Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation - [image of young people in drum circle]
Grant Seekers

Grant Guidelines: Tupelo Award

The purpose of the Tupelo Award is to offer individuals an opportunity to deepen and enrich an abiding passion or serious interest through study and research of a specific topic and/or development of a project. While there are no limitations as to the field of interest or qualifications of applicants, the opportunity must be one that will broaden the applicant’s view of the world and expand their horizons.

Funding must enable applicants to take advantage of an opportunity otherwise not available to him/her, a great adventure, an experience beyond one's known realities. These grants are intended to make it possible for individuals to participate in an experience that will have significant potential to enrich the applicant’s lives through travel, study or research.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  • be a resident of the Berkshire Taconic region.
  • be aged between 16 and 36 at the time of application.
  • demonstrate financial need and other sources of support for the project.

    • Awards

    Applicants may request funding up to $1,500 for specific, forthcoming opportunities. This amount may change dependent on available funds. The award may provide support for, among other things, travel, materials, tuition, or expenses related to study. The award will only support expenses directly to the applicant’s proposal.

    Awards will not be released if the proposed project does not take place.

    Applicants will be informed of Berkshire Taconic’s decision within two months of the application deadline.

    Review Process

    Applications will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic staff to ensure that eligibility requirements are met. The Selection Committee will then review them and make their determination based on the criteria outlined above.

    Awards will be based on need, merit, and the proposal’s potential impact on the applicant.

    The committee will consider:

  • The quality of project, its scope, its significance to the applicant’s ongoing work/life
  • The commitment of the applicant to achieving the project’s goal as evidenced by other financial support for it.
  • A commitment for public presentation of the results of the work completed under the award.
  • The potential impact of the Tupelo award to the applicant and his/her work/project.
  • Evidence of the applicant’s potential to benefit from this award, as shown by recommendation letters.

    • Reporting Requirements

    Grantees are required to document their project and to offer to donate a copy of the tangible document (for example book, drawings, journals, paper, DVD, CD, performance) to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the grantee’s public library. In addition, grantees must share his/her experience with his/her community with a community presentation such as a lecture, exhibition or published article.

    If you have any questions about the fund, email us at grants@berkshiretaconic.org.