North Attleborough Cultural Council

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2013

$6,600

Applications for field trips are accepted. (Formerly known as PASS applications.)

LCC Program Guidelines (PDF)

The postmark deadline for applications is October 15

Local Guidelines

I. Program purpose and review criteria

The purpose of the North Attleborough Cultural Council is to promote and maintain the vitality of local cultural resources and to ensure these resources are shared within the North Attleborough community. The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities. We support a broad variety of art forms, the ongoing work of individual artists, environmental education projects, collaborati ve proposals that bring together artists and other types of organizations, local cultural groups and projects that serve specific populations -youth, elders, low-income, disabled.

Applications are evaluated in terms of several review criteria: artistic or creative merit; project design; qualifications, dedication and track record of the individuals and organizations involved; physical accessibility of any facilities being used; and community benefit/involvement. Proposals from schools and libraries must not request support for activities that should be or used to be part of the municipal budget (i.e., teacher salaries, classroom supplies, school-sponsored clubs and organizations, library books/videos, etc.). Enrichment projects utilizing outside professionals are allowed. Town -based applicants are given preference over those from out of town. The council will carefully scrutinize repeated requests; such proposals should show other sources of support to show the project is not dependent solely on council funding.

II. Eligibility

Applicants can be: a) arts, humanities or interpretive science organizations; b) individuals including artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, parents, community members, etc.; c) community organizations including, but not limited to, schools, social service organizations, civic groups, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations, etc. Incorporated organizations must be nonprofit; unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose. Individual applicants are required to be residents for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state for at least one year.

III. Timeline

Completed applications must be received or postmarked by Oct. 15,2012. Send application and support materials to the North Attleborough Cultural Council, P.O. Box 61, North Attlboro, MA 02761-0061.

Community meeting and grants workshop --September 13, 2011
Application deadline --October 15, 2011
Notification of disapproved applications --early December 2011
Notification of approval (preliminary) --early January 2012

The local council reviews all applications and submits its funding recommendations to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Applicants should not implement any project or publicize receipt of any award until official state approval has been received since the MCC may overturn or amend local decisions.

IV. Application process.

The grant application form can be downloaded and printed out at the MCC website:

http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/lccapp.asp

If you do not have computer access, the Richards Memorial Library has access to the internet. Make sure you read the entire application package and complete ALL required information before submitting your grant application. Ifyour grant application is approved, make sure that you provide all required information for receiving your reimbursement (see below):
• TYPE OR NEATLY PRINT THE APPLICATION (REQUIREMENT).
• ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY AND CLEARLY. ONE ADDITIONAL 8 1I2"x 11" PAGE TO COMPLETE QUESTIONS IS ALLOWED.
• ALWAYS MAKE A COPY OF EVERY DOCUMENT YOU SUBMIT TO NACC FOR YOUR OWN FILES.
• BE SURE TO INCLUDE RESUMES OF ALL KEY P ARTICIPANTS IN THE ACTIVITY FOR WHICH YOU SEEK GRANT SUPPORT. YOU MAY ALSO INCLUDE ONE SET OF SUPPORTING MATERIALS SUCH AS ORGANIZATIONAL BROCHURES, LETTERS OF SUPPORT/COMMENT, ARTIST SAMPLES (VIDEO, SLIDES, WRITINGS, PORTFOLIO, ETC.) . INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE IF YOU WANT MATERIALS RETURNED TO YOU.
• THE BUDGET SECTION ON THE APPLICATION FORM IS DIVIDED INTO TWO COLUMNS: PROJECT EXPENSES AND REVENUE/INCOME. THESE TWO COLUMNS MUST EQUAL. MAKE SURE ALL BUDGET FIGURES ARE ACCURATE AND ADD UP (BOTH COLUMNS).
• SUBMIT ONE COMPLETE SET OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION MATERIALS AND TO NACC AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS BY OCTOBER 15,2011: NACC P.O. Box 61 North Attleboro, MA 02761-0061
• YOU MAY DROP OFF YOUR APPLICATION AT THE TOWN SELECTMAN'S OFFICE BUT WE PREFER YOU MAIL IT TO US AT THE ADDRESS ABOVE.
• ALL GRANT A W ARDEES WILL BE CONTACTED BY NACC AS SOON AS THE AWARD SELECTIONS ARE CONFIRMED BY THE MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL
• IF YOUR GRANT APPLICATION IS NOT APPROVED, YOU HAVE 15 DAYS TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL ON THAT DECISION IN WRITING TO NACC
• IF YOU READ ALL THE MATERIALS AND STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, SEND AN E-MAIL TO THE NACC GRANTS COORDINATOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Notes:

(1) Schools and libraries may only request funding for cultural enrichment activities (field trips, artist-in-residency programs, lectures, performances, etc.) led by outside artists, humanists, or interpretive scientists. The cultural professional cannot be a current employee of the school system.

(2) Field Trip grant-funded admissions to events or institutions must be $12 or less. The NACC does not pay for transportation to the event. Events are expected to be located in Massachusetts. Events outside MA should be applied for by regular NACC grant, not a Field Trip grant.

Completed applications must be received or postmarked no later than Oct. 15, 2012.

V. Funding

Payments are made on a reimbursement basis only. Reimbursements generally take 8 to 10 weeks. Applicants are sent a reimbursement form to use for their payment request. Projects and payment requests need to be completed within a year of the final award notification. With permission of the council, progress or interim payments may be requested for the portion of the project that has been carried out. Final reimbursement will not be made until the project is completed. Due to the limited funds available and the high demand for support, the council often awards smaller amounts than requested and asks that applicants find matching funds or scale back their projects. Awards typically range from $250 to $1,500. A few larger awards are given from time to time. In cases where a project is partially funded the council may request an explanation of how the project will be modified. Requests for extensions beyond the grant period will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted in writing no later than one year from the date of the approval letter. The council will review and vote on the request and notify applicants in writing of its decision.

Summary of reimbursement guidelines:
• IF YOUR GRANT IS FUNDED. HOLD THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FORM ENCLOSED WITH THE APPROVAL LETTER UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE ACTIVITY YOU DESCRIBED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION
• WHEN THE ACTIVITY IS COMPLETE, YOU ARE READY TO FILE YOUR REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST
• COMPLETE THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM, PROVIDING ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION
• IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID THE VENDOR, YOU MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: FRONT AND BACK COPIES OF CANCELLED CHECKS PAID TO VENDORS, ORIGINAL INVOICE MARKED "PAID" AND DATE PAID ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD
• IF THE VENDOR IS TO BE PAID DIRECTLY, SUBMIT THE VENDOR'S INVOICE (ON VENDOR'S LETTERHEAD), MADE OUT TO YOU AND SHOWING THE EVENT, ITS DATE AND THE AMOUNT DUE; THE VENDOR WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY
• GRANTS WILL BE PAID UP TO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ACTUALLY SPENT OR BILLED, IF LESS THAN THE AMOUNT GRANTED. REQUESTS WILL BE PROCESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
• PLEASE SEND IN ONLY SINGLE-SIDED COPIES
• MAKE ONE (I) COPY OF YOUR REIMBURSEMENT FORM AND ALL OTHER SUPPORTING MATERIALS FOR YOUR OWN FILES
• SUBMIT THE ORIGINAL FORM AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION TO: NACC P.O. BOX 61 NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA 02761-0061

In all published materials and announcements regarding the activities supported by LCC funds, the sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge this support with a written and/or verbal credit statement or by using the MCC logo. The credit statement is "This program is supported in part by a grant from the North Attleborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. "The logo is available online at www.massculturalcouncil.orglcontracts/logos.html or from the MCC on a camera-ready slick sheet, or on diskette (Mac or PC). This credit is required by the MCC and failure to comply may jeopardize future funding.

VII. Disclaimer

The NACC has prepared and distributed this summary of the grant procedures for informational and educational purposes only. Although the NACC believes that all information contained herein is accurate, it reserves the right to correct any inaccuracies at any time.