WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
Grants & Fellowships
Writers' League of Texas
in cooperation with the
Texas Commission on the Arts
will invite applications for the
2004-2005 Grants and Fellowships in Literature
beginning Fall 2003
Procedures and Guidelines for the 2004-2005
Literature Grants
Administered by the Writers’ League of Texas for the Texas Commission
on the Arts
Since fiscal year 1997, the Writers’ League of Texas has administered the state Literature Grant program for the Texas Commission on the Arts. This arrangement is part of the decentralized funding program of the TCA. The Writers’ League of Texas staff will administer and seek to develop the Literature Grant program, assisting applicants and providing pertinent information to the public. The Texas Commission on the Arts will provide assistance to the Writers’ League of Texas and oversee its administration of these grants. An advisory panel of volunteer experts will be appointed by the Writers’ League of Texas to help review the grant applications and lend expertise in the development of policy.
Objective
To support the growth and deepening excellence of the literary arts in Texas by providing opportunities for Texas-based organizations to expand their operations and enhance the public’s participation in the literary arts.
Grants
Operating grants of up to $4,000 are for organizations only. A 1:1 match (each grant dollar must be matched with one dollar from other sources) is required of organizations with budgets of less than $1,000,000. A 2:1 match (each grant dollar must be matched with two dollars from other sources) is required of organizations with budgets of more than $1,000,000. Grants are limited to literature-based organizations, or those where writing is primary to their mission.
Procedures
Procedures for the application process:
- Draft copies of the application may be forwarded to the League for staff review and comments until December 1, 2003.
- Hand-delivered applications are due at the Writers’ League of Texas office by 6:00 p.m. on December 10, 2003. Applications that are mailed must bear a December 10 postmark.
- The Writers’ League of Texas staff will review applications for completeness and submit them to a five-member advisory panel for review. Staff review is in no way an indication that applications will fare well with the review panel.
- The advisory panel will discuss and score each application in meetings that are open to the public. The cumulative score of each application will result in a rank order.
- Writers’ League of Texas board and staff will make funding recommendations based on the advisory panel ranking and available funds by using a mathematical formula.
- Recommendations will be forwarded to the Writers’ League of Texas Board of Directors for final determination.
- Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by mail.
- An appeal process will be available for applicants who wish to appeal.
Note: Funding recommendations along with advisory panel scores and comments will be available from the Writers’ League of Texas upon written request.
Calendar for Applications & Evaluations Reports
- December 1, 2003 Deadline for application drafts to be reviewed
- December 10, 2003 Application deadline
- March, 2004 Panel meeting
- April, 2004 Announcement of recommended funding
- April (Second half of), 2004 Appeals hearing
- April (End of), 2004 Announcement of awards
- May, 2004 Letters of award mailed
- June 30, 2004 Revised budget due
- June 30, 2004 Evaluation Report Forms (ERF) 2003-2004 Operating Grants due
- 30 days after end of project Evaluation Report Forms (ERF) 2003-2004 Project Grants due
- Contracts mailed Upon receipt of revised budget
- Payment mailed Upon receipt of signed contract and all outstanding reports
- June 30, 2005 Evaluation Report Forms (ERF) for 2004-2005 Operating Grants due
Hand-delivered applications must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. to the Writers’ League of Texas office, 1501 West 5th Street, Suite E-2, in Austin. Applications that are mailed must bear a December 10 postmark. The League’s grant funding period begins June 1 and ends May 31 of the following calendar year.
Policies
Priorities of the program include:
- A significant portion of the application budget, inclusive of matching funds, must be paid directly to writers in the form of professional fees or honoraria.
- Both Texas and non-Texas writers may be recipients of these fees.
- Government entities and college and university programs or departments will not be funded.
- The Grants for Literature Program will not support organizations whose activities take place outside of Texas.
- Funds may not be used for capital improvements, construction, permanent equipment, social functions (including parties and receptions) or to pay the balance of an organization’s operating deficit from a previous year.
- All funds must be spent in the fiscal year for which they are awarded.
- Organizations may submit only one application for financial assistance (not including umbrella applications).
Eligibility
Organizational eligibility includes:
- An organization must be a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation as indicated by the Internal Revenue Service or must apply under the umbrella of a tax-exempt non-profit organization.
- Organizations must have fulfilled all outstanding contractual obligations to the Writers’ League of Texas.
- An organization must comply with regulations pertaining to federal grant recipients including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, and Section 10(7)(B) of the Enabling Legislation of the Texas Commission on the Arts which prohibits the TCA and its grantees from knowingly fostering, encouraging, promoting or funding any project, production, workshop and/or program which includes obscene material as defined in Section 43.21, Penal Code of Texas.
- Any organization (regardless of tax status) must have been active in the state of Texas for at least one year prior to date of application.
Applicant Responsibilities
The Writers’ League of Texas operates primarily on a partnership principle that depends on both the League and the applicant fulfilling responsibilities and commitments. Key responsibilities of the applicant are:
- Ability to compete for financial assistance through the grant process. (Continuous or guaranteed funding cannot be assured.)
- Ability to match financial assistance on a dollar for dollar basis or through a combination of cash and in-kind funds.
- Compliance with appropriate local, state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
- Sign the contract: The successful applicant will sign a contract with the Writers’ League of Texas. The contract states the responsibilities of the grantee, duration of the grant, the amount of funding, and the approved use of funds.
- Conduct an evaluation: Within thirty (30) days after the contract ending date, the grantee must submit an evaluation report that details the use of funds, income sources, and an assessment of activities. Financial statements are required; documentation such as reviews, photos, slides, and promotional materials may be attached in this report (Limited to 5 attachments). Pending and future applications are contingent upon the satisfactory submission of the evaluation report.
Advisory Panel Scoring and Criteria
Advisory Panel scoring will proceed as follows:
- The Advisory Panel will review and evaluate applications.
- The evaluation will include both a ranking system and written comments.
- Each application will be voted on individually by secret ballot. Ballots for each application will be totaled, and the aggregate score will determine the application’s rank.
Priorities:
Priority will be given to applications that:
- Demonstrate artistic excellence in literature.
- Involve Texas writers and provide economic opportunities for Texas writers.
- Serve many people (relative to the size and scope of the organization and demographics of the area).
- Evidence fiscal responsibility.
General Review Criteria
Applications must reflect the intent and spirit of League’s Grants in Literature program. Each application is reviewed and evaluated by an Advisory Review Panel using the General Review Criteria listed below. It is understood that not all the criteria questions can be applicable to all applications.
| SERVICE | 20 POINTS |
| INVOLVEMENT | 20 POINTS |
| CAPABILITY | 20 POINTS |
| ARTISTIC MERIT | 40 POINTS |
TOTAL 100 POINTS |
|
General Criteria for Advisory Panel Scoring
Overall Consideration:
Does the organization reflect the intent and spirit of the League Grants in Literature program?
- Service 1-20 points
- Does the organization offer literary employment opportunities or other services to writers?
- Does the organization provide useful services to literary institutions and to the community?
- Does the organization benefit an area of the city, region, or state by meeting a need not currently being met?
- Does the organization provide useful technical information services and/or lifelong learning opportunities?
- Does the organization preserve or enrich the diverse cultural resources of Texas?
- Does the organization evidence service that reflects the organization’s educational and charitable mission?
- Involvement 1-20 points
- Does the organization provide access to a program regardless of race, income, age, sex, or handicap?
- Does the organization foster literary awareness and promote writers in the community, region, or state?
- Does the organization include the representation of the diverse cultural, ethnic, and artistic pluralities of its community in the planning, execution, and evaluation of the program or services?
- Does the organization provide activities and/or community outreach that respond to the cultural diversity of Texas and to the community where the organization is based?
- Capability 1-20 points
- Is there measurable evidence of support for the applicant organization (i.e., ticket sales, numbers of participants, critical reviews, letters of support, etc.)?
- Does the organization show evidence of financial commitments from public and private funding sources other than its request to the League’s Literary Program?
- Does the organization have the administrative and financial capability necessary to maintain financial stability?
- Does the applicant exhibit the potential to achieve its administrative and financial goals?
- Artistic Merit 1-40 points
- Is the literary content of the organization’s programs of high quality?
- Is the applicant directly involved in the creation and presentation of meritorious literary work and/or programs?
- Will support of the organization’s activities foster support for writers who have demonstrated merit and achievement?
- Does the applicant demonstrate a history of providing meritorious artistic programs and/or technical services?
- Does the applicant demonstrate the potential to achieve meritorious artistic programs and/or quality technical services?
Literature Advisory Panel
The purpose of the Advisory Panel is to:
- Provide qualitative evaluations of applications based on merit.
- Assess the reasonability of the funding requests.
- Provide constructive critiques of applicant proposals.
- Ensure that the distribution of grants reflects the geographical, cultural and ethnic diversity of the state’s population.
Advisory Panel Membership Criteria:
Membership criteria for the Advisory Panel includes:
- Experience - A panel member must evidence involvement in literature and the writing life.
- Understanding - A panel member’s knowledge must relate to a given genre or publishing area with particular emphasis on the diverse cultural, ethnic, aesthetic, and artistic pluralities of the writers of Texas.
- Standards - A panel member must be dedicated to exemplary artistic and professional standards within his or her field.
- Responsibility - A panel member must attend both the advisory panel orientation and advisory panel meeting and must be willing to perform site visits and provide technical assistance when requested by the Writers’ League of Texas.
- Representation - As a group, the panel will represent a wide range of aesthetic opinion and knowledge, as well as the cultural and geographic diversity of the state.
Nominations for Advisory Panel Membership
Any interested individual or organization in Texas may make nominations. The League staff will submit a proposed slate of advisory panelists to the League Board, which modifies or adopts the slate. Nomination to the League Advisory or Judges panel does not guarantee selection.
Application Components
Organizations with 501(c)(3) status
Completed signed original application form and five (5) copies of the application. Two (2) copies of the following attachments:
- IRS letter of determination.
- One page organizational history.
- Current board of directors.
- Résumés of key personnel.
- Listing of writing activity and publications in the past year.
- List of upcoming writing activity and scheduled publications.
- Detailed budget breakdown for this request.
- Current operating budget.
- Support materials: publications, publicity, letters of support, etc.
- Financial statements or independent audit (for most recently completed year).
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status applying under an umbrella organization with 501(c)(3) status
Completed signed original application form and five (5) copies of the application. Two (2) copies of the following attachments:
- IRS letter of determination from umbrella organization.
- Current detailed Operational Budget for applicant organization.
- Financial statements or independent audit for umbrella organization (for most recently completed year).
- Financial statements or independent audit for applicant organization (for most recently completed year).
- Organizational History of umbrella organization (one page).
- Organizational History of applicant organization (one page).
- Current Board of Directors (if not available, use umbrella’s Board of Directors).
- Résumés of key personnel (one page per person maximum).
- List of presentations, programs produced in the past year.
- List of upcoming literary activity, programs, presentations, etc.
- Support materials: publications, publicity, reviews, letters of support, etc.
- Letter of agreement with the umbrella organization.
Grants in Literature
awarded in 2002
Grants in Literature awarded
in 2003
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