Facts that can strengthen grant proposals

‘Tis the season of grant application deadlines, at least in my world. Here are some bits of information you might not think to include in a grant but that can strengthen the way you are portraying yourself to potential funders.

How many performers, artists, and arts professionals does your organization employ each year?
In a weak economy, providing paid work to members of your community has merit. My theatre, for example, performs only 3 to 4 productions annually, but we end up employing over 200 actors, musicians, crew members, and other theatre artists. Include this information in your organizational background section if it helps show the scope of your work.

Is there a board or outside committee that oversees your outreach programming?
Many organizations have an Education or Outreach Committee, but as grant writers we often forget to mention this in applications. If you have such a committee, include a brief line about it to show the funder that your board is committed to this programming. A sample statement might say:

“An Education Committee, comprised of board members as well as local educators and school administrators, meets four times annually to evaluate the impact of our education programs.”


Who is developing your program, and what are his or her qualifications?
I frequently write grants requesting support for arts outreach programs. Most of these ask specific questions about the “what?” rather than the “who?” but I always include a short statement that mentions who is designing the program and who is implementing it. I think it helps show that this is a program created specifically for the strengths of my organization and the needs of its constituents, not just some program-in-a-box. A sample statement is:

“The curriculum is designed by So-and-So, who has been a public school arts educator since 2001 and has published articles in XYZ on teaching art in urban areas. So-and-So-#2, who has a bachelors degree in education from XYZ coordinates and implements the program.”

Good luck with your grant writing!