Grants and Artist-in-Residences are Awesome Opportunities

Grants and Artist-in-Residences are Awesome Opportunities Philanthropy is on the rise. Grants are plentiful, offering funding for publishing, research, workshops, writing, travel, individual/community projects, seminars and more. Grants often require an extensive application process. When applying, youll need a finely-honed mission and letters of recommendation from respected peers. When awarded a grant, youll be required to submit a final report detailing how you spent the funds. Sometimes a sample donation of your work will be requested. Grants are not simply free money. They involve many hours of work, but it is time well-spent. Grants have themes. Grant providers offer grants for specific purposes. Make sure that your project is a good match with the grantors parameters before you begin the application process. Some grants offer funding within specific geographic boundaries; is your geographical location a match? Clearly articulate how you will use the grant money. Include a detailed budget. And explain how this project matches the grants mission. Demonstrate that your requests match the funding guidelines. Explain how this grant will serve your professional career, help others (now and in the future) and expand the grantors mission. Â  If you can communicate these three components, youll be a strong candidate. You need to create a verifiable connection between their goals and your dreams. Grants are about you, the grant funder and the impact the project will have on others. Ive received grants to attend writers conferences because improved writing skills helped at work. Once I applied for and received a little-known $4,000 governors grant for teaching excellence to complete graduate level writing courses. The local state educators association awarded me two $10,000 grants to produce a book with a companion CD about Native American music. The Quaker Lyman Fund funded two grants totaling $5,000 to produce a CD and to support writing and teaching about the importance of spiritual connections in retirement communities. A local bank offered a grant for a writing project for children. The Alex Tanous Foundation funded two summer projects to assist with projects which brought women to my home for 10-week classes. The Puffin Foundation offers grants to save something endangered. My grant project proposal was about saving authentic Native American music, which is also endangered. Two grants, assisting me in completing two music books, arrived. Grant funds can ma ke such a positive impact in bringing creative projects to completion! Artist-in-Residencies (AIRs) have also been welcome gifts during the past 10 years. When I accepted AIR positions at Sleeping Bear Dunes (MI), Acadia (ME), Crater Lake (OR) and Great North Cascades (WA) U.S. National Parks, it became obvious that those without an artistic bent were a bit confused about what I would be doing. Writing and offering one public presentation about my work, was my response. Is that all? some questioned. Yes, that was all. What gifts of time and inspiration! A month of time to create is a present that is difficult to describe. In preparation to apply, one needs to have a vision-a project plan. Make sure your calendar is clear, craft an AIR project on paper, gather references and complete the application. Each park offers a unique experience: Sleeping Bear Dunes reflects Native American legends of the Great Lakes, Acadias rockbound coast/islands strengthen the soul, Great North Cascades offers majestic mountains, wild rivers, mammoth trees and Crater Lakes mystical quality is magnetic! My fifth AIR on Marthas Vineyard at Turkeyland Cove for 17 days of solitude in a magnificent island house resulted in several publications. Hundreds of such opportunities are available all over the world. (Visit www.cafe.org .) Im a writer with a passion to bring written projects to completion. Letters are my tools and words are my medium. Inspirational opportunities abound, but one has to search for a good match and write a convincing pitch. Grants offer money and AIR programs offer inspirational opportunities to connect with beauty and serenity. These gifts will continue to enrich your work for many years.