested to reduce or eliminate accumulated deficits.
• Funds are requested for projects which impact primarily beyond the boundaries of Region 1.
• The project is primarily for the religious socialization of the participants.
• The applicant has a report overdue from a past award given by the NWRDC.
• The project has been implemented beyond the planning stages prior to the project starting date specified by the NWRDC in the grant application instructions.
GRANTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
If a grant is received, the grantee must:
1. Sign and submit to the NWRDC the NWRDC/McKnight Arts Contract and the Request for Payment Form.
2. Include the following credit line in all advertising, news releases, printed programs, and promotional material:
"This activity is funded by a grant from the McKnight Foundation through the Northwest Regional Development Commission."
3. Expend funds for the project specifically described in the grant application, or as amended by NWRDC/grantee agreement. The project must be carried out as described in the grant application and budget. Any changes must be requested and approved, in writing and in advance, with the NWRDC. (If you have any questions about what constitutes a change, please call the Arts Council Director.)
4. Be legally responsible for the completion of the project and for the proper management of the grant funds.
5. Provide access to the NWRDC to any books, documents, papers, and records regarding the granted project in the case of an audit or evaluation of the project. The records and supporting documents must be retained for a period of three (3) years following the completion of the project.
6. Submit a final report on the form provided within 60 days of issuance of the grant check.
7. Assure that the project will be accessible to all people regardless of national origin, race, religion, age or sex.
DEFINITIONS:
"Project Director" is the person designated by the applicant organization as responsible for overseeing the implementation of the proposed project. This person is responsible for the timely submission of all required forms and reports to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council. The project director should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the proposed project, as the Arts Council may need to contact this person with questions specific to the application, the budget, or the project itself. This person must be different from the "Authorizing Official".
"Authorizing Official" is that person empowered to enter into contract for the applicant organization. This person is usually the board chairperson or president. This person must be different from the "Project Director", so that two people sign the application.
"Project Starting Date" is when a financial commitment has been made toward the project. Projects for which there has been any kind of financial commitment prior to the grant round’s "Earliest Starting Date" on the Application Deadline Schedule will not be eligible for funding.
Contact the Regional Arts Council office if you have questions on the application!!!
Please call or email if you need more information on these reporting requirements. 218-745-6733 or mara@nwrdc.org