Changing Cultural Landscapes

In recent years, there has been a concerted effort by the Ontario Arts Council to move to a more inclusive business model – a grant-giving paradigm that more effectively reaches the province’s 52K artists.

The latest OAC Strategic Plan (2008-2013) recognizes this funding dilemma and is intent upon re-dressing this historical cultural and funding inequality. The strategic plan is all about making connections with artists and arts organizations throughout the entire province. It seriously addresses the questions: “How to cultivate a healthy, growing and diverse community of artists?”

The document identifies the OAC’s approach to funding over the next three years and I urge you to read its eleven pages. Not a difficult read at all. Knowing a funder's priorities will make it easier for you to connect your work with their funding urgencies.

The Ontario Arts Council’s Strategic Plan “OAC Strategic Plan 2008-2013 - Connections and Creativity: A Vision for the Arts and the People of Ontario”.

http://www.arts.on.ca/Page525.aspx

About Me

My name is Denise Minick and I own a grant writing and research company called I Grant You This! I am Canadian and live in Toronto, Ontario (a city that I have come to love) with my 15-year old cat, Booboo and a wonderful circle of friends.

This blog is written for people who are doing good or new or interesting things but don't know where to look for funding or are put off by the prospect of writing a grant proposal. This blog will help ease their burden by providing information on funding agencies and grants and grant writing tips and tricks. If you are trying to establish a charitable or non-profit agency or, if you are an artist or a musician, a filmmaker or entrepreneur – you will probably find something here that you can use. Posts will be published twice a week.

My philosophy of grant writing is simple. It's all about seduction - to write in such a way that the funder is compelled to support your work. Of course, research and presentation count too but by my reckoning - writing is key.

I welcome your questions and your comments, so please drop me a line. Email me at igrantyouthis at gmail dot com.

Lock, Stock and Barrel

A big reason that grant applications are not funded is that they are incomplete. I double checked this with several arts granting agencies. Each Program Officer I asked told me grant applications were most frequently disqualified because they were incomplete - not every question was answered or there was missing information.

Then I got brave and asked what percentage of applications submitted were incomplete. You’ll never guess the answer – it was most applications! I kid you not. Now, I dug a bit deeper and asked what “most” meant. For reasons unknown, they would not tell me.

Despite not knowing the absolute truth – I do think that we can engage in a bit of estimation to identify the number of grants seriously in the running. My guess would be that “most” means 60% (probably higher but I suspect it wouldn’t be less). That means that if you apply for a grant along with 199 other artists – about 120 grant applications would be rejected out of hand. This narrows your competition down from 199 other applications to a mere 80.

So, I guess this means that we give 'em what they want - like totally.

Note on the phrase – Lock, Stock and Barrel (meaning “the whole thing”) – the earliest use of the phrase appears to come from the letters of Sir Walter Scott in 1817. "Like the High-landman's gun, she wants stock, lock, and barrel, to put her into repair." Thank you to http://www.phrases.org.uk/

Homeless Organizations - New Information on Homelessness Partnership Initiative Grant

New Year Greetings!

The Policy Development Officer emailed me a copy of the Proposal Requirements and the Funding Application for the Small Capital RFP I spoke of in my last blog post. Requests for up to $100K will be considered. You will need two (2) contractor quotes rather than three.

I have been assured that both documents will be posted shortly on the Homelessness Partnership Initiative web page.

Funding for Capital Projects - Homelessness Organizations

Good news for homeless-serving agencies. The City of Toronto’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration has announced capital funding for organizations that provide direct services to homeless clients. This capital fund is intended for small projects of $100,000 or less.

Here is some background information on the Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI). This is background information only and is not current. I have a call to the department asking when the most current information will be published.

http://www.toronto.ca/housing/about-hpi.htm

There are three types of capital projects that will be given priority.

1. Preventative maintenance projects that are environmentally friendly.

2. Capital projects that improve physical accessibility.

3. Projects that protect the health and safety of clients and facility staff.

Applications will be assessed on relevant organizational experience, project viability and clear links to demonstrated need. The project must meet HFI priorities, be completed by January 31, 2011 and demonstrate long-term impacts. Twenty points have been allocated for budgeting and financial issues.

Julie Western Set is the contact person and can be reached at (416) 338-1141 or jwester@toronto.ca.

The deadline for applications is Monday, February 8, 2010 at 12:00 noon.

Live Green Toronto - Environment Grants

The Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen got me thinking. It's been a while since I wrote a grant application for an environmental project and I wanted to know the current grants strategy. Was I surprised. The sheer variety of grants floored me.

Live Green Toronto is the City's website devoted to climate change issues. Much helpful information and a generous list of incentives available to homeowners, businesses, non-profits, corporations, entrepreneurs and community agencies.

Sustainable Energy Funds provide low-interest financing to help overcome the barrier created by high upfront costs for energy efficiency measures in buildings (new or retrofitted) and renewable energy projects. Toronto parks and trees foundation is the principal funder of the city’s community gardens. Clean and Beautiful City programs support farmers markets throughout the city and Toronto’s Eco-Roof Incentive Program funds green and cool roofs on Toronto’s commercial buildings.

Here's the link:

http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/inspired_grantsfunding.html

Here is an extensive list of City of Toronto eco-incentives available on Google Docs.

http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/inspired_grantsfunding.html