1. Region 2 Grant Prep Step by Step
Mary Bevans Gillett NorthSky Nonprofit Network
For FY 2017

2. Application Requirements
Section 1: Applicant Information
Legal name, DBAs, Address (same as your Fed ID#)
Authorized Official (Cannot be the project director)
Board Chair
Federal Identification # (EIN)
DUNS #
Status Code = Organization’s legal status
Institution Code = Identifies applicant organization
Discipline Code = Primary work
Grantee Race = >50% staff/board, not audience
Section 2: Program Area
Choose from Drop Down menu

3. Application Requirements
Section 3: Project Information
Category = Arts Project OR Professional Development
Component = None
Project Director (contact, cannot be authorizing official)
Project/Activity Title
Project Primary Discipline Code
Project Race/Ethnicity
Type of Activity Code
Project Primary County Code(s) (alpha if multiple counties)
Arts Education Code (or, “none involves art education”)
Project Descriptor Code

4. Application Requirements
Section 4: Summary Information
4A: Project Participation Summary
Projections & estimates for entire grant period
Final report will require actual stats
Michigan artists directly involved (#, fees)
Total artists, including Michigan + others (#, fees)
Individuals, youth benefitting
New hires, total employees (FY, PT, no contractual)
4B: ADA Information
Project specific unless noted otherwise

5. Required Attachments #1: Narrative
All Attachments
= PDFs
Worth 10 pts
#1: Narrative
Projects <4 pages
Professional and Organizational Development (POD) <2 pages
#2: Project Budget (template &/or follow guideline example p14)
#3: Organizational History & Governing Board
Include board names, occupation, city, affiliations
#4: Staff/Project/Artist(s) bios
#5: Demographics
#6: Assurances (See guidelines for form)
#7: IRS Determination letter (if needed)
#8-10: Supplemental (optional)

6. Narrative Project Description/Overview POD Description/Overview
Introduce with an “executive summary”
Clear, concise project summary in first sentences
5 W’s – who, what, when, where, why & how
Include #s – participants, attendees
Note benefits
What need is being filled?
Who benefits?
POD Description/Overview
Include purpose of consultant or conference
Sharing/benefits to organization

7. Narrative Example Statement
….presenting three, 45-minute, free performances of traditional dance by 12 dancers of the Onoway Dancers, Saturday, July 23, on the main stage of Ourtown Park, Davidburg, during the four-day Lacona Native American Festival, where people are expected to attend.”
Remember the Inverted Pyramid
5 Ws – most important info first
Expand with next most important info
Expand further, etc.

8. Narrative Artistic/Cultural Merit (35 points)
Demonstrate the cultural merit
Who are artists & how chosen
Are they engaged? Contact? Past involvement?
Will audience experience art or culture that is otherwise not available?
Will artists be treated fairly? Pay/working conditions
Was arts community included in planning?
Committed to high quality arts & culture projects?

9. Narrative Community Impact (25 points)
Show impact on & support from community
Is it supported by community
Letters of support
Volunteers
Donations of space, materials, time, $
Was community involved in planning?
Outreach & PR to community audiences?
Physically & economically accessible?
Economic impact?
Diversity & demographics

10. Narrative Implementation (15 points) Management (15 points)
Can project be successfully completed?
Staff, volunteers, activities, space, funds, timeline
Evaluation?
Management (15 points)
Responsibilities, skills, ability to manage the project
Is the application complete, clear & accurate
Have past projects been managed well?
Have MCACA requirements been met in past?
Accessibility plans

11. Budget Budget Itemization – Attachment #2
See guidelines p14 for budget format example
Template is available – fillable pdf
Complete, balanced & without math errors?
Show MCACA award and in-kind
Appropriate for project?
Are expenses allowable?
Does itemization match narrative
Are artists paid fairly? (Per activity & in total)
Use Excel & ask for technical assistance

13. Questions? mgillett03@gmail.com

14. Top Mistakes
Project doesn’t address current cultural or community needs
Stay informed on current trends in your discipline
Consider new, innovative ideas
Involve community members when you plan a project
Demographic data
Project is ineligible or is not appropriate to program guidelines
Be familiar with & understand guidelines (Read them!)
Do not request $ unless allowed
Ask ?s if unsure

15. Top Ten Mistakes Application is difficult to read or understand
Write for the reader not the writer
Relay your enthusiasm for the project
Follow criteria order
Provide enough detail to clearly describe the project
Don’t assume reviewers know
Don’t “bury the lead”
Tell “the story”
Have someone who is not involved in the writing of the grant read it

16. Top Ten Mistakes Application does not address review criteria
Restate criteria as questions, the answer in detail
Don’t rely on reputation, each grant is project specific and reviewed only on information supplied
Panelists score based on completeness of answers to review criteria – some worth more than others
Low quality support materials, broken links
Only submit attachments directly related to project
Reviews should be current, links to live sites
Submit only high quality work samples & links

17. Top Ten Mistakes Application is incomplete Poor attachments
Double check all sections
Follow directions
E-Grant will not allow incomplete applications
Hard copy of all – your records & minigrant office
Poor attachments
Not submitted as pdfs
Don’t represent organization or support application
Remember that attachments = 10 points

18. Top Ten Mistakes Application is not received
Start early!
Obtain DUNS #, CDP, assurances, data
Allow “tech” time for E-Grant uploads, ?s
Hit “Send” – print confirmation
Keep a hard copy for your files
Applications not signed by authorized official
Doesn’t take advantage of technical assistance
Contact minigrant administrator with questions
Mary Bevans Gillett –

19. Questions?

20. Questions, Technical Assistance
Mary Bevans Gillett
Regrant Coordinator
(231) cell/text