COMPAS strengthens people and communities in Minnesota by engaging them in creating art.
MCKNIGHT COMMUNITY ART PROGRAM GUIDELINES
The mission of the Community Art Program is to encourage the use of meaningful, quality arts to build community. The Community Art Program’s objectives are to fund projects and programs in Minneapolis and Saint Paul that demonstrate community-driven planning and implementation, and to make funds accessible to communities facing inequality of economic resources and under-representation in the arts.
Community Art Program Focus
Engage in Community-Building Through the Arts COMPAS programs promote community-building through the collaboration and interaction of artists and members of a community, and among different communities. Community-based art projects supported by the Community Art Program may also demonstrate how they fulfill one or both of the secondary priorities listed below: Recognize, Appreciate, and Celebrate Cultural Diversity The Community Art Program promotes a broad appreciation of diverse cultures by employing, promoting, or supporting artists from a variety of cultural communities. The Community Art Program encourages art programs which emphasize broad cross-cultural communication and understanding. Address Social Issues Through the Arts COMPAS programs offer people the opportunity to use the power of the arts to promote justice and to create healthy communities in which to live.
The COMPAS/MCKNIGHT C0MMUNITY ART PROGRAM
Application Deadline May 25, 2007
Applications must be in the COMPAS Office by 4 PM on the above date. No post marked applications will be accepted.
Applicants are advised to allow between 12-16 weeks prior to the announcements of awards.
For assistance with your COMPAS Community Art Program application, please contact:
John G. Mentzos, Director of Grant Allocations COMPAS 304 Landmark Center 75 West Fifth Street St. Paul, MN 55102 TELEPHONE (651) 292-3287 E-MAIL john@COMPAS.org
The Community Art Program is made possible by grants from the McKnight Foundation.
General Eligibility Of Projects
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1. Any group, organization, or individual is eligible to apply to the Community Art Program. This
program is not limited to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations.
However, the applicant must live in, or an applying organization must be located in, the cities of Minneapolis or St. Paul proper, or clearly demonstrate the project’s intrinsic value to people in at least one of these cities. All proposed activities must occur within the city limits of St. Paul and/or Minneapolis.
2. Applications submitted to the Community Art Program by an organization require a letter of support
from that organization’s governing body. Individual applicants need signatures from one member of the constituent panel and the signature of the project coordinator. 3. Applicants must name a Project Coordinator (which can be the applicant in the case of proposals from individuals) and are required to put together a Constituent Advisory Panel of at least six individuals, including artists, who will plan, develop, and work on the project. It is essential that all individuals listed in the proposal as Constituent Advisory Panelists participate in the planning of the project and are aware that they are named as panelists in the application. The panel is to be reflective of the constituents who will benefit from and participate in the proposed grant activity. 4. The application must include a narrative of no more than three pages, a budget, and the Project Coordinator’s resume or list of experience. Applicants must submit a signed original plus two one-sided copies of the application, and may include one set only of support materials. 5. Incomplete applications may be deemed ineligible for funding. 6. Projects completed before the Community Art Program Grants Allocations Committee meets to make their funding decisions are ineligible for funding. 7.Narrative must include subheadings listed below in the following order; Community Need, Program Goals, Program Description, Program Evaluation, Community Involvement, Artists Involvement. 8. Proposed projects must begin no later that one year after the posted deadline for applications.
9. One application per organization, group or individual
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General Funding Policies
1. The maximum grant award will be $4,000. Applicants are encouraged to consider this in preparing
their request, and to discuss with COMPAS staff the level of funding they intend to request prior to submitting a proposal. Often COMPAS is the sole source of funding in a project. The panel gives a higher priority to projects where a community will not have an opportunity for artistic expression without COMPAS support. 2. While the Community Art Program exists to assist grassroots community arts projects, an applicant or group may be associated with a larger organization such as a community center, school, or religious organization. If that circumstance applies to your project, you must first speak to COMPAS’ Grant Allocations Director to determine your eligibility and, if eligible, in your proposal you must discuss why support from the Community Art Program is integral to the success of your project. Such projects must venture away from programs and services ordinarily offered by the applicant organization. 3. In a proposal for a project funded previously by COMPAS, the applicant is encouraged to demonstrate new direction or growth in repeating or continuing the project, and to apply Community Art Program grant money to this development. 4. Community Art Program grants are intended to be used for project-related expenses, such as artists’ fees, supplies, rental or purchase of related equipment, space rental, transportation, project administration, project publicity, and promotion. Community Art Program moneys specifically may not be used for the following: Capital improvements, mortgage payments, property purchase, building construction; Deficit financing; Administrative costs unrelated to the CAP sponsored project; Fundraising events; Projects that result in lobbying for particular legislation, promoting of a particular religious belief, are discriminatory, or in any way violate federal, state or local laws.
5. If a project is approved for funding, grant money will be distributed to the applicant in this manner: First Payment: Two-thirds of the grant award will by paid by COMPAS within three weeks of the signing of the contract by both COMPAS and the grant recipient. Second and Final Payment: The final one-third of the grant award will be paid by COMPAS upon receipt and acceptance of a final project report, on a standard form provided by COMPAS. Final payment will be made within three weeks after receipt of the final report, unless the grantee is requested to provide COMPAS with additional information.
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Review Criteria
All applications will be reviewed and evaluated on the basis of these criteria:
Artistic Quality or Merit-as determined by community recognition of the participating artist(s), and the
value of the project to the community it intends to serve, etc. Community Need-demonstrated by community involvement in the planning and implementation of the proposed project.
Community Involvement and Support Ability to Complete-how realistic is the plan for example. Is it likely to result in the successful
completion of the project?
How likely is it that the Proposed Programming will Build Community, Effectively Address Social Issues and Promote the Value of Cultural Diversity General Impression of Program-For example, how creative is the use of art to address community-
building? The Relationship of the Project Budget to the Goals As Stated
Review Process
After the deadline, COMPAS staff will review all applications for completeness and eligibility. Following that review, the staff or members of the grants allocation committee may contact people named in the proposal to assess the level of community involvement and support for the project. The Community Art Program Grants Allocations Committee, made up of Community Art Program constituents, will read the applications, evaluate the proposed projects based on the stated review criteria and competition, and determine which proposals to fund. COMPAS staff will notify applicants of funding decisions following the panel’s action. Feedback and technical assistance specific to the proposal that did not receive funding will be available up to two weeks prior to the next Community Art Program application deadline. Applicants who are not funded are encouraged to talk with COMPAS Grant Allocations Director. COMPAS, as a non-profit organization, is reliant on contributed funds from outside sources, and is limited by its organizational capacity and applicable laws. The ability of COMPAS to carry out its responsibilities identified in the guidelines is dependent on the above circumstances. If contributed funds are not forthcoming, are rescinded, terminated, or due to other unforeseen circumstances, COMPAS reserves the right not to make grants as described in these guidelines.
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Help In Applying And The Review Process Assistance
COMPAS offers assistance in the development of your proposal in order to: 1) help ensure that your proposal is eligible; and 2) that your application is complete and ready for review by a community panel. We have several suggestions to make the best use of that assistance:
In Order for us to help, Contact COMPAS Early in the Process (At least two weeks before the deadline):
• to discuss whether your project idea is a good fit for the Community Art Program. • when you are ready to ask questions about your proposal. • if you are associated with a larger organization such as a community center, school, or church you must speak to the COMPAS Grants Allocation Director to determine your project's eligibility. Such project proposals must venture away from programs and services ordinarily offered by the applicant organization. • to get help with your questions about the proposal budget. • to be sure that you have received all updated program information. (The Community Art Program staff and Review Panel conduct an ongoing evaluation of the program. These evaluations may result in some program changes and slight modifications to the program’s guidelines and application procedure.)
Grantee Responsibilities
All grant recipients will be invited to participate in a grantee meeting to accept a grant package, which will include: the grant contract, reporting forms, and publicity materials. One copy of the grant contract must be signed and returned to COMPAS within thirty days after it has been received. Any request for revisions in the agreement, or a delay beyond thirty days in signing the contract, requires that the grant recipient make a written request to the COMPAS Community Art Program detailing the request and/or proposing a date by which the agreement will be signed.
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Important: Checklist!
Please complete and return this list with your application. Incomplete applications may not be considered for funding.
The complete application form: pages 8, 9, 11, 13, 14 The name, address, and telephone number of the individual, group, or organization applying. If an organization is applying: a letter of support for the proposed project from the organization's
governing body. This letter must be an original. No copies accepted.
The Project Coordinator’s job description and a resume or list of experience. The Constituent Advisory Panel: a list of at least six individuals, including artists, who will plan,
develop, and work on the proposed project. For each panelist, list the full name, a telephone number, the individual’s role in planning the project, and that person’s role in the proposed activity.
A narrative of no more than three pages about the proposed project, with the following subheadings
Community Need, Program Goal, Program Description, Program Evaluation, Community Involvement, and Artist Involvement.
A budget in which the total expense and total income figures match. A signed original, plus two copies of the application.
Final Preparation
In submitting the signed original application plus two copies: Do not use staples in your application. Use paper clips only, please. The cover page and budgets must be typed (computer versions O.K.). The application and copies should be on 8 1/2" by 11" white paper, one side only. Please do not include colored paper, photographs or slides, odd-sized paper, covers or binders, etc. Do not send staff free tickets to your events as using such gifts is prohibited by COMPAS policy. A complete application includes everything listed on the checklist on this page, unless listed as optional. If you have difficulties getting the materials in by the deadline, please contact the COMPAS Director of Grant Allocations before the deadline. Do not fax your materials to COMPAS. Applications must be delivered to the COMPAS office by 4:00 PM on the day of the deadline. Mail or deliver the signed original plus two copies of your complete application materials to: COMPAS/MCKNIGHT Community Art Program 304 Landmark Center 75 West Fifth Street St. Paul, MN 55102
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FOR OFFICE USE ONLY ¶ PROJECT #: ______________________ ¶ DATE RECEIVED:_________________ ¶ PANEL REVIEW DATE: ___________
Community Art Program Application Applicant Information
Date: ____________________________
Name: (Organization or Individual) _ _____________________________________________ Project Coordinator:___________________________ Daytime Phone: ____________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: ________________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address: ________________________________________________________________
Website:_________________________________________________________________ What City will your proposed project occur in: (check one) Minneapolis___ St. Paul___ Both ___
Estimate the number of people served by your proposed project:__________
Section I: Project Information
1. In the space below, provide a brief summary of your project:
2. Using the list of priorities described in the Program Focus section on page 2 of the guidelines, describe which focus area(s) your project is geared toward (1 or 2 sentences).
Total project budget: $ _____________ Funds requested from COMPAS: $ ___________ Starting date of your project:______________ Ending date of your project:____________ Did you apply to the Community Art Program in the past year and not receive a grant even though your project was evaluated? ____YES ____NO If you marked YES, was your application for: ____ the project you propose in the application, or ____ some other project
Signatures
Please submit at least one set of original signatures with your application.
For Applications from Organizations: The undersigned certify that the information contained in this application is true and correct, and that the proposed project has been approved by the organization’s board of directors or appropriate governing body.
_____________________________________
Signature of the Project Coordinator
___________________________________________
* Signature of a Person Authorized by the Organization’s Governing Body
____________________________________ Typed Name Date
____________________________________________ Typed Name Date
* Applications from organizations also must be accompanied by a formal letter of support for the project from the organization’s governing body. If your organization has non-profit status, please enclose a copy of your W9 or 501(c) 3 exemption letter from the IRS. For Applications from Individuals: The undersigned certify that the information contained in this application is true and correct, and that the proposed project has been developed with a constituent advisory panel.
________________________________________
Signature of the Project Coordinator
_________________________________________
Signature of a Member of the Advisory Panel
________________________________________ Typed Name Date
_________________________________________ Typed Name Da te
Section II: Project Detail
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Please address each of the topics below, in a narrative of three pages or less. Please list each topic as you address it in your narrative. Your narrative MUST USE the following subheadings in the order below or it will not be considered for funding. Community Need: Describe the critical community issue(s) or situation(s) your project intends to address and explain how the use of art is related to how you will address the issue. Goal: Based on the community need for this project, as you identified it above, what fundamental changes does your project seek to make? Project Description: How does your project propose to make the changes outlined above, thereby reaching its goals? Please show how the use of art is critical to this process. Evaluation: How will you know this project is successful? What will be different in your community and how will you recognize the difference? Community Involvement: Please describe how grassroots community people will be involved in the leadership/decision-making process of your project. Is your project a collaboration with other related community efforts? What other actions by community members demonstrate support? Artist Involvement: Please list the name(s) of any artist(s) involved with the project. Describe the role of the artist(s) in the project, from development through the evaluation process.
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Section III: Key Project People
Outline the specific duties expected of the project coordinator and, in the second part, provide a summary of the experience that qualifies the person you have selected to carry out this project. Supply information about the Constituent Advisory Panel for the project.
Project Coordinator’s Job Description
Project Coordinator’s Experience: Use the space below, or attach a resume (one page only), to reflect experiences that address the job description above.
Constituent Advisory Panelist Information:
Use the space below, or attach a list. The panel must comprise at least six individuals, including artists, who plan, develop, and work on the project. Anyone listed here needs to have participated in project planning, and be aware that they are named in this application.
LIST NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER, ROLE IN PLANNING, ROLE IN PROJECT
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Budget Definitions And Instructions
Please read all the definitions and instructions below before completing your budget. Round off all figures to the nearest dollar. Fill in only what applies to your Community Art Program budget, not your total organization or agency budget.
A. Expenses:
1. Personnel. List any payment to individuals who are or will be involved in this project. This includes staff, artists, part-time, or one-time employees, to include any individuals contracted for this project. a) Administration. List job title(s) and any amount(s) to be paid to administrative staff, clerical staff, and support personnel. b) Artistic. List names and amounts to be paid to artistic directors, or artists in this project. c) Other Personnel. List job titles and amounts to be paid to personnel who do not fit the above categories, such as technicians and consultants. 2. Supplies. List items and their costs, such as paint, costumes, scripts and scores, telephone, utilities, postage, photographic supplies, sets and props, insurance fees. 3. Space/Equipment Rental. List items and amounts, at fair market cost, for office, rehearsal, theater, hall, gallery, park permit fees, etc. 4. Travel/Transportation. List any costs of travel and transportation directly related to the proposed project for which people will be compensated. 5. Publicity/Promotion. List all costs of printing and mailing brochures, flyers, newspapers, radio, and television advertising. 6. Other Expenses. List all items and amounts that do not fit in the above categories (Please itemize these expenses). 7. Total Actual Expenses. Enter the total from this column.
B. Income:
1. Earned Income: a) Fee. List all registration fees and tuition, etc. Indicate how many fees are to be collected and the amount per fee. b) Sales. List all sales from advertising, programs, products, concessions, parking, etc. c) Admissions. List all income from admissions, tickets and subscriptions, etc. Indicate the price of each admission charge and the anticipated size of the audience. d) Other. List all items and amounts that do not fit in the above categories (Please itemize this miscellaneous income). 2. Total Earned Income. Enter the total of items a, b, c, and d in #1. 3. Grants and Contributions. List sources of project income amounts under the given categories. Do not include your Community Art Program request here. Please identify other sources of funding, and indicate whether the grant or contribution has been secured. 4. Total Grants and Contributions. Enter the total of items a through e. 5. Total Income. Enter the combined totals of 2 and 4. 6. Community Art Program Request. Enter the amount you are requesting from the Community Art Program. 7. Total Project Income. Add 5 and 6 to arrive at total income; income must equal expenses.
Note: Please do not include in kind here. Describe in kind contributions under the community involvement section of narrative.
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Section IV: Project Budget
COMPAS staff will be glad to assist you in completing this budget form.
A. EXPENSES Actual Cash Expenses
1.
Personnel a) Administration: __ _______________________________________________________ $ ____________ _________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __ _______________________________________________________ $ ____________ b) Artistic: __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ c) Other Personnel (Please specify): __________________________________________________________ $ ____________
2. Supplies: __________________________________________________ $ _____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________
3. Space/Equipment Rental: _____________________________________ $ _____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________
4. Travel/Transportation: ________________________________________ $ _____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________
5. Publicity/Promotion: ________________________________________ $ _____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________
6. Other Expenses: ____________________________________________ $ _____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ __________________________________________________________ $ ____________ 7. TOTAL EXPENSES (add all expense figures).................................$____________
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B. INCOME 1. Earned Income:
Actual Amounts
a) Fees __________________________________________________ b) Sales _________________________________________________ c) Admissions ___________________________________________ d) Other ________________________________________________
$ ____________ $ ___________ $ ___________ $ ___________
2. TOTAL EARNED INCOME............................................................$ ____ ____________ 3. Grants and Contributions: a) Individual Contributions __________________________________ $ ____________ ________________________________________________________ $ ____________ b) Foundations (Specify whether pending or secured) _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ c) Business and Industry ____________________________________ $ ___________ d) Government (Specify source, and whether pending or secured ) _______ $ ___________ _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ e) Other _________________________________________________ $ ___________ _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ _________________________________________________________ $ ___________ 4. TOTAL GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ..................................$____ ____________
5. TOTAL INCOME (add 2. and 4.) ...................................................$ _____ ____________
6. COMMUNITY ART PROGRAM REQUEST .................................$ ____ ____________
7. TOTAL PROJECT INCOME (add 5. and 6.)...............................$ ____ ____________ Please remember PROJECT INCOME (B. 7.) must equal PROJECT EXPENSES (A. 7.)
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COMPAS Grant Allocations Feedback and Technical Assistance Policies and Procedures
COMPAS is committed to minimizing overhead in order to maximize the amount of money available for re-granting. In order to achieve this COMPAS has developed feedback and technical assistance policies and procedures that focus COMPAS efforts on disseminating what is most important to know, and supporting those who are in greatest need of technical assistance. All granting decisions are based on the mission, criteria and explicit values of the respective granting program. Understanding where one’s program activities fall along these various criteria is fundamental. COMPAS grant allocations staff dedicate their time to helping applicants understand the criteria, how grant allocation committees assess their programs against funding criteria, and for those who need technical assistance—helping with proposal presentation. Below you will find key aspects of COMPAS grant allocations process that can help applicants access available funds. These policies and procedures are standing unless otherwise noted in a COMPAS grant application guideline. 1. For clarification regarding eligibility, guideline, and the application process, e-mail your questions to john@compas.org. For applicants that do not have access to e-mail, call 651-292-3287, and leave message if staff is not available. 2. New applicants to a given COMPAS granting program, that do not have a professional/paid grant writer, are eligible to receive a pre-review of their applications. Applicants must submit their proposals for pre-review no later than two weeks prior to the application deadline. The applicant should e-mail proposals to john@compas.org noting that they are a new applicant (without a paid grant writer) and that they are requesting a pre-review of a forth coming application for funding. If the applicant does not have access to e-mail, send draft applications by mail to: COMPAS, Attn. Grant Allocations Pre-review, 304 Landmark Center, 75 West 5th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102. 3. Applicants that are not funded can request feedback regarding the grant allocations committee decision. This request must include the name of the applicant organization, the name of the proposed program, the COMPAS granting program that the application was submitted to, and when the application was submitted. This feedback will be e-mailed (or mailed) to applicants within approximately 2 months after their request. This feedback specifically compares the application against the published criteria for funding that it was rated against. The process informs applicants regarding how the grant allocations committee rated their proposals against the funding criteria. Send your request for feedback to john@compas.org. For those who do not have access to e-mail, mail your request to COMPAS, Attn. Grant Allocations Feedback, 304 Landmark Center, 75 West 5th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102. COMPAS provides this feedback between rounds only. Requests must come at least ten weeks prior to the deadline for the next (following) round of the granting program in question. Most COMPAS grant application deadlines are posted annually. 4. Applicants that receive feedback regarding grant allocation committee ratings of their applications are encouraged to use that feedback, when possible, to improve the application that they submit to the next
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round of the granting program in question. If, after attempting to improve the application in this manner, they are still not recommended for funding, the applicant may request technical assistance from the COMPAS grant allocations director. Technical assistance consists of the grant allocations director rereading the application and sending to the applicant a written response to the proposal. This response typically includes suggested strategies for improving proposal presentation. It can include what the grant allocations director perceives as strengths and weakness of the proposed program as they are relevant to the general criteria of the granting program, as well historical insights regarding the application process. It is important to note that technical assistance does not guarantee funding. Some proposed programs are stronger fits for a given COMPAS granting program than are others. There is always an element of competition in every COMPAS granting program. Each pool of applications is different, and past applications often improve from one round to the next. Send your request for technical assistance to john@compas.org. For those who do not have access to email, mail your request to COMPAS, Attn. Grant Allocations Technical Assistance, 304 Landmark Center, 75 West 5th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102. This request must include the name of the applicant organization, the name of the proposed program, the COMPAS granting program that the application was submitted to, and when the application was submitted. The technical assistance will be emailed (or mailed) to applicants in time to be utilized in the next round of the granting program in question. 5. COMPAS encourages the applicant to use the technical assistance provided by the grant allocations director, when possible, to improve the proposal submitted to the next round of the granting program in question. If, after attempting to utilize the technical assistance to improve their application, the applicant still does not receive a grant, they can contact the grants allocations director for possible further technical assistance. If the grant allocations director determines that he/she can be of further assistance, he/she will set up an in-person technical assistance meeting. These meetings are usually reserved for organizations that exhibit a history of applications and efforts to incorporate feedback indicative of a need for assistance specific to proposal writing. Send your request for technical assistance to john@compas.org. For those who do not have access to email, mail your request to COMPAS, Attn. Grant Allocations Technical Assistance 2nd Meeting, 304 Landmark Center, 75 West 5th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102. This request must include the name of the applicant organization, the name of the proposed program, the COMPAS granting program that the application was submitted to, and when the application was submitted. The technical assistance will be emailed (or mailed) to applicants in time to be utilized in the next round of the granting program in question. It is important to note that it is not the intent of COMPAS to encourage applicants to change their programs, or anyway change their missions in order to receive COMPAS funding. Each nonprofit organization should determine its own programs based on its mission, client, and organizational capacity. COMPAS technical assistance is to improve proposal presentation and to clarify eligibility, guidelines and application process for the applicant. COMPAS seeks to support organizations that, in pursuit of
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furthering their own missions, organically develop programs that advance a COMPAS granting program mission as well.
CALL FOR GRANT ALLOCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
COMPAS requests that each applicant submit 1 name to serve on the Community Art Program grant allocations committee. The COMPAS Grant allocations process relies on the participation of constituents in the funding process. Committee members meet twice a year to make funding decisions and are expected to serve a two-year term. Individuals nominated to serve must be willing to serve on the grant allocations committee. Selfnominees are welcome. COMPAS strives to develop grant allocations committees that are reasonably representative of the applicant pool--depending on the composition of the committee names (nominees) submitted may or may not be asked to serve on the committee. Please fill out the below form and submit it along with your Community Art Program grant application. Name of Nominee:_______________________________________ Organization/Project Associated with:_____________________________________ Telephone:_________________ Email: ____________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Background (art, administrative, etc.): _________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
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COMPAS Community Relations Commitment
AS A STATE-WIDE COMMUNITY ARTS ORGANIZATION, it is the position of COMPAS to respect the recognized commonalties which connect individuals, rather than define for others what constitutes community. COMPAS exists to serve the mosaic of communities that are rooted in the lives of Minnesotans. No non-profit organization can justify existing in isolation from the constituents it professes to serve. Therefore, COMPAS must be an organization reasonably comprised and directed by the communities of Minnesota. Specifically, it is the responsibility of COMPAS to demonstrate its commitment to being constituency driven by the following: actively listening and learning across age, disability, region, religion, race, class, culture, creed, gender and sexual orientation; responsibly addressing community art needs as they are defined by the communities of Minnesota; maintaining a diverse constituent board and staff while realizing that diversity is not a set formula, but rather an on-going commitment to justice based on equal representation.
Because Minnesotans are a collage of differences, COMPAS is dedicated to collaborating across differences, and therefore is committed to: the idea that differences can co-exist in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner and; the idea that art, as an expression of the human spirit, can transcend differences for the common good.
It is the intent of this document to set forth for public record COMPAS’ commitment to being constituency-focused, mission driven. We invite and rely upon our community to hold us accountable to the principles expressed in this document.
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