Review Criteria

Partnership Agreements State Arts Agencies
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications:

A. Planning Process
Constituents are involved in the SAA’s planning process, incorporating:

1. Opportunities for a wide range of constituents to participate in the planning process, including those in underserved communities.
2. Constituent engagement through a wide variety of meeting formats and media, such as public meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and/or other methods appropriate to the constituent groups.
3. Responses to recommendations and the priorities identified through the planning process.
4. Metrics and/or other relevant information used to monitor progress in relation to the state plan.

B.  Implementation and Accomplishments
SAA programs, activities, and other accomplishments:

1. Respond to the priorities identified by constituents during the planning process and/or changing circumstances in the state.
2. Leverage public and private partnerships, as appropriate.
3. Engage underserved communities, as defined at the state-level.
4. Include plans to support stable, outreach-driven programs that are responsive to the state’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage.

Multi-Year Approval

The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for State Partnership Agreements. While each SAA is required to submit an application annually, those organizations that are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the requirements and review criteria receive three-year approval of their proposals. They are not required to submit another full-scale application, including all material necessary for review, for another three years. In the other years ("off years"), the application requirements are simplified greatly. Multi-year approval is subject to an organization’s continuing ability to carry out its approved plan. At the discretion of the National Endowment for the Arts Chair, multi-year approval may be revoked if state support is substantially reduced or if other circumstances threaten an organization’s ability to carry out its approved plan. See Application Calendar for a full list of on and off year designations.

In recommending action on State Partnership Agreement proposals, the National Endowment for the Arts has a variety of options ranging from full three-year approval, to more limited or contingent approval requiring interim response, to a determination not to provide a State Partnership Agreement.

What Happens to Your Partnership Agreement Application

Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria" for their category.

Funding recommendations are considered by the National Council on the Arts, where they are reviewed in open session. The Council makes recommendations to the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations and makes the final decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.

Contact Lara Holman Garritano at garritanol@arts.gov or 202-682-5586 if you have questions about the review process.

NOTE: All recommended applications undergo a review to evaluate risk posed by the applicant prior to making a federal award. This may include past performance on grants, meeting reporting deadlines, compliance with terms and conditions, audit findings, etc.