IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY

NOTE: Grants.gov has implemented new security requirements for the use of the Grants.gov system. Among the changes, applicants are now required to change their passwords every 90 days. See www.grants.gov for more details.

It is your organization's responsibility to create and maintain a regularly updated registration with Grants.gov. This includes registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), where your organization's information must be renewed annually. Finalize a new or renew an existing registration at least two weeks before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise with Grants.gov or CCR. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application.

If your organization is not yet registered, go to Grants.gov's Get Registered. Allow a minimum of two weeks for this multi-step, one-time process. If your organization already has registered, renew your registration with CCR and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.

If you have problems with registration:

• CCR Assistance Center: Call 1-866-606-8220, send a message through the Web site at www.ccr.gov, or see the information posted on the CCR Web site at Help.

• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, e-mail support@grants.gov, or consult the information posted on the Grants.gov Web site at Help. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline.

You do not need to complete the registration process to download the application package and begin to prepare your material (see below). However, you will need your Grants.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the registration process to submit your application.

a. Legal Name: The name provided here must be the applicant's legal name as it appears in the current IRS 501(c)(3) status letter or in the official document that identifies the organization as a unit of state or local government, or as a federally recognized tribal community or tribe. (Do not use your organization's popular name, if different.)

If you are a parent organization that is applying on behalf of an eligible component, do not list the name of the component here. You will be asked for that information later.

b. Address:

Use Street 1 for your street address or post office box number, whichever is used for your U.S. Postal Service mailing address. Street 2 is not a required field and should be used only when a Suite or Room Number or other similar information is a necessary part of your address. Do not use Street 2 to give a second address for your organization.

In the Zip/Postal Code box, organizations in the United States should enter the full 9-digit zip code that was assigned by the U.S. Postal Service. If you do not know your full zip code, you may look it up at www.usps.com/zip4/.

d. Type of Applicant: Select the item that best characterizes your organization from the menu in the first drop down box. Additional choices are optional.

e. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the 9-digit number that was assigned by the Internal Revenue Service; do not use a Social Security Number.

f. Organizational DUNS: All organizational applicants for federal funds must have a DUNS number, which is recognized as the universal standard for identifying organizations worldwide. The number that you enter here must agree with the number (either 9 or 13 digits) that you used with the CCR (Central Contractor Registration) as part of the Grants.gov registration. Otherwise, your application will not be validated by Grants.gov and will be rejected.

g. Congressional District: Enter the number of the Congressional District where the applicant organization is located. Use the following format: 2 character State Abbreviation-3 character District Number. For example, if your organization is located in the 5th Congressional District of California, enter "CA-005." If your state has a single At-Large Representative or your territory has a single Delegate, enter your 2 character state/territory abbreviation and "-000." If you need help determining your district, go to www.house.gov and use the "Find Your Representative" tool.

a. Project Title: Provide a brief descriptive title for your proposed project.

b. Project Description: For all projects except those to the Arts Education discipline: In two or three brief sentences, clearly describe your specific project, not your organization. Begin the first sentence with "To support" and include the name of the project. Follow this with up to two more sentences that describe the type of project, the target population that will be served, and where the project will take place. For examples, see Recent Grants.

For Arts Education discipline projects: In two or three brief sentences, clearly describe your specific project, not your organization. Begin the first sentence with "To support" and include the name of the project. Follow this with up to two more sentences that describe the type of project, the instructors, the age and number of students/adults who will be served, and where the project will be take place.

For example:

To support Creative Arts Program, a weekly string instruction program for 200 8th grade students in two middle schools in Monroe, LA. Professional musicians provide master classes and one-on-one instruction, and help academic teachers learn to integrate music into the classroom. The program culminates in a year-end student performance.

c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the beginning and ending dates for your requested period of support, i.e., the span of time necessary to plan, execute, and close out your proposed project. The Arts Endowment's support of a project may start on or after: 1) For applicants under the March 10 deadline, January 1, 2012; or 2) For applicants under the August 11 deadline, June 1, 2012. Generally, a period of support of up to two years is allowed. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant sufficient time to plan, execute, and close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year.

Provide the requested information for the Project Director. Select a Prefix (e.g., Ms., Mr.) even though this is not a required field.

Provide contact information, including an e-mail address, that will be valid through the announcement date for your category.

Provide the requested information for the individual who should be contacted on all matters involving this application and the administration of any grant that may be awarded. For colleges and universities, this person is often a Sponsored Research, Sponsored Programs, or Contracts and Grants Officer. Select a Prefix even though this is not a required field.

In some organizations, particularly smaller ones, this individual may be the same as the Project Director. If this is the case, you may check the "Same as Project Director" box and not repeat information that you have already provided in Item 7. (If the Primary Contact/Grant Administrator is the same as the Authorizing Official, please complete all items under both 8 and 9 even though there will be some repetition.)

Enter the requested information for the AOR (Authorized Organization Representative) who will be submitting this application to Grants.gov. Select a Prefix even though this is not a required field. The AOR must have the legal authority to obligate your organization. By clicking the "I Agree" box at the top of Item 9, this individual will be certifying compliance with relevant federal requirements on your organization's behalf. (These requirements can be found in the "Assurance of Compliance" section of these guidelines.) The "Signature of Authorized Representative" and "Date Signed" boxes will be populated by Grants.gov upon submission of the application.

To this button, attach a one-page Organizational Background statement. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "OrgBackground.pdf" (e.g., "ABCDanceCoOrgBackground.pdf" or "StateUnivPerfArtsCenterOrgBackground.pdf").

This statement should cover the points below; use the following headings and letters to organize your response. If you are a parent organization that is applying on behalf of a component, this information should refer to the component.

• Date organization was incorporated. If not applicable, omit.

• Mission/purpose of your organization: Briefly summarize the mission and purpose of your organization. For organizations whose work extends beyond the cultural sphere (e.g., universities, human service agencies), summarize your mission as it pertains to your public cultural programs or services.

• Organization overview: Address the following:

  1. An overview of your organization's activities.

  2. Some specific examples of previous activities that demonstrate your organization's ability to carry out the project for which you are requesting support.

  3. The size and general demographics (e.g., ethnicity, income, age) of the community/region/audience that you serve. If you are a membership organization, indicate the number of individuals or organizations that you serve.

  4. A description of any special efforts that your organization is making to reach a broad segment of the community.

To this button, attach your Details of the Project narrative. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "DetailsofProject.pdf."

Your narrative can be a maximum of three pages, but keep in mind that the Arts Endowment and its panelists prefer succinct descriptions. Organize your response a), b), c), etc., and use the boldfaced language below as headings for each item. For example, "a) Major project activities. The ABC Performing Arts Center plans to..."

The information that you provide will be reviewed in accordance with the "Review Criteria" for the Art Works category. Your narrative should address each of these "Review Criteria" and include information on the following, as relevant to your project. Ensure that your descriptions are consistent with the information that you provide on the NEA Organization & Project Profile form.

When following these general instructions, Dance applicants should keep the following in mind:

• If your project is for a festival, discuss how the festival is unique to your community and how it will benefit the field.
• If your project is to commission a choreographer or work, explain why that particular choreographer or work was chosen.

1. Major project activities. Be as specific as possible about the activities that will take place during the project period. Include information on the location(s) of the proposed activity and any special resources that will be used. For projects that will tour, provide a list of venues with dates and indicate the degree of commitment. For projects that involve publication, provide details on items such as projected sales figures, print runs, distribution plans, contributors' fees, payment policies, etc. Where relevant, include information on any educational component or activities of the project.

   For Consortium applications, discuss why your project is considered to be innovative, including how the project could prove transformative with the potential for meaningful change; be distinctive by offering fresh insights and new value for the field and/or the public through unconventional solutions; and be shared and/or emulated, or lead to other innovations.

2. Outcome(s) and Measurements. Discuss how your project directly addresses at least one of the NEA outcomes below. You must identify one outcome as most relevant to your project; you may address a secondary outcome as well.

   • Creation: Creating art that meets the highest standards of excellence.
   • Engagement: Engaging the public with diverse and excellent art.
   • Learning: Enabling participants to acquire knowledge or skills in the arts.
   • Livability: Strengthening communities through the arts. If you identify the Livability outcome, include, as relevant, information on project strategies; the target community; community sector involvement; anticipated long-term impact; and/or expected arts- or design-focused changes in policies, laws, and/or regulations.

   You also may discuss any additional outcomes of your own that you have established for the project.

   Detail the performance measurements that you will use to provide evidence that the NEA outcome was achieved. Refer to the Art Works category description for information on the evidence that is required for each outcome. If this is an ongoing project, state the results to date and the rationale for continuing the project.

3. Schedule of key project dates.

4. Key individuals, organizations, and works of art that will be involved in the project. (Bios of key project personnel are requested as a separate item.) Indicate whether the artists, other individuals, and organizations that are cited are committed to or merely proposed for the project. Where relevant, describe their involvement in the development of the project to date. For projects that include multiple partners, discuss each partner's participation. Describe the process and criteria for the selection of artists, organizations, and, where relevant, art works. Where key individuals or organizations remain to be selected, describe the procedures that you plan to follow and the qualifications that you seek.

5. The target population (i.e., the intended audience and/or other beneficiaries to whom the project is directed). If actual figures or reasonable estimates can be secured, indicate the number of people the project will reach. Have you worked with this target population before? Has the target population been involved in the planning for and implementation of the project? Describe any underserved groups or areas that will benefit.

6. Plans for promoting, publicizing, and/or disseminating the project, as relevant.

7. Plans for documenting, evaluating, and disseminating the project results, as appropriate.

8. Plans for making the project accessible to individuals with disabilities in compliance with federal law and regulations. This includes access accommodations for both facilities and programs, such as audio description, sign-language interpretation, closed or open captioning, large-print brochures/labeling, etc. See the Nondiscrimination Statutes in "Assurance of Compliance" for more information. (For technical assistance on how to make your project fully accessible, contact the Arts Endowment's AccessAbility Office at 202/682-5532 or 202/682-5496 Voice/T.T.Y. or the Civil Rights Office at 202/682-5454 or 202/682-5695 Voice/T.T.Y.)

9. Budget. If this project is being undertaken over and above your normal operations, what resources will be applied to cover these costs? If you were to receive less than your requested amount, what would be your project activity priorities?

To this button, attach the Project Budget form, Pages 1 and 2. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "ProjectBudget.pdf." (If you wish to submit a copy of your own project budget, you may do so; see Attachment 8. Your own project budget may not be submitted in lieu of the required form.)

To this button, attach the Financial Information form. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "FinancialInfo.pdf."

To this button, attach a single file that includes all of the items below that are relevant to your application. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "Bios.pdf." Label clearly each item.

Dance applicants should submit bios only, not resumes.

• For all applicants: Brief, current biographies of the key project personnel [e.g., the proposed primary artist(s), project director, artistic director, executive director, teachers, curator, editor, folklorist, conductor]. Send no more than two pages of bios; group several on each page.

• For parent organizations applying on behalf of an eligible component: A list of key staff of the component unit. Describe any overlaps in staffing with the parent organization. This documentation is required to demonstrate your eligibility.

To this button, attach a single file that includes all of the items below that are relevant to your application. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "BoardList.pdf." Label clearly each item.

• For all applicants: A list of current board members including professional affiliations.

• For parent organizations applying on behalf of an eligible component: A list of board/advisory group members for the component as well as the parent organization. Note how long each board/advisory group has been in existence. This documentation is required to demonstrate your eligibility.

• For lead applicants applying on behalf of a consortium: A list of current board members for the primary consortium partner as well as the lead applicant.

If you are applying for an official Consortium Application, to this button attach the Consortium Partner Information form. This form must include the name of the Authorizing Official for your consortium partner, but no signature is necessary. The file name of your attachment should indicate the name of your organization (not your partner) or a recognizable acronym followed by "ConsortiumPartner.pdf."

If you wish to submit a copy of a differently formatted budget (e.g., one created for your own planning purposes), attach it to this button. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "SepBudget.pdf." Limit this to a maximum of three pages.

To this button, attach a representative list of your Programmatic Activities for the past three seasons. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "ProgActivities.pdf."

Submit a selective representative list, in chronological order, of your organization's programming or activities for the following years: 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11. For organizations that schedule activities according to a single calendar year, use programming for 2008, 2009, and 2010. You may submit up to three pages.

This list should demonstrate eligibility (i.e., your organization's three-year history of programming) and the artistic excellence and merit of your organization. Where available, include arts or cultural programming that has a relationship to the project for which you are requesting support (e.g., show examples of previous festival programming if your project is for a festival). For most applicants, this list should show selected artists/projects/exhibitions/works that your organization has or will have presented/produced/exhibited/performed. Use the bullets below as a guide to possible column headings for your list; adjust them as appropriate for your organization.

• Year: 2008-09, 2009-10, or 2010-11. For organizations that schedule activities according to a single calendar year, use 2008, 2009, or 2010.
• The titles of the works/productions/exhibitions or of the program or project.
• Key Artist(s)/Personnel. This may include a creator or project head such as a choreographer, composer, playwright, performing artist, arts specialist, teacher, etc. Also list any key personnel such as director, conductor, etc.
• The location of the activity.
• Dates of the activity and the number of performances/classes/events/exhibitions.

Example:
A performing arts group might fill out its representative list as follows:

To this button, attach a single file that includes any items specified below that are relevant to your particular project. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "SpecReqs.pdf."

• Copyright Information: If your project is based on copyrighted material, a statement that documents the clearance of rights for this particular project or publication. You must have the rights secured by the application deadline.

• Statements of Commitment: If your project requires collaboration, statements of commitment from up to three organizations or individuals who are integrally involved in your project. Do not provide general statements of support for your organization. Statements should clearly indicate how the project will serve its beneficiaries. For residency and touring projects, provide evidence of commitment from the host and other collaborating organizations. Each statement should include the name, phone number, and e-mail address of the individual who provided it. (We encourage you to submit this item electronically through Grants.gov. However, if this is not feasible, you may submit a hard copy directly to the Arts Endowment. Include it with the items detailed under "Prepare and submit material to be mailed directly to the Arts Endowment.")

• For projects that involve touring, following the instructions provided for Attachment 9 ("Programmatic Activities"), provide a representative list of your touring activities for the past three seasons.

• For projects that may be impacted by the National Environmental Policy Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act (e.g., certain types of Livability projects), provide documentation that the project is in compliance.

Below are instructions for the Work Sample Index that you will submit electronically as Attachment 11 through Grants.gov. Following that are instructions for the preparation of the work samples that you will mail directly to the Arts Endowment.

Work Sample Index

To this button, attach your Work Sample Index. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "WorkSampleIndex.pdf."

For each work sample that you are including with your application, provide the information below as relevant to your particular project:

• A letter designation. Start with "A" if you are submitting more than one sample. List your samples in the order in which you want them reviewed (e.g., A, B, C). Make sure that the letter on the Work Sample Index corresponds to the letter on the sample work itself. Each different DVD, CD, etc., should be considered one work sample.

• Format (e.g., DVD, audio CD).

For each selection on that work sample, note:

• Name of the company that produced or presented the work. In some cases this will not be your company's name (e.g., for a sample of a choreographer's work at a company other than your own, list the other company's name).
• Title of the work.
• Choreographer.
• Title of the musical selection.
• Composer.
• Date the work was completed
• Date the work was performed.
• Relationship of the work to the project for which you are requesting support.
• Any special instructions for reviewing the sample. Include, as relevant:
• For DVDs and CDs, the priority in which you would like different selections reviewed, and the chapter numbers or counter cues for these selections. For DVDs, please provide a menu at the beginning, if possible. List the excerpts and the full work as separate items on the menu.
• For Web sites, the URLs for the pages to be shown. Include any necessary information on required plug-ins or the navigation path.

Work Samples

Send recent (not more than two years old), high quality samples that relate as directly to your project as possible:

• Samples of up to two unedited works performed by your company within the past two years, and
• One sample of work by each proposed choreographer(s) or work(s) to be staged, as appropriate. If you are requesting support to complete a work, submit a sample of the work in progress.
• For education or outreach projects, one sample that demonstrates artists/teachers working with students or others.

Do not send promotional work samples (e.g., booking tapes).

Do not send dark work samples or samples with poor visibility.

Clearly label each sample (and where relevant its container) with your organization's name and the letter that corresponds to its description on the Work Sample Index (above). Cue each work sample to a point that you feel best represents the choreography. Cue to an ensemble section unless your project involves a solo. Please be aware that the entire sample (not just the selected segment) is considered part of the application package and may be reviewed. The panel only views three to five minutes of the work sample(s) for each application, but has the option to view the whole work.

We will accept the following types of work samples:

• DVD (one copy).

Provide a menu at the beginning, if possible. The menu should list each excerpt and each full work as separate items. For example:

Menu:

Excerpt A
Full work A

Excerpt B
Full work B

If a menu is not used, list cues as chapters or by time.

The work samples below may be submitted in addition to a DVD, if relevant to your project.

• CD with audio samples (one copy).
• Curricula/study guides: If your project involves dance instruction, submit two copies of a sample curriculum.
• Web sites: Provide up to three URLs for the pages to be shown.

Preview your samples before submitting them to ensure that there are no technical problems that might interfere with the panel's review of your work.

The Arts Endowment may copy or digitally convert work samples to facilitate panel review. By submitting a work sample, you are giving the Arts Endowment permission for reproduction and dissemination for this purpose.

Work samples will not be returned.