AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

YELLOW HOUSE FUND ART EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM

The Yellow House Fund will award three year grants to eligible local, state and/or national organizations in the United States (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands), in increments of $10,000 per year for three years, up to $30,000 through a competitive RFP process. The first round of awardees will be announced in December 2011. Grantees will be allowed to use grant funds for the duration of the project period, which is not to exceed three years*. Exceptions may be granted at the Fund's discretion when supported by a compelling case.

Deadlines:
Proposal: 11:59 PM EST, October 15, 2011
First round of awardees announced: no later than December 31, 2011

Where to Submit:
All proposals must be submitted online at yhfgrants2011@gmail.com

Questions:
Email your question to yhfgrants2011@gmail.com or fax to (415) 820-1491. Please allow one business day for a response.
The Fund will respond to questions about the RFP and potential projects to be funded, including questions submitted by email or fax.

SECTION I: PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this grant initiative is to develop innovative and sustainable arts education and artist support programs at the local, state, regional and national level. The Fund will award $10,000 per year for three years to eligible applicants for new or existing projects in the following categories: visual arts, music, and literary arts. Funds may be used for capacity building, education, youth development and artist support. The grants will fund existing projects/programs that have demonstrated success and require additional funds to grow; and innovative projects/programs that have been conceptualized or designed, but not yet implemented, that have a high potential for success or replication.

BACKGROUND
About the Yellow House Fund:
The mission of the Yellow House Fund Arts Education Initiative is to foster and develop arts organizations, including those that support young people and individual artists in presenting cultural diversity for the benefit of the community. Established in 2007, the Yellow House Fund has grown into a wide-ranging grantmaking fund providing support in agriculture, global aid, the performing arts, professional development, youth support and education. We are focused on long-term, sustainable solutions that increase organizational capacity and have the potential for making a significant impact on the community.

SECTION II: REQUIREMENTS
WHO MAY APPLY:
Nonprofit, 501 (c)(3), arts organizations that are:
Los Angeles County based arts organizations that serve underserved youth (budget size $750,000 or less);
National arts organizations that serve underserved youth (budget size $750,000 or less);
National organizations that support underserved artists and/or craftspeople domestically or internationally (budget size $750,000 or less).
Note: Organizations without nonprofit status may apply for the grant using a fiscal sponsor in their respective location with its own 501(c)3) nonprofit status.

The following are NOT eligible to receive funding through this grant initiative:
Individual artists
For-profit organizations
Retailers

The submission of a proposal does not guarantee funding. Funding for approved grants will be provided through the Yellow House Fund Grant Agreement process. All grant funds must be spent and all activities under the grant must be completed by the expiration date which will be outlined in the Grant Agreement.

ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES
Grant funds may be used for new or existing projects in the following categories: visual arts, music, literary arts, specifically in the areas of capacity building, education, youth development, and artist support, but cannot be used for the following expenses:
Constructing, expanding, or repairing a facility or equipment;
Purchasing buildings, warehouses, or storage space;
Lobbying or political activities;
Costs for fund raising;
Special Events;
Alcohol, first class travel, or entertainment expenses.

GRANT TYPES
Each applicant may apply for only one grant and must identify how the funding will be utilized: to support an existing program or to fund an innovation. The desire of the Yellow House Fund is to invest in programs and projects that focus on sustainability. Therefore, clear demonstration of a focus on sustainability will be viewed as essential in the selection of grantees.

Existing/Innovative Grants
Grants will be awarded to existing or innovative projects focused on arts education for the underserved and artist support. Existing projects or programs must have demonstrated success and require additional funding to grow. Innovative grants will be awarded for new ideas and processes, including those that use technology, that have the potential to substantially contribute to arts education for the underserved and artist support. Grant proposals must include:
Geographic area to be served
Demographics of proposed target population(s)
Estimated numbers to be served
Projected outcomes
Projected impact to the service area
Evidence of the project's initial success, if applicable.
Supportive documentation can include:
Program evaluations
Quarterly reports
Letters from clients and/or community members served
A clear definition of growth as it relates to the project (i.e., expansion from local to statewide, a new target audience(s), etc., and exactly what that means in terms of additional staffing and resources, and impact to the service area).
What makes the proposed project "innovative", if applicable.
A clear description of partnerships, collaborations and how they add value to the project and contribute to its sustainability.
The application should clearly describe the need in the target area and target population(s), the intent and scope of activities and how they contribute to sustainability of the program. Each project design should include quantifiable objectives, measures to assess progress toward meeting those objectives, project activities linked to meeting specific objectives and a list of deliverables and/or milestones for the duration of the project.
Project budget.

Every grantee must assess and report on its progress bi-annually by using performance measures and milestones tied to the specific project objectives. These measures should include project goals, benchmarks and outcomes. The proposal should describe the process for collecting the data, person responsible and data source, i.e. evaluations, attendance records, etc. Applicants are required to submit a timeline detailing milestones and deliverables.

SECTION III: APPLICATION FORMAT AND PROCESS
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:

Organization name, address, telephone, website, and fax

Primary Grant Contact
This includes the name of the primary grant contact and their name, address (if different from above), telephone, website, email and fax.

Organizational Administrative Contact
The name, address (if different from above), telephone, email and fax of the person who handles contracts and has authority to sign contracts.

Institutional Financial Contact Information
Name, institution name, full address, telephone, email and fax of the person who handles the finances, budgets, sends out invoices, prepares financial reports, etc.).

With the proposal, nonprofit organizations are also required to submit:
A copy of the IRS Determination Letter or proof of application for exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
Most recent form 990;
Organizational budget for the current year;
Previous year's actual expenses and revenues (do not have to be audited), signed by CFO or Board Treasurer;
Mission Statement;
Capability Statement for the organization;
A list of Board of Directors if applicable; and
A signature on the proposal of the CEO, Executive Director or President of the organization.

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
Project Title

Project Duration & Timetable
Duration is limited to a maximum of three years; list projected start and end dates.

Executive Summary/Abstract
Provide an executive summary or abstract of your project.

PROCESS
The application screening, review and selection process is as follows:
The Yellow House Fund will initially screen all applications received by the deadline to ensure completeness and conformity with the RFP requirements.
Applications that are missing major components or are otherwise clearly ineligible will not be forwarded to the review committee for consideration.
Applications that meet the initial screening requirements will be referred to the review committee, which will perform a technical review on all eligible proposals.
The Yellow House Fund will make the final decision on which proposals are funded and which are not, and reserves the right to make fewer or smaller awards than planned, or no awards at all.
If necessary, site visits may be conducted before making final decisions.
Successful applicants will be notified of the funding decisions in writing, no later than December 31, 2011.
Applicants selected to receive an award must sign a grant agreement, which will contain the terms and conditions of the grant.

CRITERIA FOR PROPOSAL REVIEW
The Yellow House Fund is committed to openness, inclusiveness and diversity in all of its programs, policies and procedures. The 100-point criteria by which each proposal will be judged follows:
The strength of the project's purpose, rationale and justification (10 points)

The clarity, relevance and feasibility of the project objectives and the quality of the methodologies proposed to carry out project activities (20 points).

The degree to which the proposal clearly demonstrates how the existing project is successful or new project is innovative, the impact the project will have on the target population and the plan for long term sustainability. (20 points).

The degree to which the proposal addresses plans for sustainability of the project (including but not limited to diversity of the partnerships created and the degree to which partners have clearly defined project roles and responsibilities (20 points).

Appropriateness of the budget given the project objectives and activities (15 points).

Qualifications of the applicant(s) to carry out the proposed project (15 points)

SECTION IV: APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND CRITICAL DATES
Technical Assistance –
Technical assistance calls will be accepted during the application period for questions regarding the RFP and potential projects to be funded.
We will respond by email to prospective grantees' questions submitted via email or faxed, as well.

Full Proposal Submission—Deadline Oct. 15, 2011
Proposals for The Yellow House Fund Arts Education Initiative Grants Program MAY ONLY BE SUBMITTED by using the Yellow House Fund's email address or fax number.
Prior to submission of your final proposal, please ensure that the proposal is reviewed by key staff within your organization and the appropriate signatures are included on the signature page, which should be scanned and uploaded to your electronic proposal.
For consideration for funding by the end of 2011, full proposals must be completed and submitted no later than October 15, 2011.

SECTION V: APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Before you submit, ensure that your application includes the following critical components and/or attachments:
Proposal narrative
Proposed project budget and justification
Mission Statement and goals
Capability Statement for organization
List of Board of Directors
Name, title and brief description of experience of key project management team
IRS Tax Determination Letter or fiscal sponsor
Most recent IRS Form 990
Current annual budget (revenue, expense and contribution to net assets)
Previous year's actual expenses and revenues (do not have to be audited)
Letters of support from key project partners, collaborators or fiscal sponsor, if applicable

from LA Culture Net