Edward & Sally Van Lier Request for Proposals
Advancing the Professional Development of Disadvantaged Young Artists at the Pre- and Post-College Level in All Artistic Disciplines.
>>Download PDF of Van Lier Pre-College RFP
Background and Purpose of the Van Lier Fund
Two major goals of the Arts and Culture Program of The New York Community Trust are:
- Promoting diversity, equity, and access in the arts; and
- Developing talented young, culturally diverse, and disadvantaged artists.
The
Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund, created by the will of Sally Van Lier,
has provided The Trust with the opportunity to establish a fellowship
program for younger artists to further these goals.
Sally Van
Lier was a theatrical performer in the New York theater in the 1920s
and appeared in the original production of Showboat. Throughout their
lives, she and her husband, Edward, were avid visitors to the City’s
museums, concerts, and plays, and introduced many young people to the
arts. The purpose of the Fund, which will perpetuate their generosity,
is to provide educational assistance, training, and support for gifted
young people of limited financial means who aspire to a career in the
arts.
Grants are made to arts organizations and training programs
for the following purposes: to provide education, training, or other
support for gifted, culturally diverse, disadvantaged young people from
New York City, who have a commitment to professional arts careers.
Support is provided at two critical stages of development:
- Pre-College—The period of training and self-development to prepare for college, conservatory, or advanced professional training.
- Post-College—The first few years after completion of formal training when the artist seeks to establish a professional career.
Separate
RFPs are issued yearly for each level of development. Download
Pre-College PDF or
Post-College PDF here.
Pre-College Request for Proposals
Overview
The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of The New York Community Trust provides support for talented, economically disadvantaged young people who are seriously dedicated to a career in the arts. This round of grants will provide assistance to organizations of proven quality that identify, train, and support young artists in their pre-college years.
Grants will be made to an extremely limited number of organizations, to provide fellowships to talented young people for training and related costs for up to three years. The purpose of the grants will be to achieve a significant career development milestone, such as acceptance into a conservatory, a professional company, or another advanced training program.
Grants will range up to a maximum of $60,000 for each organization, depending upon the number and size of fellowships covered, and must serve the same, identified students throughout the term of the grant. The amount that the Fund will contribute to an individual fellowship will be up to $7,000 a year. A limited amount of organizational costs also will be covered.
Proposals are due at The Trust no later than 4:00 p.m., April 30, 2010. Only complete proposals as specified in this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be considered. Grants will be announced in October 2010.
Qualifications of Organizations
Grants will be made to tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations that provide training and support to talented youngsters from New York City in one or more of the arts. Applicants should offer a comprehensive set of classes and support services to prepare youngsters from families with limited resources to compete artistically, academically, and personally for scholarship places in advanced training programs. The quality of instruction should be of the highest order and, to the extent possible, provided by mature artists whose careers offer inspiration and who can be role models to young artists. Applicant organizations must request support for at least three fellowships (and may request more than that number).
Fellowships may cover appropriate services needed to ensure artistic development, such as: individual and small group classes; repertoire development; audition training; and funds for special clothing, equipment, and instruments, as well as for travel, and costs associated with parent involvement.
Organizations with current pre-college level Van Lier grants will be eligible to reapply for this round only if their grant will conclude in 2010. However, because of limited funds, it will not be possible to renew all eligible programs.
Terms of Award
Grant awards of up to $60,000 per organization, for up to three years, will be made to each selected organization to provide fellowships to several specifically identified youngsters. Grants will cover fellowship costs and a limited amount of other organizational costs. Funds may be used to enrich or add more students to an established program.
The program should be of sufficient duration (up to three years) and intensity to ensure that participating youngsters will attain a significant career advancement milestone, such as admission to a college, conservatory, or other form of more advanced training, or acceptance into a professional company. Since the intent is to assist individual students over a period of several years, except in special circumstances, fellowship funds may not be shifted to other students during the term of the grant.
The Trust will require grantee organizations to submit periodic reports on the program as a whole as well as on the status of each fellowship recipient; and to establish procedures for tracking the artistic development for a minimum of two years following the completion of the fellowships.
Review Criteria
Factors considered in selecting grantees include:1. Quality of instruction offered in the arts.
2. History of achievement in identifying and training talented minority and economically disadvantaged youngsters.
3. Depth of understanding of the support and services needed for youngsters to obtain admission to professional level programs—e.g., college, conservatory, or professional company.
4. Stability of the organization’s management and the qualifications of its staff.
5. Effectiveness in involving the families of participating youngsters.
6. Comprehensive monitoring and tracking procedures.
7. Organizational plan for continuing and maintaining the fellowship program after Van Lier Fund support has concluded.
Proposal Specifications and Support Material
Proposals should not exceed 5 pages exclusive of budget and support materials, and should cover at least the following topics:
1. The organization’s current programs for talented, economically disadvantaged youngsters, including: history; purpose; identification and recruitment procedures; disciplines offered; numbers of students; measures of success; ethnic groups, ages, and special populations served; and geographic areas covered.
2. The methods used to determine the level of talent, interest, commitment, and financial need of potential Van Lier fellowship recipients.
3. The number of youngsters who will be provided Van Lier fellowships, and length of expected support. Name and describe the fellowship recipients, or provide descriptions of potential recipients or prototypes. (Note: Youngsters who have previously received Van Lier fellowships from your organization or another arts training organization are not eligible.)
4. A detailed description of the activities, resources, opportunities, and support services to be provided to fellowship recipients, including any direct financial support. If another organization will be involved, describe its role and provide information on its qualifications for this role.
5. The organization’s approach to helping fellowship recipients select and apply to higher education and professional training institutions.
6. The organization’s plan for monitoring each youngster’s progress and for tracking their artistic achievements after the fellowship concludes.
7. The organization’s plan for how to continue and support the fellowship program after Van Lier support has concluded.
8. Previous Van Lier grant recipients should include a description of how Van Lier support has affected the organization overall: Did the Van Lier program help attract new non-Van Lier culturally diverse students? Did it help reinforce the organization’s commitment to diversifying its student body?
9. Budget. Provide an overall budget for the fellowship program that includes The Trust’s contribution, along with other sources of support, if applicable.
The expense budget should show:
(a) The total cost of fellowships, and an itemization of the individual fellowships that shows the cost of each direct artist benefit, e.g., stipend, space rental, supplies, mentor honoraria, etc.
(b) An itemization of organizational costs to implement the program, if applicable. (A limited amount of these costs is allowable.)
The income budget should show:
(a) The total requested from The Trust specifying the amount requested for each fellowship; and, if applicable, the amount requested for other implementation costs. (See the Terms of Award for limitations on amounts The Trust will provide.)
(b) Other resources that the organization will commit to the program, including grants and funds from other sources, and in-kind contributions. Please note confirmed funding.
Support materials should include:1. A cover letter requesting support from the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of The New York Community Trust for Pre-College fellowships, on your stationery and signed by your director.
2. New York Community Trust proposal cover sheet (available on our Web site).
3. 501(c)(3) letter.
4. Most recent organization flyer, brochure, or annual report (if available).
5. Annotated list of Board of Directors.
6. List of current funders.
7. Most recent Audited Financial Statement.
8. Agency operating budget for the current year; and projected budget(s) for the period of the grant request.
9. Affirmative Action Policy.
10. Brief bios of the organization’s artistic and professional staff.
Proposals must be delivered by 4:00 p.m., April 30, 2010.Faxed and emailed proposals are not acceptable.
Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.
Contact and Program Administrator
Representatives of organizations interested in responding to this call for proposals may telephone The New York Community Trust for further information and answers to questions. All inquiries and applications should be addressed to:
Ms. Kerry McCarthy
Program Officer for Arts and Historic Preservation
The New York Community Trust
909 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 686-0010 Ext. 520
Post-College Request for Proposals
Overview
The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of The New York Community Trust provides support for talented, culturally diverse, economically disadvantaged young people who are seriously dedicated to a career in the arts.
This round of grants will provide assistance to arts organizations in all disciplines to help individual artists at the post-college level make the transition from formal training to professional careers.
Grants of one to two years will be awarded to a small number of arts organizations to sponsor two or more artist fellowships. The purpose of the fellowships is to enable young artists to achieve a significant professional credit that can lead to future career opportunities.
Grants will range up to a maximum of $60,000 for each organization, depending upon the number and size of fellowships covered. The amount that the Fund will contribute to an individual fellowship will be up to $10,000 a year. A limited amount of organizational costs also will be covered.
Proposals are due at The Trust no later than 4:00 p.m., April 30, 2010. Only complete proposals as specified in this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be considered. Grants will be announced in October 2010.
Qualifications of Organizations
Grants will be made to tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations in New York City administering educational or fellowship programs that promote the professional development of talented young people in all artistic disciplines. Programs will be considered that provide fellowships or equivalent support at the post-college and post-formal training levels. (Grants will not be made to provide scholarships to students enrolled in college or university courses.) The fellowships should enable young artists to achieve a significant professional credit that can lead to future career opportunities.
Fellowship activities must take place in New York and will be awarded primarily to artists who reside in New York. Recipients should generally be age 30 or younger, with demonstrated financial need. Especially encouraged are programs serving culturally diverse and particularly disadvantaged populations, and groups that are underrepresented in the arts disciplines. Applicant organizations must request support for at least two artists, and may request more than that number.
Fellowship activities should be appropriate to both the art form and the development needs of the individual artists. Support may be provided for a broad range of activities and related costs, such as: advanced training and coaching; equipment, instruments, and supplies; commissioning; mentoring; rehearsal and work space; opportunities to create, produce, perform, or publish; professional conferences; and travel and living expenses. Support will be considered only where the primary purpose is to benefit the professional development of the fellowship recipient, rather than the sponsoring organization.
The fellowship activities and support may be provided directly by the sponsoring organization or in cooperation with another group. In all cases, the grantee organization will be responsible for: recruiting and selecting fellowship recipients; assuring that resources are provided; monitoring the artists’ progress over the term of the fellowship and tracking professional career developments after its completion.
Organizations with current Van Lier grants are not eligible to apply for this round.
Terms of Award
Grant awards will:
- Range up to a maximum of $60,000 depending upon the number and size of fellowships offered;
- Sponsor two or more fellowships;
- Extend for a period of two years.
- Funds may be used to support or expand an existing effort, or to begin a new program.
The purpose of the award is to provide direct support to specific young artists. Grants are intended primarily to cover fellowship costs; however, a limited amount of organizational costs attributable to the fellowship program may be included in the total amount requested.
Individual fellowships will be in the range of $10,000 for each year. Organizations may choose to support either the same artists over the term of the grant, or different artists for shorter periods. Supplemental grants and funds from other sources are encouraged. The size and duration of each fellowship should be based upon the activities involved, and the resources and time needed for the artists to achieve a significant professional credit.
The Trust will require grantee organizations to submit periodic reports on the program as a whole and on the status of each fellowship recipient; and to establish procedures for tracking the artistic achievement of recipients following the completion of the fellowships.
Review Criteria
Factors considered in selecting grantees include:1. Quality of programs and services offered in the arts disciplines, and to individual artists in particular.
2. History of achievement in programs targeted to disadvantaged young artists, especially culturally diverse populations underrepresented in the arts disciplines.
3. Likelihood that the proposed fellowship program will reach and assist artists from these populations.
4. Program design and the likelihood that it will advance a young artist’s career.
5. Depth of knowledge of the issues involved in helping young artists launch professional careers.
6. Soundness of the organization’s management and qualifications of staff.
7. Completeness of monitoring and tracking procedures.
8. Commitment of the organization to continue the fellowship program after the term of The Trust’s grant.
Proposed Specifications and Support Material
Proposals should not exceed 5 pages exclusive of budget and support materials, and should cover at least the following topics:
1. The organization’s current programs for individual artists, including: history; purpose; arts disciplines covered; activities; measures of success; outreach procedures; numbers served annually; ethnic groups, ages, and special populations served; and geographic areas covered.
2. The methods used to identify and select fellowship recipients, including how financial need will be determined.
3. The number of fellowships to be provided, with the name and a profile of the recipients or of prototypes to be selected (recipients must be age 30 or younger).
4. A detailed description of the activities, resources, opportunities, and support services to be provided to fellowship recipients, including any direct financial support. If another organization will be involved, describe its role and provide information on its qualifications for this role.
5. The organization’s approach to helping fellowship recipients identify career goals and a plan for achieving them.
6. The organization’s plan for monitoring each artist’s progress.
7. Procedures for tracking the artist’s career development after the term of the fellowship.
8. The organization’s plan for how to continue and support the fellowship program after Van Lier support has concluded.
9. Previous Van Lier grant recipients should include a description of how Van Lier support has affected the organization overall. For example, did the Van Lier program help attract new non-Van Lier culturally diverse artists or help reinforce the organization’s commitment to diversity?
10. Budget. Provide an overall budget for the fellowship program that includes The Trust’s contribution, along with other sources of support, if applicable.
The expense budget should show:
(a) The total cost of fellowships, and an itemization of the individual fellowships that shows the cost of each direct artist benefit, e.g., stipend, space rental, supplies, mentor honoraria, etc.
(b) An itemization of organizational costs to implement the program, if applicable. (A limited amount of these costs is allowable.)
The income budget should show:
(a) The total requested from The Trust specifying the amount requested for each fellowship; and, if applicable, the amount requested for other implementation costs. (See the Terms of Award for limitations on amounts The Trust will provide.)
(b) Other resources that the organization will commit to the program, including grants and funds from other sources, and in-kind contributions. Please note confirmed funding.
Support materials should include:
1. A cover letter requesting support from the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of The New York Community Trust for Post-College fellowships, on your stationery, signed by your director.
2. The New York Community Trust proposal cover sheet (available on our Web site).
3. 501(c)(3) letter.
4. Most recent organization flyer, brochure, or annual report (if available).
5. Annotated list of Board of Directors.
6. List of current funders.
7. Most recent Audited Financial Statement.
8. Agency operating budget for the current year; and projected budget(s) for the period of the grant request.
9. Affirmative Action Policy.
10. Brief bios of the organization’s artistic and professional staff.
Proposals must be delivered by 4:00 p.m., April 30, 2010, to the offices of The New York Community Trust, 909 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Faxed and emailed proposals are not acceptable. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.
Contact and Program Administrator
Representatives of organizations interested in responding to this call for proposals may telephone The New York Community Trust for further information and answers to questions. All inquiries and applications should be addressed to:
Ms. Kerry McCarthy
Program Officer for Arts and Historic Preservation
The New York Community Trust
909 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 686-0010 Ext. 520