gigi Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 I'm interested in getting certified/trained in grant writing for arts organizations such as ballet companies. Could anyone here point me in the right direction (courses, resources) to get started? Thanks! Link to comment
Alexandra Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 Welcome, Gigi -- you're a late bloomer (in the sense of registered awhile back, but this is your first post) I can't answer your question, but it's a good one, and I'm glad you asked it. Leigh, can you help on this one? (Or anyone else, of course.) Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted August 31, 2001 Share Posted August 31, 2001 Hi Gigi! I don't know of a certification program in grant writing per se (as opposed to something more encompassing like Arts management) but a great place to start looking is The Foundation Center which runs grant writing workshops. Link to comment
gigi Posted September 1, 2001 Author Share Posted September 1, 2001 Thank you both so much for looking into this! This site has a lot of information, and the lead will be of great help. Leigh, you mentioned Arts management - any insights on that education? I'm currently applying for MBA programs and would love to work in some Arts-specific, non-profit management coursework. Please do let me know if you have any thoughts! Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted September 1, 2001 Share Posted September 1, 2001 Gigi, I know that New York University has a school of Arts Management. I don't know how it compares to other programs, but I do have acquaintances (including Michael Kaiser at the Kennedy Center) who have mentioned it positively. So that one is worth looking into. I believe the man who runs the program is named Brann Wry. A little more on the original question - grant writing is a very specific skill, even one with subdivisions. I'm good at writing an "Emerging artist/Art for art's sake" grant, because I do them all the time. I've never written a grant slanted towards arts in education or art for the disadvantaged, and there are different hurdles you need to jump in those. You need to know your audience. The grantmaker wants to make grants and also wants to know its contribution is wisely invested by a reliable organization that fits their funding profile. That's what you are trying to show them in your cover letter and project description. So my first tips on grant writing? Research your potential sources. Try and write a clear, detailed and vivid project description (do you know how many of these they have to read?) and try and establish some sort of continued and personal relationship with funders. I'll bet you anything that one of the San Francisco Arts Organizations has a beginning grant writing workshop (Check out thefieldsf.org - their parent organization in NY has very good grant writing workshops) and maybe Yerba Buena has something? Good luck! [ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Leigh Witchel ] Link to comment
piccolo Posted September 4, 2001 Share Posted September 4, 2001 Gigi, most big cities have a chapter of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals.) The website is: http://www.nsfre.org/ I would check with them and see if they are offering any courses or can point you in the right direction. Another option would be to call some of the larger performing arts organizations in San Francisco and talk to their grantwriters. Informational interviewing is a great way to get good information! Link to comment
salzberg Posted September 4, 2001 Share Posted September 4, 2001 Yet another option would be to contact your local Arts Council (might be called something else where you are -- it's the funding agency for municipal arts grants). Many of them offer management assistance courses, including, but not limited to, grant writing. Link to comment
liebs Posted September 11, 2001 Share Posted September 11, 2001 Gigi, New York University has a certificate program in fundraising in the Adult Education division. it is one of the best. Columbia Univ. also has an arts admin program. Link to comment
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