The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission's Small Grants Program provides support to qualified non-profit, arts related organizations for specific arts-related projects in Bethlehem. The Program was established to further the mission of the Fine Arts Commission, which is to provide leadership in the arts through advocacy, education, and celebration. The objectives of the Small Grants Program are to encourage new works of art, educational programs, and/or other arts-related activities on behalf of organizations in Bethlehem or which have a Bethlehem-based activity.
GUIDELINES
The Small Grants Committee welcomes submissions from arts organizations in support of projects/events targeted primarily for Bethlehem, PA audiences and/or participants.
The grant application form should include: organization's purpose, primary service areas, title of the project/event, description of project/event, and target audience/beneficiaries, along with a budget pertaining to to the project/event.
Requests should be be in amounts $1,000 or less
Completed requests should be submitted no later than March 31st to:
Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, P. O. Box 1851, Bethlehem, PA 18016
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to receive a grant from the Fine Arts Commission's Small Grants Program, the following criteria must be met:
* The applicant must be a non-profit organization or represent a non-profit organization
* The organization must be arts-related or create a program that is art-related in fulfillment of
its mission
* The organization must have a Board of Directors and a mission statement
* The organization must be Bethlehem-based or have a Bethlehem-based performance and/or
exhibit. Organizations are limited to a single grant award each application cycle.
NOTE: Organizations that have received a prior award from the Fine Arts Commission must have submitted a final report for that project. Failure to submit the required report renders an organization ineligible for the Small Grant Program for a period of three years.
INELIGIBLE REQUESTS
Proposals for grants from the Small Grants Program must be for a specific arts-related project. Grants will not be accepted for the following:
* Capital campaigns
* Annual operating expenses
* Payment on buildings or a reduction of acquired debt of an organization.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Any organization wishing to receive a grant must submit a formal proposal no later than March 31 for activities occurring in that calendar year.
The proposal must include the following:
1. Organizational data, including name, address, phone number, email address, and contact
person.
2. The organization's purpose and primary service areas.
3. The title and a detailed description of the project to be funded.
4. The dates and duration of the project.
5. The amount of cash support requested for the project.
6. The project's target audience, (i.e., who will benefit from the project's presentation and how).
7. The goal or objective of the project and how it relates to the organization's mission.
The proposal must also include the following attachments:
* A complete financial budget for the project, including other sources of revenue supporting the
specific project being proposed.
* List of Board Members and Officers.
* Organization's mission statement.
* Financial statement for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year.
PROPOSAL DUE DATE:March 31st
Applications received after March 31 will not be reviewed.
Funding Levels -- Requests for up to $500 will be considered. However, because of budgetary constraints, the Commission expects that some awards will be for smaller amounts.
AWARDS CRITERIA
The Small Grants Program committee will review all applications for grants submitted by March 31, and make formal recommendations for awards to the Fine Arts Commission at its regular meeting the first week of May. In its review of grant applications, the Small Grants Program committee will judge the applicants in the following areas:
* Eligibility --does the applicant organization meet the eligibility criteria listed in the Guidelines
(including submission of a final report for a prior award.
* Purpose of Project --does the project conform to the objectives of the Fine Arts Commission.
* Information Provided --has all the information requested in the Guidelines been supplied.
* Funding Requested --is funding requested for an eligible activity and is the funding level
appropriate for the activity proposed.
* Relative Need --what is the relative need in comparison with other requests.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS
Applicants will be notified of the Commission's decision by letter following the Commission's May meeting. There will be a formal presentation of awards to successful applicants by the Fine Arts Commission Chairman at the annual Tribute to the Arts Luncheon in May.
FINAL REPORT
Each successful applicant for a Fine Arts Commission grant must submit two copies of a written final report, which includes a brief narrative report on the outcomes of the project and a brief financial report stating the full costs of the project and how the Commission's funds were used. The report should be submitted to the Fine Arts Commission within 90 days of project completion. Failure to submit the report will eliminate the organization from participating in the Small Grants Program for a period of 3 years. The final report should be submitted to: Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, P.O. Box 1851, Bethlehem, PA 18016.
If you have further questions, please call Bob Cohen at (610) 867-1818
