GUIDELINES 2015
Decentralization Grants
FOR ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL PROJETS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN:
CORTLAND, HERKIMER, MADISON, ONEIDA, ONONDAGA, AND OSWEGO COUNTIES
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PROGRAM GUIDELINES & HOW TO APPLY
Introduction, funding priorities, timeline, GO Grants Online, application checklist, eligibility requirements
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT | $500-$5000 | Deadline: November 3, 2014
For nonprofit organizations and individual artists*
INDIVIDUAL ARTIST COMMISSION | $2500 | Deadline: October 24, 2014
For individual artists only
ARTS EDUCATION GRANT | $500-$5000 | Deadline: November 17, 2014
For nonprofit organizations and individual artists, in partnership with public schools
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & CONTACT INFORMATION
DECENTRALIZATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW (DEC)
Founded in 1977, the Decentralization Program (DEC) was developed to ensure New York
State’s cultural funding reached every part of the state. The program is administered statewide
by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and funds are regranted by local arts
agencies through a transparent peer panel funding process. The goal is to make state arts
support available to geographically, economically, and ethnically diverse segments of the
state’s population. The program serves each of the state’s 62 counties and funds volunteer
community organizations as well as nonprofit corporations with paid professional staff.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Priority will be given to applicants that address organizational and community needs
expressed in the ENGAGE CNY Cultural Plan findings.
CNY ARTS DECENTRALIZATION TIMELINE
CNY Arts Accepts 2015 Applications (July 15 - November 17, 2014)
CNY Arts Grant Informational Seminars (August - October, 2014)
Funding Peer Panels Meet (November - December, 2014)
CNY Arts Board Approves Panel Recommendations (December 2014)
Grant Awards Announced / Contracts Distributed (January 2015)
2015 Funded Projects Begin (January 1 - December 31, 2015)
NYSCA Funding Arrives & Disbursed (typically: April - July 2015)
CNY Arts Awards Ceremony (July/August 2015) dependent on receipt of NYSCA funds
Final Reports Due (30 days after last event): (January 30, 2015 - January
30, 2016)
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HOW TO APPLY?
ALL APPLICATIONS must be submitted through the CNY Arts
grants portal GO Grants Online, found at the CNY Arts
website or directly via, cnyarts.culturegrant.org. If you applied
to CNY Arts for DEC 2014, you will continue to use your
profile, and will not need to re-register.
WHAT IS REQUIRED IN MY APPLICATION?
In order to be considered for funding, you must upload the following documents to GO
Grants: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications must include (exception: Individual Artist):
 Completed Narrative on GO Grants
 Proof of Nonprofit Status
 Board Member Affiliation List
 Financial Statement for your most recent fiscal year (from organization or partnering
organization of an individual artist)
 Bio/Resume of Key Artist(s)
 **Individuals partnering or fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit must include all materials
above AND a letter of support or sponsorship agreement from the organization.
Artstart Grants must ALSO include:
 Letter of Support from the participating school(s)
Individual Artist Commission must include:
 Completed Narrative on GO Grants
 Bio, Resume, or CV of applicant artist (maximum two pages)
 Proof of Residency in County/NYS
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eligibility
BASIC ELIGIBILITY:
 Nonprofit organizations, NYS incorporated
nonprofits, agencies of local government,
or individual artists, groups, and collectives
INELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
 Are under the age of 18 or a full-time
student in a higher education program.
 A public or private school district, New
that apply WITH an eligible sponsor or
York State agency or department, or a
partner organization (exception Individual
public or private college or university.
Artist Commission, Arts Education)
 Have outstanding Final Reports from prior
year CNY Arts grants.
 Legally located in Cortland, Herkimer,
Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, or Oswego
counties, and where the project activity will
take place.
 Live outside of the county in which the
grant project is taking place
 Organizations or individuals that have
applied directly to NYSCA for the 2015
grant cycle
FUNDING CANNOT BE PROVIDED FOR
 General operating expenses unrelated to the project
 Permanent equipment or capital improvements
 Cash prizes, juried shows, fellowships, scholarships and awards to students
 Activities not opened to the general public such as camps or clubs
 Events that take place in private homes
 Entertainment costs including food/drink or receptions/parties/fundraisers
 Creation of textbooks or classroom material
 Programs in which children are used as professional artists (paid a fee)
 Regrants by applicants to fund other activities
 Activities that are non-arts-related including balloons, clowns, magic
 Projects that are recreational, therapeutic, or rehabilitative in nature
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community arts grant
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBLE ARTS AND
CULTURAL PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE THE CULTURAL CLIMATE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.
WHO MAY APPLY: Nonprofit organizations and individual artists partnering with or fiscally sponsored by an
eligible nonprofit organization.
DEADLINE: Monday, November 3, 2014
AWARD AMOUNT: $500 - $5,000
MATCH REQUIREMENT: 50% cash and/or combination in-kind
Community Arts Grants will not fund more than 50% of an applicant’s total project budget.
PROJEECT PERIOD: January 1 – December 31, 2015
PANEL CRITERIA:
a) Artistic and Cultural Merit
b) Benefit to the Community
c) Community Involvement and Support
d) Overall Project Feasibility
Remember this is a competitive panel process.
ALL APPLICANTS
MUST ATTEND A
CNY ARTS
INFORMATIONAL
GRANTS
SEMINAR. (Dates
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
Projects must occur in the same county as the applicant’s place of business or residence. Projects that
happen in multiple counties or outside of the applicant’s residing county are NOT eligible for direct support.
Community Arts Grants do not fund K-12 activities that take place during the school day. (Please see Arts
Education Grants, pg. 7)
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ELIGIBILITY:
All organizational applicants (direct, fiscal sponsors, and community partners) must include one of the
following forms of nonprofit status:
 Determination Letter from the Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3)
 Charter by the NYS Board of Regents Under Section 216 of the NYS Education Law
 Current NYS Bureau of Charities (office of the Attorney General) filing receipt
 Official authorization as an arm of the local government
 Documentation of Incorporation Under Section 402 of the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law
Organizations must have an active board of trustees.
Organizations that applied directly to the New York State Council on the Arts for funding in fiscal year 2015
CANNOT apply to this program or serve as a fiscal sponsor or community based partner, whether they were
awarded NYSCA funds or not. Please note: this includes the NYSCA Regional Economic Development
Council Grants.
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS OR COLLETIVES may apply through one of the two following methods (also see pg. 9):
Fiscal Sponsor
A nonprofit organization that agrees to received funds for the project and pass them on to the individual. An
agreement letter from the fiscal sponsor is required in the application. If awarded, funds will be disbursed to
the fiscal sponsor.
Community Based Partner
A nonprofit organization that agrees to partner with the individual on the project. A letter of commitment is
required in the application. If awarded, funds will be disbursed to the individual directly.
Applicants may submit up to three requests in any combination of programs (Community Arts, Arts
Education, Individual Artist) totaling no more than $5000 in requests.
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individual artist commission
INDIVIDUAL ARTIST COMMISSIONS SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEW WORK WITH
EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
WHO MAY APPLY: Individual artists ONLY
DEADLINE: Friday, October 24, 2014
AWARD AMOUNT: $2,500
MATCH REQUIREMENT: N/A
PROJECT PERIOD: January 1 – December 31, 2015
PANEL CRITERIA:
a) Merit of submitted work samples
b) Quality of community engagement
c) Quality of work
d) Artistic merit of work
e) Overall project feasibility
ALL APPLICANTS
MUST ATTEND A
CNY ARTS
INFORMATIONAL
GRANTS
SEMINAR. (Dates
Remember this is a competitive panel process.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
The project must encompass a segment of the community through some form of feedback, response,
interaction and/or social practice.
The project must take place in the county of which the artist permanently resides.
ELIGIBILITY:
Artists must show proof of NYS and county residency. Sufficient items include a: driver’s license, utility bill, tax
return, etc.
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arts education grant (art$tart)
ARTS EDUCATION GRANTS SUPPORT THE ROLE THE ARTS PLAY IN ENGAGING K-12
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RICH ARTISTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
WHO MAY APPLY: Nonprofit organizations and individual artists either partnering with an eligible school, or
fiscally sponsored by an eligible nonprofit organization.
DEADLINE: Monday, November 17, 2014
AWARD AMOUNT: $500 - $5,000
MATCH REQUIREMENT: 50% cash and/or combination in-kind
Arts Education Grants will not fund more than 50% of an applicant’s total project budget.
PROJECT PERIOD: January 1 – December 31, 2015
PANEL CRITERIA:
a) Clarity and appropriateness of the proposed goals, with specific reference to the NYS Learning
Standards for the Arts.
b) Adequacy of plans to assess student learning.
c) Depth of interaction as indicated by plans for contact time between the core group of teacher(s),
artist(s) and students.
d) Relevant expertise or background of the proposed artists and teachers.
Remember this is a competitive panel process.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
ALL APPLICANTS
MUST ATTEND A
CNY ARTS
INFORMATIONAL
GRANTS
A letter of commitment from the partnering school is REQUIRED with all applications. SEMINAR. (Dates
Arts Education grants require a minimum of three hands-on learning sessions with a core group of students.
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Arts Education Grants do not fund activities that take place outside of the regular school day. (Please see
Community Arts Grants, pg. 4-5)
ELIGIBILITY:
All organizational applicants (direct, fiscal sponsors, and community partners) must include one of the
following forms of nonprofit status:
 Determination Letter from the Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3)
 Charter by the NYS Board of Regents Under Section 216 of the NYS Education Law
 Current NYS Bureau of Charities (office of the Attorney General) filing receipt
 Official authorization as an arm of the local government
 Documentation of Incorporation Under Section 402 of the NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation Law
Organizations must have an active board of trustees.
Organizations that applied directly to the New York State Council on the Arts for funding in fiscal year 2015
CANNOT apply to this program or serve as a fiscal sponsor or community based partner, whether they were
awarded NYSCA funds or not. Please note: this includes the NYSCA Regional Economic Development
Council Grants.
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS OR COLLETIVES may apply through one of the two following methods (also see pg. 9):
Partnering with the School
The applicant artist may apply directly by partnering with the school. The applicant artist must reside in the
same county as the partnering school. If awarded, funds will be disbursed to the individual directly.
Fiscal Sponsor
A nonprofit organization that agrees to received funds for the project and pass them on to the individual. An
agreement letter from the fiscal sponsor is required in the application. If awarded, funds will be disbursed to
the fiscal sponsor.
Applicants may submit up to three requests in any combination of programs (Community Arts, Arts
Education, Individual Artist) totaling no more than $5000 in requests.
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frequently asked questions
If I have applied to the DEC Program in the past, is it mandatory for me to attend a grant seminar?
Yes. Since the guidelines, funding priorities, and applications change from year to year, we want to make
sure each applicant is well and equally equipped for the application process. However, if you cannot attend
a seminar, you may schedule a consultation with the DEC Coordinator.
If I applied to the New York State Council on the Arts but was not funded, am I eligible to apply for
DEC?
Unfortunately, all direct applicants to the New York State Council on the Arts for FY15 (application deadline
was June 27, 2014) are ineligible to apply for DEC regardless of whether you are funded or not.
Additionally, if you applied to NYSCA for REDC Round 4 you are also ineligible to apply for DEC.
Do I have to be Pre-Qualified through the Grants Gateway to apply?
No! You will not need to use the Grants Gateway to apply for DEC!
I need to find a fiscal sponsor, what is the best way to go about that?
Fiscal sponsorship can come from almost any nonprofit organization in the county your project is taking
place. *Please make sure it is not a direct NYSCA applicant!* One resource you may want to check is
Guidestar or Foundation Center, and run a search on nonprofit organizations in your county.
How do I choose between a fiscal sponsorship and community based partner?
See in-depth descriptions on page 11.
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fiscal sponsorship vs. community based partner
An individual artist or collective may apply to the Decentralization program through one of the two following
methods:
FISCAL SPONSOR
The fiscal sponsor must be based in the county that the proposed activity is taking place; however, the
sponsored applicant is not required to reside in that county.
A Direct DEC applicant may serve as a fiscal sponsor and may sponsor more than one applicant as the
sponsored requests do not count towards the three request limit or $5000 maximum. Direct NYSCA
applicants however, may not serve as a fiscal sponsor.
The sponsored applicant is limited to three requests in any combination of categories totaling no more than
$5000 per DEC site.
The entity serving as a fiscal sponsor must meet the same eligibility requirements as an applicant
organization.
COMMUNITY BASED PARTNER
The individual, or one of the members of the collective, will apply through their name and social security
number upon registration. The funding, should the award be approved, will be addressed to the individual
artist.
What is Required?
The Community Based Partner organization must meet the same eligibility requirements as an applicant
organization and provide all required documentation.
A letter of commitment from the partner organization (or school) is required; confirming the partnership with
the applicant artist is required. The commitment letter must outline the scope of the partnership and both
the partner and applicant’s investment or contribution (in-kind and or/cash) towards the proposed project.
The applicant and the partner organization or school must both be based in the county in which the
proposed activity is taking place.
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appeals process
Where grounds exist, an appeal must be filed within five business days after funding notification. PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY.
Grounds for Appeal:
(1) Non-presentation of material information by staff or panelist
(2) Misrepresentation of material information by staff or panelist
(3) Improper procedure
Denial of an award or dissatisfaction with the grant amount is not grounds for appeal.
Process: The applicant organization must contact Elizabeth Lane, Grants Coordinator within five business
days following the receipt of the denial letter, by telephone 315-435-2158, or by email at [email protected].
The Grants Coordinator will have a conversation regarding the decision by the panel. If the applicant decides
to pursue the appeal, following the conversation, the applicant will move to the next step.
The Grants Coordinator will then instruct the applicant to mail a letter addressed to the Executive Director of
CNY Arts with a copy going to the Grants Coordinator, citing specific reasons for their request to appeal the
panel’s decision. This must happen within five days following the phone or in-person conversation.
A special panel of at least three people will be formed. These panelists should have knowledge of the arts
and the re-grant process (e.g. past DEC panelists, former board members, past DEC recipients are all
appropriate panelists.) Current panelists are prohibited from serving.
The Executive Director will then schedule a meeting to examine the appeal. If the appeal has merit based on
the stated grounds, not the quality of project, the appeal is then sent to the CNY Arts Board of Directors for
re-evaluation.
If the appeal is successful, and the Board of Directors determines the original request deserves support
under the evaluative criteria in place, it is funded with DEC regrant funds withheld at the beginning of the
cycle. This entire process must be completed no later than January 15, of the funding year.
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contact us
Questions, thoughts, concerns? Please feel welcome to contact us at any time:
Elizabeth Lane, Decentralization Coordinator
John H. Mulroy Civic Center, 11th Floor W
421 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
[email protected] | [email protected]
(315) 435-2158
Send a text!: (330) 406-9292
Website: www.cnyarts.org/grants
Grants Online (GO): cnyarts.culturegrants.org
Resources for your application:
ENGAGE CNY
Past Grantees
Join our Mailing List
@cnyarts
Facebook.com/cnyartsinc
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