October 13th MAP Chat Transcript Now Online

Dmm: Are workshop productions eligible?

MAP Fund: Yes, they are. MAP will fund a project from the early stages of development through the premiere production, which includes any workshop presentations. 

Dmm:  Where are the guidelines to prepare the LOI?

MAP Fund:  All the information you'll need is here: http://mapfund.org/apply.html And you can register and complete the LOI here: http://apply.mapfund.org//index_anonymous.php

Dmm:  We are individual artists. We will be working with a 501c3 organization that is not an arts organization. Must they create an account for us? We would prefer to work through them.

MAP Fund:  Yes, if they are your fiscal sponsor, they'll need to create an account first using the second option on the registration page.  Once they do that, they can then register you and then you can sign in and fill in the portions of the LOI that pertain to the project.

JH:  I have a few questions on the transition from LOI to full application: If an organization is invited to submit a full application, what additional information will be asked for? Will the LOI material be included with the full application, and if so will there be the opportunity to edit any of it if necessary?

MAP Fund: If you are invited to submit a full application, you'll be asked to submit a full budget for the project and work samples for your lead artists on the project.  You will also be able to edit your project description to reflect any additional details and add artist statements for your lead artists.

MWB:  If accepted to submit a proposal can we add lead artists not mentioned in the letter of inquiry?

MAP Fund: Unfortunately, no. You cannot add any lead artists after you have submitted your LOI.

JH: Here's another question - we have just incorporated, but have not yet received our 501(c)(3) exemption letter, so in some instances we're still operating under a fiscal sponsor. Would it be possible to apply under our assumed non-profit status, or should we stick to our fiscal sponsor?

MAP Fund:  Unfortunately, no. You must apply with an organization that has 501c3 status at the time you submit your LOI.  So, it sounds like you'll have to go with a fiscal sponsor.

Dmm: Can a non-arts 501c3 organization apply for a MAP grant?

MAP Fund: Yes. any non-profit 501c3 organization (arts-related or not) can apply.

MWB: Our project is currently being conceived by a director and playwright with company. We know that it will have a strong visual element ..and the designer (s) will be lead artist (s) in the project but haven't selected the artist (s). Is that problematic?

MAP Fund:  It sounds like the visual element is pivotal, so yes, that could be a problem when the proposal is reviewed. It would make your proposal stronger if you included them in your LOI as a lead artist.  Of course, if you are invited to make a full applications, you could add information about that artist into your project description, however, you wouldn’t be able to list them as a lead, so you wouldn't be able to include a bio, artist statement and work samples for them.  So, it would really be best to list them as a lead, if possible, because it gives reviewers a full picture of your project.

JH:  Our project will have a trial run in the summer of 2010 and is premiering the summer of 2011. The trial run will not include all elements of the project and would not be formally presented -just work-in-progess-type showings which will allow us to gain more information for the premiere. Does that sound ok in terms of the guideline that the project cannot have premiered anywhere before Septmber 2010?

MAP Fund: That sounds ok. Just be clear about that trial run/workshop in your project description (ie. mention it in the same way that you have here). and keep in mind that if you were to receive a grant, you could not apply any of the funds to that summer presentation, only to activities after Sept. 1, 2010. I would also just be clear in your project description that you are not requesting funds for those workshops.

JH: Should our project budget (should we be asked to submit one) include the summer costs, or just the cost past September?

MAP Fund: You'll want the budget to reflect the whole project.  And in your budget notes, note that your budget includes the workshop/trials.

Dmm:  I’ve logged into the application site. It isn’t clear to me what I need to do for the LOI. The tabs seem to refer to making the full application. What do I need to do to get the LOI to the MAP people?

MAP Fund: You need to go to each section and complete the available fields. You won’t be able to edit fields for the work sample and budget sections. Once you are finished and click submit, if you have left anything out, the application will warn you and won't allow you to submit.

JH:  We are working with a videographer/web artist. If asked to submit a work sample, how could we represent both his skill at videography and designing websites?

MAP Fund: Once you are invited to make a full application, you'll want to follow the directions for a visual artist.  So, screenshots of their work is fine (with a link to their website in the description of the sample). Or you can send clips of their video work.  Or you can send a little of both. Each Lead Artist is essentially allowed to submit 10 min. of sample work.  So for this artist, you'd want to send 5 images or screenshots and 5 min. of video.

Dmm:  About fundraising: I see on the project description tab that the MAP people would like to know how much fundraising has been done. Are MAP grants contingent on our fundraising efforts? Do we need to raise a certain percentage of our budget needs from other revenue sources?

MAP Fund: MAP cannot fund an entire project, so you'll need to be raising funds from other sources. You aren't required to have any money secured at the time of application, but it certainly helps to give a stronger sense of viability if you do. We reccommend that your MAP request be no more than 30-40% of your total project budget.  Another thing to keep in mind is that other sources don't necessarily have to be money sources, “in kind” is also fine.

Dmm:  How many grant applications do you guys usually get?

MAP Fund:  Last year, we received about 600.  We are expecting more this year.