Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Grant Guidelines: New Lebanon Arts and Humanities

The Arts and Humanities Fund of the New Lebanon Foundation is an endowed fund whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the experience of the arts and humanities of students and teachers in the New Lebanon Central School District (NLCSD). We seek to support projects that will promote excellence. Grant applications will be accepted from students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the broader community.

Eligibility

Grants from the New Lebanon Foundation will not replace public dollars for the school district. Possible projects in the arts and humanities include, but are certainly not limited to: new programs; extracurricular activities; individual creative projects, in or outside the classroom; visiting speakers; artists-in-residence; professional development for teachers; library resources; and class field trips. Applicants are encouraged to include student writing activities as a component of the project. Preference will be given to activities that take place within the school community.

The arts and humanities are broadly defined and include all cultural and humanities disciplines. Not eligible are mathematic, scientific, or athletic projects.

Grants awarded may range from $100 to $2,500 for the first several years as the New Lebanon Foundation builds its endowment. Grant money may be used for materials, professional fees, travel, and associated costs.

For requests from individuals, preference will be given to projects that lead to a significant impact on the school community.

Applications will be reviewed by the governing board of the New Lebanon Foundation made up of community members, parents, teachers and the superintendent. Their recommendations will be referred to Berkshire Taconic’s Board of Directors for final approval.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Excellence: Is the project or service truly of a high quality? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the NLCSD community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact.
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible?

If you have any questions about the Arts and Humanities Fund of the New Lebanon Foundation, email us at grants@berkshiretaconic.org.