Blanket Justification for NEA Funding Application Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Government Agencies

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Partnership Agreements,
FY 2017

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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CFDA No. 45.025
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires 11/30/2016

Application Calendar
Category

Application
Deadline

Earliest Announcement of Grant
Award or Rejection

Earliest Beginning Date
for National Endowment for
the Arts Period of
Performance

Partnership
Agreements

September 30, 2016

April 2017

July 1, 2017

Applicants are required to use Grants.gov. See "How to Prepare and Submit an
Application" for further information.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane or Grants.gov technological failure),
the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman may adjust application deadlines for
affected applicants. If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be
posted on our website.
If you have questions:
E-mail:

Laura Scanlan at [email protected] or Andi Mathis at [email protected]
Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or Cheryl Schiele
at [email protected], for questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership

Call:

Laura Scanlan at 202/682-5583 or Andi Mathis at 202/682-5430
Clifford Murphy at 202/682-5726 or Cheryl Schiele at 202-682-5587, for
questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership

202/682-5082 Voice/T.T.Y. (Text-Telephone, a device for
individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing)

Individuals who do not use conventional print may access these
guidelines on the website or contact the Accessibility Office at
202/682-5532 for help in acquiring an audio recording of these
guidelines.

May 2016

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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State Partnership Grant Program Description
By supporting the state arts agencies (SAAs) through Partnership Agreements, the
National Endowment for the Arts makes the arts available in more communities than it
could through direct grants. The SAAs greatly extend the federal reach and impact,
translating national leadership into local benefit.
Most of the fifty state and six jurisdictional arts agencies were created in response to the
national example and financial incentive provided by the National Endowment for the
Arts. For more than 45 years our support for SAAs has helped to attract state funding
that on a nationwide basis far exceeds the federal support. State government support is
vital to the arts in America.
At the core of this federal-state partnership is the planning process that each SAA
engages in to identify and examine state priorities. Planning is inclusive and responsive,
reflecting the goals and activities determined to be most important to that state.
While providing leadership for their states, the SAAs also work cooperatively with the
National Endowment for the Arts to achieve common goals and objectives. Partnership
Agreement funding enables the SAAs to address priorities identified at the state level as
well as National Endowment for the Arts objectives including:
1. Creation: The portfolio of American art is expanded.
To support elements of a state arts plan that enhance opportunities for the
creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence across a diverse
spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations. Through the creation of
art, America’s enduring cultural legacy is replenished and rejuvenated. We
anticipate that the SAAs will be able to address this objective through support for
activities such as the commissioning, development, and production of new work;
and artist stipends, workshops, residencies, apprenticeships, and other
opportunities for artists to create or refine work.
2. Engagement: Americans throughout the nation experience art.
To support elements of a state arts plan that foster public engagement with
artistic excellence across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and
geographic locations. These activities should engage the public directly with the
arts, providing Americans with new opportunities to have profound and
meaningful arts experiences. We anticipate that the SAAs will be able to address
this objective through:
•

Support for activities such as exhibitions, performances, concerts, and
readings; touring and outreach; art fairs and festivals; film screenings;

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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publications; broadcasts and recordings; preservation and conservation
projects; design charrettes; audience services; and technical assistance and
training to enhance audience participation and engagement.
•

Support for activities that foster the arts in rural, inner-city, and other
underserved communities. Funds may assist in the areas of local cultural
development, folk & traditional arts programs, emerging and developing arts
organizations, rural initiatives, activities involving individuals with disabilities,
arts programs for disadvantaged youth, and other programs that extend the
arts to underserved populations.
For the purposes of these guidelines, an underserved community is one in
which individuals lack access to arts programs due to geography, economic
conditions, ethnic background, or disability. Within this broad definition, SAAs
are asked to specify their own underserved constituencies.

•

Support for stable, professionally-directed programs that are responsive to a
state’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage, and that can strengthen state
support of the folk & traditional arts. Programs may include, but are not
limited to, professional positions in support of the folk & traditional arts
(positions should be supported independently of the National Endowment for
the Arts within three years); fieldwork to identify and document underserved
folk & traditional artists; apprenticeships, mentorships, or folk arts in
education programs; and statewide activities that increase public awareness
of living cultural heritage. Both SAAs and nonprofit organizations working in
cooperation with their SAA are eligible for this type of support.
BEGINNING THIS YEAR: We encourage long-range planning for folk &
traditional arts programming and acknowledge that long-range planning is
fortified if accompanied by an extended funding horizon.
To that end:
− Folk Arts Partnership applications submitted by SAAs that are “on-year”
states in this set of guidelines must reflect a three-year planning horizon.
On–year SAAs will not have to apply for folk arts support until the SAA is
an on-year state again, and will receive designated folk arts partnership
support each of the three years, commensurate with year-one funding,
subject to changes in our annual appropriation, or substantive changes in
the program at the state level.
− Folk Arts Partnership applications submitted this year by SAAs that are
“off-year” states should reflect long-range planning for the program but will
need to apply annually for a project that is one-year in scope until the SAA
next becomes an “on-year” state.
− Folk Arts Partnership applications submitted by nonprofit organizations will
reflect projects that are one-year in scope. Nonprofit organizations are not

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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eligible for three-year funding, and must continue to submit a full
application annually that is one-year in scope.
3. Learning: Americans of all ages acquire knowledge or skills in the arts.
To support elements of a state arts plan that provide Americans of all ages with
arts learning opportunities across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and
geographic locations. These activities should focus on the acquisition of
knowledge or skills in the arts, thereby building public capacity for lifelong
participation in the arts. We anticipate that the SAAs will be able to address this
objective through:
•
•

•

•

•

Support for lifelong learning activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational
groups.
Support for in-depth national or state standards-based arts education
activities for youth (generally between ages 5 and 18) in schools or other
community-based settings.
Support for activities that provide opportunities for youth, educators, and
community leaders to gain in-depth arts education knowledge and skills in the
arts.
Support for other activities such as workshops and demonstrations;
mentorships and apprenticeship programs; professional development for
artists, teaching artists, school and school district leaders, community leaders
and other educators; and other arts learning activities.
Poetry Out Loud activities.

4. Livability: American communities are strengthened through the arts.
To support elements of a state arts plan that provide support for and otherwise
encourage activities that incorporate the arts and design into strategies to
improve the livability of communities. Livability consists of a variety of factors that
contribute to the quality of life in a community such as ample opportunities for
social, civic, and cultural engagement; public safety; affordable housing and ease
of transportation; and an aesthetically pleasing environment. We anticipate that
the SAAs will be able to address this objective through support for activities that
focus on the development of plans for cultural and/or creative sector growth and
stability; the enhancement of public spaces through design or new art works; and
other arts or design activities intended to foster community interaction in public
spaces, enhance the unique characteristics of a community, or otherwise
improve community livability.
5. Understanding: Public knowledge and understanding about the contributions of
the arts are enhanced.
To support elements of a state arts plan that increase public knowledge and
understanding of the various ways in which the arts contribute to positive

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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outcomes for individuals and communities within a particular state or region. We
anticipate that the SAAs will be able to address this objective through activities
that include: recognition and promotion of artistic achievement; research and
communication about the arts' contributions to social, civic, economic, and/or
other objectives; impact analyses of arts and cultural programming; recognition of
professional arts workers as a key sector of American industry; efforts by the
SAAs to nurture and promote innovation; collaborations with other state, regional,
or national entities to explore or enhance the role that the arts can play in their
programming; activities promoting cultural diplomacy with other countries; and
hosting or sponsorship of related convenings, information exchanges, and
reports.
The SAAs are vital partners in the National Endowment for the Arts’ ability to gather and
promote evidence of the value and impact of arts and culture to the American people.
We seek to fully and accurately capture the myriad ways in which funds provided to
SAAs for this purpose result in projects that enhance “public knowledge and
understanding about the contributions of the arts.”
Deadline Dates
All applicants must submit their applications electronically through Grants.gov, the
federal government’s online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive
your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on
September 30, 2016. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2017, or any time
thereafter.
Award Information
Partnership Award Amounts
Funds will be allotted in accordance with the National Endowment for the Arts’
legislative mandate, and based on the strength of plans and accomplishments in
relation to the review criteria. Funds for activities that strengthen state support of the
folk & traditional arts are awarded competitively and generally range from $20,000 to
$45,000 annually.
Matching Requirement
All awards must be matched at least 1 to 1.
The 1 to 1 match must come from state government funds that are directly controlled
and appropriated by the state and directly managed by the state agency.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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For those agencies covered by the Economic Development of the Territories Act
(American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin
Islands), the matching requirement does not apply to the first $200,000 of National
Endowment for the Arts funds (48 USC 1469a(d) as amended). Agencies must request
a waiver from the matching requirement for amounts above the first $200,000 of our
funds.
All costs included in your Project Budget must be expended during your period of
performance. Costs associated with other federal funds, whether direct or indirect
cannot be included in your Project Budget. Costs incurred before the earliest project
start date of July 1, 2017, cannot be included in your budget or match.

Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for State Arts Agencies
State arts agency Partnership Agreements are limited to the fifty state and six
jurisdictional arts agencies. In order to enter into a state arts agency Partnership
Agreement and receive federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a
state arts agency must comply with the following requirements:
Legal
The state arts agency must:
•

Comply, at the time of application, with the legal requirements outlined in the
National Endowment for the Arts’ authorizing legislation 20 U.S.C. § 954 (2012) and
found on the agency’s website
at http://www.nea.gov/about/Legislation/Legislation.pdf.

Organizational Entity and Capacity
The state arts agency must:
•
•

•

•

Be domiciled within the State.
Be designated by its State government as programmatically and administratively
responsible for developing a statewide arts plan and establishing arts and cultural
policy having a statewide impact.
Be designated as officially responsible for coordinating and administering all
financial support received from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State in
conjunction with the state arts agency Partnership Agreement.
Have designated staff with relevant experience; a designated budget; and an
independent board, council, or commission whose members serve in an advisory or
policy-making capacity.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Financial Support, Matching Funds, and Financial Reporting
The state arts agency must:
•
•

Be financially supported by its State government.
Match National Endowment for the Arts Partnership Agreement funds at least 1 to 1.
The 1 to 1 match must come from state government funds that are directly controlled
and appropriated by the state and directly managed by the state agency.

•

•

Use Partnership Agreement funds to supplement and not supplant non-federal
funds. (Non-federal funds cannot be replaced with federal funds with the intention or
effect of reducing State financial support for the state arts agency.)
Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due dates for all National
Endowment for the Arts awards previously received, and report on funded activities
in accordance with the National Standard for Arts Information Exchange.

Planning, Programming, and Evaluation
The state arts agency must have developed a state arts plan that:
•
•

•
•

Results from an inclusive, public process that solicited and represented the
perspectives of arts constituencies throughout the State.
Reflects the state arts agency’s operating environment, mission, goals, strategic
directions, action plans, recommendations from the public process, and timelines
and metrics for both accomplishing goals and measuring progress.
Demonstrates the state arts agency’s commitment and its capacity to implement the
arts-related programs and services reflected in the plan.
Bases program funding decisions on criteria that rely primarily upon artistic
excellence and merit.

The state arts agency submits this plan with its Partnership Agreement application.
State arts agencies that subgrant must:
•
•

•

Require their grantees to provide DUNS numbers before a grant can be made.
In certain instances, report grants of $25,000 or more in federal funds and
information about the compensation of executives related to those grants to the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System
(FSRS).
Ensure that all subawards made with Federal or matching funds are in compliance
with the General Terms and Conditions for the National Endowment for the Arts
award, including requirements for pass-through entities provided for under 2 CFR
200.331.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Eligibility Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations cooperating with their State
Arts Agency
Nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with their SAA are eligible for support
designed to strengthen state support of the folk & traditional arts. In order to be eligible,
such organizations must:
•
•
•
•

Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ "Legal Requirements" including nonprofit,
tax-exempt status at the time of application.
Have a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all National
Endowment for the Arts grant(s) previously received.
Have the support of their SAA for this activity (see "How to Apply" for details).

All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with the
System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM
registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made,
throughout the life of the award.

Regional Partnership Grant Program Description
The regional arts organizations (RAOs) are private, nonprofit entities created by state arts
leaders in the mid-1970s to facilitate the exchange of artists across state borders. The
National Endowment for the Arts encouraged the development of RAOs to cultivate the
touring of artists to sparsely populated and underserved areas of the country.
Over time, RAOs have evolved to play a major role in strengthening the effectiveness and
efficiency of the U.S. arts infrastructure. They draw on their own ability to cultivate public
and private resources; work collaboratively across state, national, and international
borders; and deliver programming across all arts disciplines.
RAOs play a leading role with federal agencies, funders, and those working at the state
and community level to design, implement, and channel resources into programs and
services that meet the needs of the public they serve. While they operate independently,
RAOs collaborate with each other, their member states, and constituency groups in a
national network to assist the National Endowment for the Arts and other funders in
distributing programs.
The federal investment in this area is predicated on each RAO executing an inclusive and
responsive planning process in response to constituent needs. Partnership Agreement
funding enables the RAOs to address priorities identified at the regional level as well as
National Endowment for the Arts objectives including:

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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1. Creation: The portfolio of American art is expanded.
To support elements of a regional arts plan that enhance opportunities for the
creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence across a diverse
spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations. Through the creation of
art, America’s enduring cultural legacy is replenished and rejuvenated. We
anticipate that the RAOs will be able to address this objective through support for
activities such as the commissioning, development, and production of new work;
and artist stipends, workshops, residencies, apprenticeships, and other
opportunities for artists to create or refine work.
2. Engagement: Americans throughout the nation experience art.
To support elements of a regional arts plan that foster public engagement with
artistic excellence across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and
geographic locations. These activities should engage the public directly with the
arts, providing Americans with new opportunities to have profound and
meaningful arts experiences. We anticipate that the RAOs will be able to address
this objective through:
•

The NEA Regional Touring Program, which is designed to give all
Americans access to excellence in the performing, literary, media, and visual
arts. Support is available for regional programs that:
-- Increase access in underserved communities.
-- Increase benefit through complementary educational activities and
community partnerships.
-- Are based on planning with touring artists and community groups.
-- Ensure high quality.
-- Encourage diversity.
-- Predominantly feature the presentation of out-of-state* artists and
organizations.
-- Assist and strengthen a network of arts-presenting organizations in rural
and underserved communities.

*Some considerations are allowed for projects that involve multi-state tours
developed by presenter consortia; touring of artists across vast distances
within state boundaries; in-state touring of culturally-specific programs to new
venues and new audiences; or that take place in states that have a large
concentration of artists/organizations, such as California and New York.
However, it is required that at least 85% of the Regional Touring funds will
support the presentation of artists from out of state. No more than 20 percent
of the NEA Regional Touring funds may be used to support an RAO's
administrative costs.

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•

Other elements of a regional arts plan that support presenting, touring,
outreach, and other activities, including booking conferences and professional
development, designed to enhance public engagement with the arts.

•

Support for stable, professionally-directed programs that are responsive to a
region’s diverse folk & traditional arts heritage, and that can strengthen
regional support of the folk & traditional arts. Programs may include, but
are not limited to, professional positions in support of the folk & traditional arts
(positions should be supported independently of the National Endowment for
the Arts within three years); fieldwork to identify and document underserved
folk & traditional artists; apprenticeships, mentorships, or folk arts in
education programs; and regional activities that increase public awareness of
living cultural heritage. Both RAOs and nonprofit organizations working in
cooperation with their RAO are eligible for this type of support.
BEGINNING THIS YEAR: We encourage long-range planning for folk &
traditional arts programming and acknowledge that long-range planning is
fortified if accompanied by an extended funding horizon.
To that end:
− Folk Arts Partnership applications submitted by RAOs that are “onyear” regional arts organizations in this set of guidelines must reflect a
three-year planning horizon. On-year RAOs will not have to apply for
support until the RAO is an on-year regional again, and will receive
designated folk arts partnership support each of the three years,
commensurate with year-one funding, subject to changes in our annual
appropriation, or substantive changes in the program at the regional
level.
− Folk Arts Partnership applications submitted by RAOs that are “offyear” regional arts organizations should reflect long-range planning for
the program but will need to apply annually for a project that is oneyear in scope until the RAO next becomes an “on-year” RAO.
− Nonprofit organizations submitting Folk Arts Partnership applications
are not eligible for three year funding, and must continue to file a full
application annually that is one year in scope.

3. Learning: Americans of all ages acquire knowledge or skills in the arts.
To support elements of a regional arts plan that provide Americans of all ages
with arts learning opportunities across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines
and geographic locations. These activities should focus on the acquisition of
knowledge or skills in the arts, thereby building public capacity for lifelong

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

participation in the arts. We anticipate that the RAOs will be able to address this
objective through:
•
•

Support for lifelong learning activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational
groups.
Support for other activities such as workshops and demonstrations;
mentorships and apprenticeship programs; professional development for
artists, teaching artists, and other educators; and other arts learning activities.

4. Livability: American communities are strengthened through the arts.
To support elements of a regional arts plan that provide support for and
otherwise encourage activities that incorporate the arts and design into strategies
to improve the livability of communities. Livability consists of a variety of factors
that contribute to the quality of life in a community such as ample opportunities
for social, civic, and cultural engagement; public safety; affordable housing and
ease of transportation; and an aesthetically pleasing environment. We anticipate
that the RAOs will be able to address this objective through support for activities
that focus on the development of plans for cultural and/or creative sector growth
and stability; the enhancement of public spaces through design or new art works;
and other arts or design activities intended to foster community interaction in
public spaces, enhance the unique characteristics of a community, or otherwise
improve community livability.
5. Understanding: Public knowledge and understanding about the contributions of
the arts are enhanced.
To support elements of a regional arts plan that increase public knowledge and
understanding of the various ways in which the arts contribute to positive
objectives for individuals and communities within a particular state or region. We
anticipate that the RAOs will be able to address this objective through activities
that include: recognition and promotion of artistic achievement; research and
communication about the arts' contributions to social, civic, economic, and/or
other objectives; impact analyses of arts and cultural programming; recognition of
professional arts workers as a key sector of American industry; efforts by the
RAOs to nurture and promote innovation; collaborations with other state,
regional, or national entities to explore or enhance the role that the arts can play
in their programming; activities promoting cultural diplomacy with other countries;
and hosting or sponsorship of related convenings, information exchanges, and
reports.
The RAOs are vital partners in our ability to gather and promote evidence of the
value and impact of arts and culture to the American people. The National
Endowment for the Arts seeks to fully and accurately capture the myriad ways in
which funds provided to RAOs result in projects that enhance “public knowledge
and understanding about the contributions of the arts.”

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

Deadline Dates
All applicants must submit their applications electronically through Grants.gov, the
federal government’s online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive
your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on
September 30, 2016. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2017, or any time
thereafter.
Award Information
Partnership Award Amounts
Funds will be allotted based on:
• National Endowment for the Arts allocations;
• Strength of the RAO plans and accomplishments in relation to the review criteria;
and
• The number of SAAs that participate as members in the RAO.
The RAO Partnership Agreement grant complements support provided by state arts
agencies (SAAs), other public and private funders, and revenue generated through
earned income.
Funds for activities that strengthen regional support of the folk & traditional arts are
awarded competitively and generally range from $20,000 to $45,000 annually.
Matching Requirement
All awards must be matched at least 1 to 1.
All costs included in your Project Budget must be expended during your period of
performance. Costs associated with other federal funds, whether direct or indirect
cannot be included in your Project Budget. Costs incurred before the earliest project
start date of July 1, 2017, cannot be included in your budget or match.

Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for Regional Arts Organizations
In order to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the National Endowment for the
Arts, a regional arts organization must:

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Be comprised of at least three state arts agency (SAA) members.
Conduct a comprehensive and inclusive planning process that engages SAAs
and other constituents.
Develop programs and services that respond to recommendations from the
planning process.
Establish metrics for accomplishing goals and measuring progress in relation to
the RAO’s plan.
Base program funding decisions on criteria that rely primarily upon artistic
excellence and merit.
Maintain sound fiscal and administrative procedures.
Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ Legal Requirements at the time of
application.
Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts
Endowment award(s) previously received, and report on funded activities in
accordance with the National Standard for Arts Information Exchange.

Regional arts organizations that subgrant must:
•
•

•

Require their grantees to provide DUNS numbers before a grant can be made.
In certain instances, report grants of $25,000 or more in federal funds and
information about the compensation of executives related to those grants to the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting
System (FSRS).
Ensure that all subawards made with Federal or matching funds are in
compliance with the General Terms and Conditions for the National Endowment
for the Arts award, including requirements for pass-through entities as provided
under 2 CFR 200.331.

Eligibility Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations cooperating with their
Regional Arts Organization
Nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with their RAO are eligible for support
designed to strengthen regional support of the folk & traditional arts. In order to be
eligible, such organizations must:
•
•
•
•

Meet the National Endowment for the Arts’ "Legal Requirements" including
nonprofit, tax-exempt status at the time of application.
Have a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all
National Endowment for the Arts grant(s) previously received.
Have the support of their RAO for this activity (see "How to Apply" for details).

All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with the
System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM
registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made,
throughout the life of the award.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

National Endowment for the Arts, Regional, and State Partnership
The National Endowment for the Arts, the Regional Arts Organizations, and the State
Arts Agencies comprise a national network of arts funders, cultural program and service
providers, and leaders in the arts and culture sector. We believe that each participating
entity benefits from partnership in the network. We invest in the network through State
and Regional Partnership Agreement grants in order to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Strengthen the cultural infrastructure of the US,
Facilitate the creation and presentation of artistic works,
Provide the public with lifelong learning opportunities in the arts,
Enhance public engagement with the arts,
Foster greater cultural understanding, and
Contribute to the enrichment of lives and communities throughout the nation.

We acknowledge that SAAs may choose to participate in the work of a regional arts
organization of which it is not a member. SAAs may choose to shift membership from
one regional arts organization to another, or may choose to withhold membership in an
RAO. While recognizing that the ecology of the network benefits from change, we also
believe that the network benefits from stability. To this end, shifts in state membership in
RAOs must be preceded by at least one full year of planning by all of the agencies
involved, including the National Endowment for the Arts.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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National Services Grant Program Description
Limited funds are available for national services that are provided by membership
organizations of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Funds are to be
used for projects that provide leadership, training, planning, coordination, and
information services that increase accountability and transparency. Support for National
Services will come out of funds designated by the Congress for the state arts agencies
and regional arts organizations. In reviewing requests, the National Endowment for the
Arts will use, to the extent applicable, the review criteria for the Regional Arts
Organizations.
In line with its strategic plan, the National Endowment for the Arts has determined that
all National Services projects will address our objective of Understanding: Public
knowledge and understanding about the contributions of the arts are enhanced.
We anticipate that national service organizations will be able to address this objective
through activities that include: recognition and promotion of artistic achievement
throughout the nation; research and dissemination of reports that demonstrate efforts by
SAAs and RAOs to increase public knowledge and understanding about the arts’
contributions to social, civic, economic and/or other objectives; impact analyses of arts
and cultural programming; recognition of professional arts workers as a key sector of
American industry; efforts by the SAAs and RAOs to nurture and promote innovation;
collaborations with other state, regional, or national entities to explore or enhance the
role the arts can play in their programming; activities promoting cultural diplomacy with
other countries; and the hosting or sponsorship of related convenings, information
exchanges, and reports.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Partnership Agreements
How to Prepare and Submit an Application
These application guidelines provide all of the information that you need to submit an
application. We urge you to read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the
application process. If you wish to print a copy, see "Printing Tips." You also may want
to keep these instructions open in a window in your computer as they contain helpful
links to information that you will need as you complete your application.
In addition to these instructions, you should periodically check the Grants.gov blog or
the Grants.gov homepage for tips, updates, and alerts.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY.
1) The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and
accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September
30, 2016. Renew/verify your registration with Grants.gov at least two weeks
before the deadline.
2) Verify that you have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov
installed on your computer before you download your new application package
from Grants.gov.
3) Submit your application by September 20, 2016 to give yourself ample time to
resolve any problems that you might encounter. You take a significant risk by
waiting until the day of the deadline to submit.
•
•
•

The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. (Phone: 1-800-518-4726.)
Submit your application outside of Grants.gov’s hours of heaviest
usage, generally 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
The National Endowment for the Arts will not accept late
applications.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

On- and Off-Year SAA and RAO Applicants
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year review for Partnership
awards. The organizations listed below (on-year applicants) are required to submit fullscale applications including a plan and application narrative:
SAAs
American Samoa
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Hawaii
Kansas
Maine
Maryland

RAOs
Massachusetts
Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virgin Islands
Virginia

National
Services

Arts Midwest

All other SAAs and RAOs have simplified requirements.
Using Grants.gov
Renew/Verify Your Registration [Back to Top]
NOTE: Applicants are required to change their Grants.gov passwords every 60
days. See www.grants.gov for more details on requirements for Usernames and
Passwords.
Renew your registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). Also verify
your registration with Grants.gov and make sure it is current before you apply.
If you have problems with registration:
•

SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220, send a message through the
website at www.sam.gov, or see the information posted on the SAM website at SAM
User Help.

•

Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, e-mail [email protected], or
consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The
Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Download the Application Package [Back to Top]

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

1. Verify your software
You must have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov
installed on your computer before you download your application package from
Grants.gov. Non-compatible versions of Adobe Reader or other Adobe products will
lead to errors and prevent you from submitting your application. If more than one
computer will be involved in the preparation of the application package, ensure that
the same version of Adobe Reader is used.
Please go to "Download Software" to see the compatible versions of Adobe Reader or
to download and install Adobe Reader. See important information about versions of
Adobe Reader DC here.

2. Access the application package on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below:
DOWNLOAD
[Funding Opportunity Number 2017NEA04PA]
This will bring you to the "Selected Grant Applications for Download" screen.
Download the application package and follow the instructions below. It is not
necessary to download the instructions from Grants.gov as you will merely be
directed back to the instructions in this document.
Do not open a Grants.gov “Workspace” environment to create, prepare, or submit
your application materials.
3. When you download the application package, the Grants.gov "Grant Application
Package" screen will open. Click on the "Save" button and save the application
package to a location on your computer or network where you can find it
readily. Save your application each time you work on it. You will get the message:
"The File already exists. Replace existing file?" Click "Yes" to ensure that you always
save the most recent version.
4. You can access each Mandatory form by clicking on it OR you can scroll down your
screen and you will come to each form in succession.
The forms are:
•

Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form
asks for basic information about your organization and application. Complete
this form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where
possible. See instructions for completing this form below.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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•

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this
form below.

•

Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a
place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic
plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov application package to be
considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Submit Your Electronic Application [Back to Top]
1. Check the size of your electronic application. The total size should not exceed 10
MB.
2. To begin the submission process, click the Save & Submit button. [This button will
not become active (and turn from light to dark gray) until you have saved your
application with all required fields completed. Clicking this button will prompt you to
save your application package one last time. When asked if you want to replace the
existing file, click “Yes.” You will then be reconnected to Grants.gov and the
Internet.] You will be prompted to provide your Grants.gov Username and
Password that you obtained during registration.
3. Click the "Login" button. This will bring you to the "Application Submission
Verification and Signature" screen, which provides a summary of the Funding
Opportunity for which you are applying. If everything looks accurate, click the "Sign
and Submit Application" button to complete the process. Be certain that you are
satisfied with your application before you click this button. No revisions to
your application are possible through Grants.gov once it is submitted.
If you have difficulty submitting, go to Adobe Reader Error Messages or Applicant
Resources for several tools and documents to help you.
4. Ensure that your application was validated and accepted by the Grants.gov system.
Go to Track My Application to track the validation and progress of your application
submission through Grants.gov.

REMINDER: After submitting your application to Grants.gov, the optional work samples
for applicants requesting support to strengthen state/regional support of the folk &
traditional arts must be submitted electronically through the NEA GrantsOnline™
System (NEA-GO). This system is being administered for the NEA by the Western
States Arts Federation (WESTAF).
Additional Help

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

For additional help on how to use Grants.gov, please see the Grants.gov website at
Support. You also can send e-mail to the Grants.gov Contact Center at
[email protected] or call them at 1-800-518-4726, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a
week.
For specific help on how to complete your application, please review the instructions in
these guidelines or contact the State & Regional staff: Andi Mathis at [email protected]
or 202/682-5430.
For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership, contact the Folk & Traditional Arts staff:
Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202/682-5587.
Application Instructions
For a complete application, follow Steps 1-6 below.

A complete application for SAAS, RAOs, and National Services
applicants consists of the following. (Off-year applicants do not
have to submit items that are asterisked.)
•
•
•

•

Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424
Mandatory)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
Attachments Form to which you have attached:
o Staffing List
o Board Membership List
o Revenue Sources Information Form (for RAOs only)
o Application Narrative
o Strategic Plan *
o Changes in Conflict of Interest/Appeals
o Strengthening of State/Regional Support for Folk &
Traditional Arts Project Narrative (only for those
requesting such support)*
o Strengthening of State/Regional Support for Folk &
Traditional Arts Budget (only for those requesting such
support)*
o Poetry Out Loud Plan (SAAs only)
Optional work samples for Folk & Traditional Arts applications
to be submitted electronically through NEA-GO

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

A complete application for nonprofit organizations applying for
state/regional strengthening of the Folk & Traditional Arts consists of
the following:
•
•
•

•

Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424
Mandatory)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
Attachments Form to which you have attached:
--Project Narrative
--Project Budget Form, Pages 1 and 2
--Statement(s) of Support from SAA/RAO
Optional work samples to be submitted electronically through
NEA-GO

Materials for Panel Review: Not all of the items that constitute a complete “on-year”
application will be reviewed by Partnership Agreements panelists. Panelists will review
only the following items:
• Narrative with links to online support materials
• SAA/RAO Statements
• Board Membership List
• Strategic Plan
• Staffing List
• Resources Page (RAOs Only)
The Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership narrative, budget, and support materials are
reviewed by a separate Folk & Traditional Arts panel.
Application narratives should not refer panelists to any other application materials that
you submit.
NOTE FOR THE GRANTS.GOV FORMS THAT FOLLOW: All asterisked (*) items and
yellow fields on the Grants.gov forms are required and must be completed before you
will be able to submit. Do not type in all capital letters when completing the forms. Enter
information directly into the forms. Do not copy from an old application package or
another document and paste into the forms.

Step 1: Fill out the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/SF-424
Mandatory [Back to Top]

1. Items 1a-d default to certain selections; do not change them.
2. Date Received: This will be filled automatically with the date that you submit your
application; leave blank.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Applicant Identifier: This is for your own use or you can leave blank.
4., 5., and 6.: Leave blank.
7. Applicant Information:
a. Legal Name: The name provided here must be the applicant's legal name as it
appears in the current IRS 501(c)(3) status letter or in the official document that
identifies the organization as a unit of state or local government. (Do not use your
organization's popular name, if different.)
b. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the 9-digit number that
was assigned by the Internal Revenue Service; do not use a Social Security Number.
c. Organizational DUNS: All organizational applicants for federal funds must have a
DUNS number, which is recognized as the universal standard for identifying
organizations worldwide. The number that you enter here must agree with the
number (either 9 or 13 digits) that you used with SAM (System for Award
Management) as part of your Grants.gov registration. Otherwise, your application
will not be validated by Grants.gov and will be rejected.
d. Address:
Use Street 1 for your street address or post office box number, whichever is used for
your U.S. Postal Service mailing address. Street 2 is not a required field and should be
used only when a Suite or Room Number or other similar information is a necessary
part of your address. Do not use Street 2 to give a second address for your
organization.
In the Zip/Postal Code box, organizations in the United States should enter the full 9digit zip code that was assigned by the U.S. Postal Service. If you do not know your
full zip code, you may look it up at www.usps.com/zip4/.
e. Organizational Unit: Leave blank.
f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this
application: Provide the requested information for the individual who should be
contacted on all matters involving this application and the administration of any grant
that may be awarded.
8a. Type of Applicant: Select the item that best characterizes your organization from
the menu in the first drop down box. An additional description is optional.
9. Name of Federal Agency: This has been pre-populated.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: This has been pre-populated.
11. Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Enter Partnership Agreement.
12. Areas Affected by Funding: Leave blank.
13. Congressional District Information:
a. Applicant: Enter the number of the Congressional District where the applicant
organization is located. Use the following format: 2 character State Abbreviation-3
character District Number. For example, if your organization is located in the 5th
Congressional District of California, enter "CA-005." If your state has a single At-Large
Representative or your territory has a single Delegate, enter your 2 character
state/territory abbreviation and "-000." If you need help determining your district, please
visit the House of Representatives website at www.house.gov and use the "Find Your
Representative" tool.
b. Project: Leave blank.
14. Funding Period: Enter the beginning and ending dates for your requested period of
performance, i.e., the span of time necessary to plan, execute, and close out your
Partnership Agreement. The start date should be the first day of the month, and the end
date should be the last day of the month. Our period of performance may start on or
after July 1, 2017. Generally, a period of performance of up to two years is allowed.
15. Estimated Funding:
a. Federal: Enter "0."
b. Match: Leave blank.
16. State Executive Order 12372 Process: Applicants should contact the State Single
Point of Contact for Executive Order 12372 to determine whether this application is
subject to their state’s intergovernmental review process. The U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) maintains a list of official State Single Points of
Contact designated by the States to review and coordinate proposed federal financial
assistance and direct federal development. See www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.
(Nonprofit organizations applying for state/regional strengthening of the folk & traditional
arts should check box c: "Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.")
17. Is the Applicant Delinquent on Any Federal Debt?: Examples of relevant debt
include delinquent payroll or other taxes, audit disallowances, and benefit
overpayments. If your response is "yes," click on the "Yes" box and include an
explanation with your application.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

18. Authorized Representative: Enter the requested information for the AOR
(Authorized Organization Representative) who will be submitting this application to
Grants.gov. The AOR must have the legal authority to obligate your organization. By
clicking the "I Agree" box at the top of Item 17, this individual will be certifying
compliance with relevant federal requirements on your organization's behalf. (These
requirements can be found in the Assurance of Compliance section of these guidelines.)
The "Signature of Authorized Representative" and "Date Signed" boxes will be
populated by Grants.gov upon submission of the application.
Stop after item 18. Do not add attachments.

Step 2: Fill out the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

[Back to Top]

Items 1-3 default to certain selections; do not change them.
4. Name and Address of Reporting Entity: Provide the requested information for the
reporting entity. Include Congressional District, if known. (Nonprofit organizations
applying for state/regional strengthening of the folk & traditional arts should enter their
own name and address.)
5. If Reporting Entity in No. 4 is Subawardee: Leave blank.
6. Federal Department/Agency: Enter "National Endowment for the Arts."
7. Federal Program: This has been pre-populated.
8. Federal Action Number, if known: Leave blank.
9. Award Amount, if known: Leave blank.
10. a. Name and Address of Lobbying Registrant: Provide the requested information for
the registrant under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 engaged by the reporting
entity identified in item 4 to influence the covered federal action. If not applicable, enter
"N/A" in the fields for First Name and Last Name. (This item is not applicable for
nonprofit organizations applying for state/regional strengthening of the folk & traditional
arts.)
b. Individual Performing Services: Enter the name of the individual performing services,
and include an address if different from 10 (a). If not applicable, enter "N/A" in the fields
for First Name and Last Name. (This item is not applicable for nonprofit organizations
applying for state/regional strengthening of the folk & traditional arts.)

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

11. Authorized Representative: Provide the requested information for the AOR
(Authorized Organization Representative) who will be submitting the Partnership
Agreements application to Grants.gov. The "Signature" and "Date" boxes will be
populated by Grants.gov upon submission of the application.
Step 3 for SAAs, RAOs, and National Services Applicants: Complete and Attach
Required Items to the Attachments Form [Back to Top]
The "Attachments Form" is not a form in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a place to
attach documents that you have completed and saved elsewhere on your computer.
1. Attachments 3 (Revenue Sources Information for RAOs only) and 8 (Project Budget
Form for SAAs/RAOs applying for folk & traditional arts strengthening) are fillable
forms; you will find a link to each. These forms can be filled in, saved to your
computer, and attached without the need for special software or conversion to PDF.
Please be sure you are using Adobe Reader (version 9 or higher) when filling out
our PDF forms.
Note to Mac users: Your computer may be set to open PDF files using Preview
(you can tell which program is being used to view a PDF file by looking at the leftmost item in the menu bar). Please verify that you are using Adobe Reader and not
Preview. If you don’t have Adobe Reader installed, you can download it here:
http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

2. All other attachments are documents (e.g., narratives, lists) that you will develop in
accordance with the instructions provided. These items must be submitted as
PDF (portable document format) files.

Do not create PDFs of your electronic documents by scanning. Do not embed nonprintable media files (video and/or sound) in your PDF documents. Static images
(e.g., pictures) are acceptable. Please do not enable any document security settings
or password-protect any PDF file you submit to us.
No attachment should be more than 2 MB.
3. For non-form documents, label pages clearly with the name of the item (e.g., Staffing
List) and your organization's legal name. Leave a margin of at least one inch at the
top, bottom, and sides of all pages. Do not reduce type below 12 point font size.
Do not type in all capital letters. Number pages sequentially; place numbers on the
bottom right hand corner of each page. Excess pages will be removed and will not
be reviewed.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Name your files as indicated below and attach them in the proper order. Limit
file names to 50 characters and use only the following characters when naming your
attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, and period. Please
note that you cannot change the name of a file on the Attachments Form. Therefore
make certain that each file is named correctly before you attach it. Your agency
name (or acronym) must be included in each file name (e.g.
"ABCArtsCouncilStaff.pdf").
When you open the Grants.gov Attachments Form, you will find 15 attachment buttons.
By clicking on a button, you will be able to choose the PDF file from your computer that
you wish to attach. Please attach the proper file to the proper button as listed below.

The Attachments

ATTACHMENT 1: STAFFING LIST
For both on- and off-year SAAs and RAOs: To this button, attach a one-page Staffing
List. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable
acronym followed by "Staff.pdf" (e.g., "ABCArtsCouncilStaff.pdf").
Label the page clearly with your organization's legal name and "Staffing List." Set your
page up with two columns with these headings: 1) Name, and 2) Position Title/Area of
Responsibility.
Provide the requested information on all professional staff. Include both salaried and
contractual personnel (including Arts Education and Folk & Traditional Arts staff, and
Poetry Out Loud Coordinators), with the exception of artists who spend more than 50%
of their working time away from your offices.
•

Place "(504)" in parentheses by the name of the staff member who serves as
your agency's 504 coordinator.

•

Indicate by asterisk (*) personnel who are one or more of the following: American
Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black
or African American, or Hispanic or Latino.

Example:
Name
Jane Doe *
John Smith (504)

Position Title/Area of Responsibility
Executive Director
Director for Education

ATTACHMENT 2: BOARD MEMBERSHIP LIST

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

For both on- and off-year SAAs and RAOs: To this button, attach a one-page Board
Membership List. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a
recognizable acronym followed by "Board.pdf."
Label the page clearly with your organization's legal name and "Board Membership
List." Set your page up with four columns with these headings: 1) Name, 2) Occupation,
3) City, and 4) Arts Interest/Affiliation.
Provide the requested information on all board members.
•

Indicate by asterisk (*) members who are one or more of the following: American
Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black
or African American, or Hispanic or Latino.

•

Indicate by a cross (+) members who also are office holders.

Example:
Name

Occupation

City

Mary Smith +

Lawyer

Springfield

Bill Doe *

Business Owner

Sunnyvale

Arts Interest/
Affiliation
Board, ABC Dance
Company
Visual Arts Patron

ATTACHMENT 3: REVENUE SOURCES INFORMATION FORM
[DOWNLOAD FORM]
For both on- and off-year RAOs: To this button, attach the Revenue Sources
Information form. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a
recognizable acronym followed by "Revenue.pdf."

ATTACHMENT 4: APPLICATION NARRATIVE
To this button, attach an Application Narrative. The file name should indicate the
name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "Narrative.pdf."
Label each page clearly with your organization's legal name and "Application Narrative."
Do not include information on Poetry Out Loud as part of your Application Narrative.
This information is requested separately as Attachment 9. If you are requesting support
to strengthen state or regional support of the folk & traditional arts, details on that
activity are requested in Attachment 7 and should not be repeated here.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

•

For off-year applicants, submit a narrative update of up to one page that
describes your organization’s activities for the last year and outlines any changes
in your organization, plans, or process.

•

For on-year SAAs and RAOs, submit a narrative LINK not to exceed 10
numbered pages including the budget chart. Follow the narrative instructions for
either state arts agencies or regional arts organizations.
Provide electronic links to support material in your narrative. (We no longer
accept hard copies of support material.)

ATTACHMENT 5: STRATEGIC PLAN
For on-year SAAs and RAOs: To this button, attach a single file that includes the two
items below. The file name should indicate the name of your organization or a
recognizable acronym followed by "Plan.pdf." Label each page clearly with your
organization's legal name and "Strategic Plan."
1) A one-page Executive Summary of your organization’s most current Strategic
Plan. This summary should highlight the major goals, focus, and direction for
your agency as outlined in the plan.
Indicate the time period covered by your current plan (e.g., 2015–2018) and
where your organization is in its planning cycle. Examples may include: at the
beginning of a new plan, mid-way through the existing plan, closing out an
existing plan and preparing for a new plan, or extending the existing plan for one
year.
2) The Strategic Plan document (not to exceed 25 numbered pages). The plan
should convey your agency’s mission, vision, goals, objectives, major strategies,
and evaluation plans. If your agency has just completed a new plan, and your
accomplishments relate to an earlier plan, attach the new plan here. You will
have an opportunity to link to the former plan in your narrative.
If your complete plan exceeds 25 pages, attach here the 25 pages that you want
the panel to review. Include within your narrative a link to your full plan if it
exceeds 25 pages. If you have an agency work plan or program implementation
plan developed to complement your Strategic Plan, please provide a link,

ATTACHMENT 6: CHANGES IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST/APPEALS
For both on- and off-year SAAs and RAOs: If applicable, to this button attach your
Changes in Conflict of Interest/Appeals document. Submit this item only if there has
been a change in your conflict of interest policies or appeals process since you last

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

applied for a Partnership Agreement. The file name should indicate the name of your
organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "Changes.pdf." Label each page
clearly with your organization's legal name and "Changes in Conflict of
Interest/Appeals."

ATTACHMENT 7: FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTS INFORMATION
For both on - and off-year SAAs and RAOs: If you are applying for support to
strengthen state or regional support of the folk & traditional arts, to this button attach
information as detailed below. The file name should indicate the name of your
organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "Folk.pdf." Label each page clearly
with your organization's legal name and "Folk & Traditional Arts Information."
For on-year SAA and RAO applicants: Your narrative and budget must reflect a
three-year programming horizon. Narratives should not exceed five pages. For off-year
SAA and RAO applicants: Your narrative and budget must reflect a one-year
programming horizon. Narratives should not exceed four pages.
Provide the following information:
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

•

At the beginning of your narrative, a brief one-paragraph summary of your
proposed activities including the amount you are requesting.
The details of your proposed activities to strengthen the folk & traditional arts.
Note whether your proposal is for a one-time project or part of a recurring
program. If part of a recurring program, describe your experience with the
program thus far.
Explain how your activities will benefit all participating partners.
Describe how the activities relate to your organization's overall state or regional
plan, including how the work helps to fulfill the plan’s goals and objectives.
Efforts that your agency is making to engage in multi-year planning for future folk
& traditional arts strengthening activities.
The qualifications of the key personnel.
Your plans for documenting and evaluating the program.
For professional folk arts positions, how the position will be supported
independently of the National Endowment for the Arts within three years. If you
are requesting second or third year support for a position, provide a status report
on the activities that have been funded thus far and your plans for continuing the
position beyond the National Endowment for the Arts-supported period of
performance.
On the last page, provide a description of any work sample(s) that you are
submitting. In addition to the material that you submit electronically through
Grants.gov, you have the option of submitting work samples. See Step 6
below for details on submitting these materials electronically through NEA-GO.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

ATTACHMENT 8: FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTS BUDGET INFORMATION
For both on- and off-year SAAs and RAOs: If you are applying for support to
strengthen state or regional support of the folk & traditional arts, to this button attach the
Project Budget Form, Pages 1 and 2. The file name should indicate the name of your
organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "Folk Budget.pdf."
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD [FORM] [INSTRUCTIONS]
On-year SAA and RAO applicants should present three year budgets. Your budget
should include the following as appropriate to your proposed activities to strengthen the
folk & traditional arts: Income such as state arts agency funds, support from
foundations or other partners (please identify), and in-kind support (please identify the
source); and Expenses such as salaries, artists’ fees, travel,
administrative/space/equipment costs, documentation, design fees, etc.

ATTACHMENT 9: POETRY OUT LOUD PLAN
For both on- and off-year SAAs involved with Poetry Out Loud: To this button, attach
your Poetry Out Loud Plan. The file name should indicate the name of your
organization or a recognizable acronym followed by "PoetryOutLoud.pdf." Label each
page clearly with your organization's legal name and "Poetry Out Loud Plan.”
Submit no more than two pages. Describe the activities proposed for 2017-2018
including the anticipated geographic reach and timetable. List the name, position/title,
telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of your Poetry Out Loud coordinator. If
program coordination is contracted out, list both the contractor's information and the
name of the main SAA supervisor/contact. For more information about running a
statewide Poetry Out Loud program, please see “Poetry Out Loud State Partnership
Agreement Information.”

*

*

*

*

*

Step 3 for Nonprofit Organizations Applying for State/Regional Strengthening of
the Folk & Traditional Arts: Complete and Attach Required Items to the
Attachments Form [Back to Top]
When you open the Grants.gov Attachments Form, you will find 15 attachment buttons.
By clicking on a button, you will be able to choose the file that you wish to attach.
Attachment 2 (Project Budget Form) is a fillable form; you will find a link to it. The other
attachments should be created, saved to your computer, and converted to PDF before

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

attaching. Follow all instructions on formatting and PDF Conversion that appear
above (under Step 4 for SAAS, RAOs, and National Services). Please attach the
proper file to the proper button as listed below.

ATTACHMENT 1: DETAILS OF THE PROJECT NARRATIVE
To this button, attach your Details of the Project narrative. The file name should
indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by
"DetailsofProject.pdf." Label each page clearly with your organization's legal name and
"Project Narrative." Your narrative can be a maximum of four pages, but keep in mind
that reviewers prefer succinct descriptions. Provide the following information:
•
•
•

•
•

•

•
•
•

•

•

At the beginning of your narrative, a brief one-paragraph summary of your
proposed project including the amount you are requesting.
The details of your proposed activities to strengthen your state or region's
support of the folk & traditional arts.
Note whether your proposal is for a one-time project or part of a recurring
program. If part of a recurring program, describe your experience with the
program thus far.
Explain how your project will benefit all participating partners.
Describe how the project relates to your state or region's overall plan,
programming, and strategies for strengthening support of the folk & traditional
arts.
Efforts that your organization and collaborating SAA(s)/RAO are making to
engage in multi-year planning for future folk & traditional arts strengthening
activities.
The qualifications of the key personnel.
Your plans for documenting and evaluating the program.
Some specific examples of previous activities that: 1) demonstrate your
organization's ability to carry out the proposed project, and 2) document your
organization's three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
For professional folk arts positions, how the position will be supported
independently of the National Endowment for the Arts within three years. If you
are requesting second or third year support for a position, provide a status report
on the activities that have been funded thus far and your plans for continuing the
position beyond the National Endowment for the Arts-supported period of
performance.
On the last page, provide a description of any work sample(s) that you are
submitting. In addition to the material that you submit electronically through
Grants.gov, you have the option of submitting work samples. See Step 6
below for details on submitting these materials electronically through NEA-GO.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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ATTACHMENT 2: PROJECT BUDGET FORM, PAGES 1 and 2
To this button, attach the Project Budget form, Pages 1 and 2. The file name should
indicate the name of your organization or a recognizable acronym followed by
"ProjectBudget.pdf."
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD [FORM] [INSTRUCTIONS]
Your budget should reflect only the activities and associated costs to be incurred during
the "Period of Performance" that are appropriate to your proposed activities to
strengthen the folk & traditional arts: Income such as state arts agency funds, support
from foundations or other partners (please identify), and in-kind support (please identify
the source); and Expenses such as salaries, artists’ fees, travel,
administrative/space/equipment costs, documentation, design fees, etc.
Costs associated with other federal funds, whether direct or indirect (e.g., flow down
through a state arts agency) can’t be included in your Project Budget.
NOTE: We do not fund (and the matching funds can't be used for) the
construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. Do not include these costs in the
Project Budget Form as either income or expenses.

Income
1. Amount requested from the National Endowment for the Arts: State the
amount that you are requesting. If you are recommended for less than the
amount that you request you will be asked to revise your project budget. The
National Endowment for the Arts reserves the right to limit its support of a project
to a particular portion(s) or cost(s).
2. Total Match for This Project: The National Endowment for the Arts requires
each applicant to obtain at least half the total cost of each project from
nonfederal sources. For example, if you receive a $50,000 grant, your total
project costs must be at least $100,000 and you must provide at least $50,000
toward the project from nonfederal sources. Matches of more than dollar for
dollar are encouraged as long as they meet federal and NEA grant requirements.
These matching funds may be all cash or a combination of cash and in-kind
contributions.
Place an asterisk (*) next to those funds that are committed or secured.
You may include matching funds that are proposed but not yet committed at the
time of the application deadline. If you use in-kind contributions as part of your

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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match, you need to maintain proper documentation. For help in doing this, see
our sample format for recording in-kind (third-party) contributions.
3. Total Project Income: Total of "1. Amount requested from the National
Endowment for the Arts" and "2. Total match for this project."

Expenses
Direct Costs are those that are identified specifically with the project during the period
of performance, and are allowable. Be as specific as possible.
1. DIRECT COSTS: Salaries and wages cover compensation for personnel,
administrative and artistic, who are paid on a salary basis. (Funds for contractual
personnel and compensation for artists who are paid on a fee basis should be
included in "3. Other expenses" on Page 2 of the Project Budget form, and not
here.) Indicate the title and/or type of personnel, the number of personnel, the
annual or average salary range, and the percentage of time that will be devoted
to the project annually. List key staff positions, and combine similar functions.
Where appropriate, use ranges. If the costs for evaluation and assessment are
part of staff salary and/or time, separately identify those costs.
Example:
Title and/or type Number of Annual or average % of time
of personnel

personnel salary range

Amount

devoted to
this project

Executive

1

$40,000 per yr.

7%

$2,800

1

$40,000 per yr.

3%

$1,200

Curators

3

$20-25,000 per yr. 5-40%

$15,000

Support Staff

2

$15-20,000 per yr. 20-30%

$9,000

Director (most of
project)
Executive
Director
(evaluation only)

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Salaries and wages for performers and related or supporting personnel must be
estimated at rates no less than the prevailing minimum compensation as required
by the Department of Labor Regulations. (See "Legal Requirements" for
details.) NEW: Awards that the National Endowment for the Arts makes after
December 26, 2014, now allow the following: Salaries/wages/fringe benefits
incurred in connection with fundraising. These costs must be incurred during the
National Endowment for the Arts project period of performance, and be approved
as allowable project expenses by the agency.
Fringe benefits are those costs other than wages or salary that are attributable
to an employee, as in the form of pension, insurance, vacation and sick leave,
etc. They may be included here only if they are not included as indirect costs.

2. DIRECT COSTS: Travel must be estimated according to the applicant's
established travel practice, providing that the travel cost is reasonable and does
not exceed the cost of air coach accommodations. Include subsistence costs
(e.g., hotels, meals) as part of the "Amount" listed for each trip, as appropriate.
Foreign travel, if any is intended, must be specified by country of origin or
destination and relate to activity outlined in your narrative. Foreign travel also
must conform to government regulations, including those of the U.S. Treasury
Department Office of Foreign Asset Control. If National Endowment for the Arts
funds are used for foreign travel, such travel must be booked on a U.S. air-carrier
when this service is available. List all trips -- both domestic and foreign -individually.

3. DIRECT COSTS: Other expenses include consultant and artist fees, contractual
services, promotion, acquisition fees, rights, evaluation and assessment fees,
access accommodations (e.g., audio description, sign-language interpretation,
closed or open captioning, large-print brochures/labeling), telephone,
photocopying, postage, supplies and materials, publication, distribution,
translation, transportation of items other than personnel, rental of space or
equipment, and other project-specific costs. List artist compensation here if
artists are paid on a fee basis. For procurement requirements related to contracts
and consultants, please review 2 CFR Part 200.317-.326. Limit your descriptions
to 100 characters maximum.
Television broadcast projects and educational/interpretive videos must be closed
or open captioned. Applicants should check with captioning organizations for an
estimate.
Clearly identify the rental of equipment versus the purchase of equipment. If you
intend to purchase any equipment that costs $5,000 or more per item and that
has an estimated useful life of more than one year, you must identify that item

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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here. Provide a justification for this expenditure either in this section of the
Project Budget form or in your narrative. Computing devices are considered
supplies if less than $5,000 per item regardless of the length of useful life.
Group similar items together on a single line, with only one total cost. List
consultant and artist fees or contracts for professional services on consecutive
lines; do not scatter them throughout the list. Specify the number of persons, the
service being provided, and the applicable fee, rate, or amount of each. For other
types of line items, provide details of what is included in each item. See the
“Administration” example below.
Example:
Artists (5 @ $300-500 per week/30 weeks)
Consultants (2 @ $150 per 1/2 day/1 day per mo./10

$60,000
$6,000

mos.)
Access accommodations (sign-language interpretation

$1,200

and audio description)
Costumes, props

$6,500

Project supplies

$4,000

Administration (rent -- $4,500, telephone -- $300,

$5,000

copying -- $200)
The following costs are unallowable and cannot be supported with either National
Endowment for the Arts funds or matching funds:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Alcoholic beverages.
Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items (e.g., iPads,
gift certificates) with monetary value.
Cash reserves or endowments.
Concessions (e.g., food, T-shirts, other items for resale).
General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
Contributions and donations to other entities.
Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.
Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas.
Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
Lobbying.
Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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•
•
•
•

Audit costs that are not directly related to a single audit (formerly known
as an A-133 audit).
Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities
affiliated with the applicant organization.
Visa costs paid directly to the U.S. government.
Costs incurred before the beginning of the official period of performance.

4. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS is the total of all direct cost items listed in "1. Salaries
and wages" (from Page 1 of the Project Budget form), "2. Travel," and "3. Other
expenses."

5. INDIRECT COSTS are overhead or administrative expenses that are not readily
identifiable with a specific project. (The costs of operating and maintaining
facilities and equipment, depreciation or use allowances, and administrative
salaries and supplies are typical examples of indirect costs.) Indirect costs are
prorated or charged to a project through a rate negotiated with the Arts
Endowment or another federal agency. You are not required to have an indirect
cost/facilities and administration rate to apply for or receive a grant. You may
claim administrative costs or overhead as direct costs under "3. Other expenses."
Alternatively, a non-federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect
cost rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct
costs (MTDC). For more information see 2 CFR Part 200.414.f. However, you
cannot claim both Indirect Costs and Administrative costs; you must choose one
method or the other. If you have a negotiated rate and would like to include
indirect costs, complete the information requested in this section. If you do not
have or intend to negotiate an indirect cost rate, or do not plan to charge a de
minimis 10% rate leave this section blank. Applicants may only apply a Research
IDC for applications to the Research: Artworks program. For additional
information, see "Indirect Cost Guide for NEA Grantees."

6. TOTAL PROJECT COSTS is the total of "4. Total direct costs," and, if
applicable, "5. Indirect costs." NOTE: "3. Total project income" (from Page 1 of
the Project Budget form) must equal the "Total project costs." Your project
budget should not equal your organization's entire operating budget.

ATTACHMENT 3: SAA/RAO STATEMENTS:
To this button, attach a statement(s) from the relevant state arts agency(ies) or regional
arts organization that reflects their support for and involvement in the project as the

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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state or region's only application for this type of project. Statements should discuss how
the project will relate to the state or region's overall plan for support of the arts. Each
statement should include the name, phone number, and email address of the individual
who provided it.

You do not have to fill the remaining Attachment buttons.

Step 5: Submit Items in Steps 1-3 above electronically through Grants.gov [Back to
Top]

Follow the detailed instructions under “Submit your electronic application” above.

Step 6: Electronic Submission of Work Samples [Back to Top]

Folk & Traditional Arts Material (OPTIONAL)
In addition to the material that you submit through Grants.gov, both on- and off-year
SAAs and RAOs, and nonprofit organizations, applying for state/regional
strengthening of the folk & traditional arts have the option of submitting work
samples. You will use the NEA GrantsOnline™ System (NEA-GO), which is being
administered for the National Endowment for the Arts by the Western States Arts
Federation (WESTAF). Do not submit work samples through Grants.gov or send hard
copies.
This will proceed as follows:

1. You will complete the Grants.gov application process as detailed through Step 5
of the instructions above.

2. On October 11, 2016 we will email you the login information (URL, User Name,
and Password) for accessing NEA-GO.

3. NEA-GO will be open for you to submit application material and work samples
beginning on October 11, 2016.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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You will have until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 14, 2016, to upload,
preview/check, and submit your work samples electronically.
The NEA-GO system is optimized for use with the following web browsers:
Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome. Internet Explorer will also work, but
you must have at least version IE 8.
National Endowment for the Arts staff will be available to answer any questions that you
have.
You should prepare your work samples well in advance of the deadline and have
them fully ready to upload once NEA-GO becomes available to you.
Work Sample Preparation
Work sample(s) – if provided – should demonstrate artistic quality and/or technical
ability, as appropriate to your project.
We will accept the following types of items:
Type

Video

Audio

Images

Documents

Websites

Max. #

3

3

20

3

5

Max. Time
Each Sample

3 minutes

3 minutes

250 MB

5 MB

5 MB

5 MB/12
pages

5 MB

avi, flv, mov,
mp4, mpeg,
rm, and wmv;
or PDF with
links

mp3, wma,
wav, aac, mid,
midi, mpa, and
ra

jpeg, gif, bmp,
png, and tif; or
PDF with
images

PDF

PDF with links

Panelists will
review up to
20 minutes for
all work
samples
combined
Max. Size
Each Sample
250 MB for all
work samples
combined
File Types

Information About Uploaded Items

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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For each item that you upload, you will find a descriptive field into which you will enter
the following information, as appropriate:
Title box:
•

The title of the work or organization represented by the work sample. Title each
work sample with a unique name. This title must not contain an apostrophe.

Description box:
•
•
•
•
•

Name of the designer(s), artist(s), or key individuals involved.
Title of work/image/activity (if different from first bullet).
Date of work/image/activity.
No more than one sentence describing the work and its relationship to the project
for which you are requesting support.
For video, length of the sample.

Applicants submitting multiple images on a PDF should include the relevant information
from above with each image in the PDF. The descriptive field for the file should provide
a brief overview of the group of images as a whole.

Additional Guidance for Video Samples
You may submit a link to a video sample, or upload a video sample directly to NEA-GO.
If you submit a link:
Submit a PDF with a link to the video. If you are including more than one video, list them
all on a single PDF. For each video, list the URLs for pages to be shown; include any
necessary information on required plug-ins, passwords, or navigation paths. Links
should be active for at least one year after the deadline. Do not submit links to sites that
require work samples to be downloaded (e.g., Dropbox). Do not submit Word
documents.

If you upload directly to NEA-GO:
In order to be uploaded, videos must meet the following minimum requirements:
•
•

Resolution: At least 480 x 360
Frames per second (fps): At least 12

You can often check the resolution of a video as follows. In Windows environments, find
the file on your computer, right click it, and select "Properties." On a Mac, hold the

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
____________________________________________________________________________________

Control key, and click on the file name. Select "Get Info" and the information should
display. Most videos are a standard 29 frames per second.
While the above requirements are the minimum, submitting your video in the mp4
(H.264) format at 640 x 480 with mp3 audio will allow for efficient uploading while
showing your clips to best advantage.
If your video doesn't meet the minimum resolution requirements above, there are a
number of software programs you can use to convert your video.
If you are submitting more than one video sample, you will upload each individually, in a
separate file.

Additional Guidance for Audio Samples
Audio compilations of more than one artist or work sample are acceptable. If the audio
clip exceeds three minutes, please indicate which three minute segment you
would like to be reviewed. If not indicated, panelists will be directed to review the
first three minutes of the clip.

Additional Guidance for Digital Images
You may either combine all of your images into a single PDF file or upload each image
in a separate file. Image size should be consistent; 800 x 600 pixels is suggested.

Additional Guidance for Documents (Publications, letters of support, maps, brochures,
etc.)
All documents should be submitted as PDF files. If you have to scan material, please
follow the guidance below:
•
•

•

Scan images at a resolution of 300 dpi. Resolutions over 300 dpi will result in
unnecessarily large files.
Experiment with the JPEG quality settings. Saving the document as a "medium
quality" or "low quality" JPEG will reduce the file size, and is not likely to reduce
readability.
When you have scanned the images, combine them into a single PDF
file. Submit a single file for each document; do not submit a separate file for
each scanned page.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Additional Guidance for Websites
•

Only submit a website that is an essential part of the project.

•

If you are including more than one website, list them all on a single PDF. For
each site, list the URLs for pages to be shown; include any necessary
information on required plug-ins, passwords, or navigation paths. Do not submit
links to sites that require work samples to be downloaded (e.g., Dropbox). Do not
submit links on a Word document.

•

NOTE: If you provide links to works samples -- such as video samples or
publications – the same limits on work samples uploaded directly to NEA-GO
apply to those provided via links.

Application Form Part II
Following review of applications, each SAA and RAO will be informed of the dollar
amount that is recommended for its Partnership Grant. With these dollar
recommendations, agencies will receive the Application Form Part II and instructions for
providing budget information for their Partnership Agreement.
Nonprofit organizations applying for state/regional strengthening of the folk & traditional
arts will be informed of the need for a revised budget, as necessary.

Narrative for State Arts Agencies
Panelists will apply the Review Criteria for State Arts Agencies when examining your
Application Narrative, as well as your Plan.
Provide an Application Narrative that:
•
•

•
•

Is a maximum of 10 pages, including the budget chart.
Follows the bold faced headings and letters/numbers below. This will assure that
your Narrative directly addresses the criteria that the panelists will use when
reviewing your application.
Follows all formatting instructions, including the requirements for a font size of at
least 12 points and margins of at least 1 inch.
Includes electronic links to support/supplementary material that is referenced in your
Narrative. We no longer accept support material via attachments or in hard copy.
Panelists recommend that URL links be used in moderation. Links should direct the
reader to supplemental materials rather than to additional narrative content.

At the start of your narrative provide a link to the enabling legislation, executive
order, or comparable documentation that shows that your agency is officially
designated the State Arts Agency responsible for:

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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1) Developing a statewide arts plan and establishing arts and cultural policy with
statewide impact; and
2) Coordinating and administering all financial support received from the National
Endowment for the Arts and the State in conjunction with the SAA Partnership
Agreement.
A. Overview
Describe major developments or conditions in your state – e.g., economic, cultural,
demographic, educational, geographical, political – that have an impact on your
agency's planning and operations. Identify those constituencies your agency defines as
"underserved."

B. Quality of the planning process
1. Describe your agency’s most recent planning process. Describe the structure and
design of the process; efforts undertaken to invite and include the perspectives of all
constituents in the process (including artists, arts organizations, educators, state
agencies, community groups, businesses, and the regional arts organization serving
your state); the degree to which members/representatives of underserved
communities were involved in designing, developing, and participating in the
planning process; and efforts undertaken to engage constituents through a variety of
means such as public meetings, surveys, interviews, and the use of media as
relevant to various constituent groups.
2. Summarize the recommendations and priorities for your state plan that resulted
from the public meetings* and other forums.
3. Describe your agency’s response to these recommendations*, and the way in
which the response was communicated to the public-- including but not limited to
references in the state plan.
*Information required by Section 5(g) of the National Endowment for the Arts’ legislation.

C. Quality of the plan
Include a link to your strategic plan here in addition to including it as Attachment #5.
Panelists will evaluate the vision, mission, clarity of the plan, appropriateness of the
goals and strategies, adaptability of the agency, and centrality of the arts to the
agency’s work. Panelists will also assess whether the plan clearly articulates goals and
strategies for support of arts education in the state and whether the plan reflects goals
and strategies for reaching underserved communities in the state.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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D. Quality of accomplishments and implementation in relation to the plan

Address the following:
1. Describe your agency’s most significant programs, activities, and
accomplishments in service to your state’s current or most recent strategic plan.
Organize the description of your programs, activities, and accomplishments in
relation to the goals and objectives of your strategic plan.
NOTE: You will be attaching your current/new plan as one of the required elements
of your application. If your accomplishments relate to a previous plan, please provide
a link to the previous plan in this section of your narrative so that panelists can see
the alignment of your accomplishments with the earlier plan.
•

Describe how programs, activities and special initiatives respond to
constituent priorities and/or a changing environment in your state.

•

Identify those programs and special initiatives in which your state agency is
exercising leadership.

•

Describe the public and private partnerships that enable you to deliver these
programs and initiatives.

2. Arts learning programs, activities, and accomplishments often align with multiple
strategic goals and objectives. If this is the case with your strategic plan, please
concentrate your description of the programs, activities, and accomplishments your
agency has undertaken to strengthen arts learning (pre-K through 12 arts education
and lifelong learning) into this section of your narrative. (Poetry Out Loud program
information is requested separately in Attachment 9. Do not address it in your
narrative.)
•

Identify those programs and special initiatives in which your state agency is
exercising leadership.

•

Describe the public and private partnerships that enable you to deliver these
programs and initiatives.

•

Indicate whether pre-K through 12 programs and activities align with
curriculum standards at the state and/or national level.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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3. Programs, activities, and accomplishments designed specifically to reach
underserved communities often align with multiple strategic goals and objectives.
If this is the case with your strategic plan, please concentrate your description of the
programs, activities, and accomplishments your agency has undertaken to engage
underserved communities into this section of your narrative.
•

Identify the programs and special initiatives in which your state agency is
exercising leadership.

•

Identify the public and private partnerships that enable you to deliver these
programs and initiatives.

4. Describe the metrics your agency uses for measuring its own progress in relation
to the state plan. Note how these metrics will provide evidence of achieving broader
state priorities.
•

Describe how those served, including underserved groups, are included in the
evaluation process.

•

Note if, and how, outside experts are involved in your evaluation activities.

•

Describe any changes that your agency plans to make based on evaluation of
your programs and services.

•

Where objectives, goals, or objectives were not met or were only partially
met, explain why. Include here how changes in your operating environment
may have affected your ability to achieve objectives, goals, and objectives.

E. Budget Chart
On the last page of your narrative, provide a one-line description of each of your
agency’s categories, programs, or initiatives for the first fiscal year of the proposed
agreement, with projected dollar allocations (include federal and non-federal sources).
To help panelists understand the relationship between the budget and the application
narrative, identify with a “Y” those categories for which allocations are determined by
your legislature or that relate to arts education or underserved areas. (Do NOT enter a
dollar figure for such allocations.) You may use footnotes to explain the use of funds in
support of Poetry Out Loud activity, as relevant.
Please use the budget chart format below.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Name of Category, Program
or Initiative

1-line Description

Total
$
Amount

Allocation
Legislatively
Determined?

Expended
on Arts
Education?

Expended on
Underserved?

Include sub-categories
and sub-totals as
necessary to

For these 3 columns, use a "y" to

demonstrate the

indicate yes, otherwise leave

connection between

blank. Do not enter dollar
amounts

Narrative for Regional Arts Organizations
Panelists will apply the Review Criteria for Regional Arts Organizations when
examining your Application Narrative, as well as your Plan.
Provide an Application Narrative that:
•
•

•
•

Is a maximum of 10 pages, including the budget chart.
Follows the bold faced headings and letters/numbers below. This will assure that
your Narrative directly addresses the criteria that the panelists will use when
reviewing your application.
Follows all formatting instructions, including the requirements for a font size of at
least 12 points and margins of at least 1 inch.
Includes electronic links to support/supplementary material that is referenced in your
Narrative. We no longer accept support material as attachments or in hard copy
format. Panelists recommend that URL links be used in moderation. Links that direct
the reader to supplemental materials rather than to additional narrative content are
most appropriate.

A. Overview
Describe major developments or conditions in your region – e.g., economic, cultural,
demographic, educational, geographical, political – that have an impact on your
organization's planning and operations.

B. Quality of the planning process

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Describe the structure and design of your organization’s planning process including:
•

Efforts undertaken to engage member state arts agencies in the RAO's planning
process.

•

Efforts undertaken to engage other constituent groups, including those the RAO
defines as underserved.

•

Ways in which the RAO responded to constituent priorities that surfaced during the
planning process.

C. Quality of the plan
Please include a link to your plan here (in addition to providing the plan as Attachment
#5). Panelists will evaluate the vision, mission, clarity of the plan, appropriateness of the
goals and strategies, adaptability of the organization, and centrality of the arts to the
organization’s work. Do not address this information in your narrative.

D. Quality of accomplishments and implementation in relation to the plan
Address the following:
1. Describe your organization’s most significant programs, activities, and
accomplishments in relation to the goals and objectives of the current or most
recent strategic plan.
NOTE: If your accomplishments relate to a previous plan, please provide a link to
the previous plan in this section of your narrative so that panelists can see the
alignment of your accomplishments with the earlier plan.
•

Describe the range of programs and special initiatives in which your regional arts
organization is exercising leadership.

•

Describe the public and private partnerships that enable you to deliver these
programs and initiatives.

•

Identify the programs, activities, and accomplishments associated with the NEA
Regional Touring Program, including educational activities and community
partnerships. Describe the process by which NEA Regional Touring funds are
awarded including the criteria used and the expertise involved in adjudicating
grants, and the provisions for ensuring that an appropriate proportion of activity
takes place in underserved communities.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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•

National Services applicants should address efforts to provide leadership at the
national level including training, planning, coordination, and information services
that increase accountability and transparency.

2. Describe the metrics your organization uses for measuring its own progress in
relation to the RAO plan. Note how these metrics will provide evidence of achieving
regional priorities.
•

Describe how constituents, including underserved groups, are included in the
evaluation process.

•

Note if, and how, outside experts are involved in your evaluation activities.

•

Describe any changes that your organization plans to make based on the
evaluation of your programs and services.

•

If objectives, goals, or objectives were not met, or were only partially met, explain
why. Include here how changes in your operating environment may have affected
your ability to achieve objectives, goals, and objectives.

E. Resource Development and Management
1. Discuss the health of your organization's development efforts (grants, contributions,
earned income). What strategies are you employing to secure and enhance future
revenues?
2. Describe the steps that your organization is taking to maximize the cost
effectiveness of its operations.

F. Budget Chart
On the last page of your narrative, use the budget chart below to provide a one-line
description of each category, program, or initiative for the first fiscal year of the
proposed agreement, with the projected Partnership Agreement and non-Partnership
Agreement dollar allocations. Identify with a "Y" those categories for which NEA
Regional Touring Program funds would be used. (Do not provide dollar amounts for
these Regional Touring funds.)
Please use the budget chart format below.

Category, Program,
or Initiative

Projected
Projected NonPartnership Agreement Total
Partnership
Description Agreement Funds Funds
Funds

Uses NEA
Regional
Touring
Funds

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Include sub-categories and subtotals as necessary to
demonstrate the connection
between budget allocations and
your application narrative.

Use a "Y" to
indicate yes;
otherwise
leave blank. Do
not enter dollar
amounts.

Partnership Agreements, FY 2017
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Application Review
Review Criteria
Partnership Agreements/State Arts Agencies
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications:
A. Quality of the planning process
1. The identification of needs and opportunities through an inclusive process that
assures the participation of all appropriate constituencies in designing and
developing the plan.
2. Efforts taken to include the perspectives of all constituencies, including but not
limited to: those in underserved communities, artists, arts organizations,
educators, state agencies, community groups, businesses, and the regional arts
organization that serves the state.
3. Efforts taken to engage constituents through a variety of media including public
meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and other methods appropriate to
constituent groups.
B. Quality of the plan
1. Clarity of vision and mission, goals and strategies that respond to constituent
priorities.
2. Evidence of adaptability and centrality of the arts.
3. Goals and strategies that address areas of mutual interest: Arts Education and
reaching Underserved communities.
C. Quality of accomplishments and implementation in relation to the plan
1. Execution of the plan including: implementation of programs, collaborations,
leadership initiatives, and other accomplishments that respond to constituent
priorities and changing circumstances in the state.
2. Proposed performance measures and their ability to provide evidence that the
state priorities, as referenced in the plan, are achieved.
Multi-Year Approval
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for State
Partnership Agreements. While each SAA is required to submit an application annually,
those organizations that are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the
requirements and review criteria receive three-year approval of their proposals. They
are not required to submit another full-scale application, including all material necessary
for panel review, for another three years. In the other years ("off years"), the application
requirements are simplified greatly. Multi-year approval is subject to an agency’s

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continuing ability to carry out its approved plan. At the discretion of the National
Endowment for the Arts Chairman, multi-year approval may be revoked if state support
is substantially reduced or if other circumstances threaten an agency’s ability to carry
out its approved plan.
In recommending action on State Partnership Agreement proposals, the advisory panel,
the National Council on the Arts, and the Chairman of the National Endowment for the
Arts have a variety of options ranging from full three-year approval, to more limited or
contingent approval requiring interim response, to a determination not to provide a State
Partnership Agreement.

Review Criteria
Partnership Agreements/Regional Arts Organizations
The following criteria are considered in the review of applications.
A. Quality of the planning process
1. The identification of needs and opportunities through inclusive planning that
involves member state agencies and other constituents, including those in
underserved communities.
2. Efforts taken to include the perspectives of all constituencies, including but not
limited to: state arts agencies, artists, arts organizations, community groups,
businesses, and those in underserved communities.
3. Efforts taken to engage constituents through a variety of media including public
meetings, surveys, interviews, electronic media and other methods appropriate to
constituent groups.
B. Quality of the plan
1. Clarity of vision and mission, goals and strategies that respond to constituent
priorities.
2. Evidence of adaptability and centrality of the arts.
C. Quality of accomplishments and implementation in relation to the plan
1. Execution of the plan including: implementation of programs, collaborations,
leadership initiatives, and other accomplishments that respond to constituent
needs and changing circumstances in the region.

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2. Evidence that the RAO is responsive to the priorities of its constituents, including
member state arts agencies.
3. Evidence that the RAO has extended its capacity and resources through
partnerships.
4. Evidence from performance measures and evaluation plans that regional
priorities are achieved.
5. Evidence that the RAO has grown and diversified its revenue sources;
specifically non-federal revenues.
6. Evidence that demonstrates the RAO is a cost effective operation.
Multi-Year Approval
The National Endowment for the Arts uses staggered, multi-year approval for Regional
Partnership awards. While each RAO is required to submit an application annually,
those organizations that are determined to have addressed satisfactorily the
requirements and review criteria receive three-year approval of their proposals. They
are not required to submit another full-scale application, including all material necessary
for panel review, for another three years. In the other years ("off years"), the application
requirements are simplified greatly.
In recommending action on Regional Partnership Agreement proposals, the advisory
panel, the National Council on the Arts, and the Chairman of the National Endowment
for the Arts have a variety of options ranging from full three-year approval, to more
limited or contingent approval requiring interim response, to a determination not to
provide a Regional Partnership Agreement.

Review Criteria
Partnership funds in support of activities that strengthen Folk &Traditional Arts
throughout a state or region
NOTE: The following review criteria apply to all requests for folk & traditional arts
support--SAAs/RAOs applying with their “on-year” application, SAAs/RAOs applying
with their “off-year” application, and non-profit organizations.
A. Quality of the program or project
1. Ability to carry out the project(s)—budget, goals, project design, resources, and
personnel.
2. Potential impact on the artistic and/or cultural heritage of the nation, region, or
field.

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3. Appropriateness of the project(s) to the organization’s mission, audience,
community, and/or constituency.
B. Quality of the implementation, including accomplishments in relation to the
overall plan
1. Plans for documentation, evaluation, and dissemination.
2. Likelihood that the project(s) will achieve the identified objective(s) and the
feasibility of the proposed performance measurements.
C. Quality of work with underserved communities
1. Potential of the project(s) to broaden access to, expand and diversify audiences
for, or strengthen communities through the arts.
2. Potential to reach underserved populations such as those whose opportunities to
experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
NOTE: In addition to requests to strengthen state support of the folk & traditional arts
through support for professional folk arts positions, reviewers will also consider the
likelihood that the position can be supported independently of the National Endowment
for the Arts within three years.
What Happens to Your Partnership Agreement Application
Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria" for their category. After
processing by staff, applications are reviewed by advisory panelists.
The State Arts Agency Partnership Agreements Panel reviews SAA applications. It is
comprised of state arts agency leaders, arts education experts, those who have
perspective on the work of SAAs, and at least one knowledgeable layperson.
The Regional Partnership Agreements Panel reviews RAO applications. It is comprised
of regional arts organization leaders and other experienced civic and governmental
leaders including at least one knowledgeable layperson.
Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership application narratives and budgets are reviewed by a
separate panel of experts.
Panel membership changes regularly. The panel provides recommendations, scores to
be used in apportioning funds, and comments that go back to applicants.
Recommendations are forwarded to the National Council on the Arts, where they are
reviewed in open session. The Council makes recommendations to the Chairman of the
National Endowment for the Arts. The Chairman reviews the Council’s
recommendations and makes the final decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then
notified of funding decisions.

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Applicants are welcome to attend meetings of the National Council on the Arts and open
advisory panel meetings.
Contact the State & Regional staff (Laura Scanlan at [email protected] or 202/6825583, or Andi Mathis at [email protected] or 202/682-5430) if you have questions
about the review process.
Contact the Folk & Traditional Arts Staff (Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or
202/682-5726, or Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202-682-5587) for questions
specific to Folk Arts Partnership.
NOTE: All recommended applications undergo a review to evaluate risk posed by the
applicant prior to making a federal award. This may include past performance on grants,
meeting reporting deadlines, compliance with terms and conditions, audit findings, etc.

Award Administration
Prohibition on Supplanting Non-Federal Funds
Partnership Agreement awards must be used to supplement and not supplant nonfederal funds. For the purposes of these guidelines, the term "supplant non-federal
funds" is defined as using federal dollars to replace non-federal dollars, with the
intention or effect of reducing financial support for a SAA or RAO.

Crediting Requirement
Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from the National Endowment for the Arts
in their programs and related promotional material including publications and websites.
Acknowledgments should include the National Endowment for the Arts logo wherever
possible. In addition, we will provide detailed crediting language for SAAs and RAOs to
use with their own grantees.

Award Notices
Official grant award notification is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. This
can take several months to reach you depending on several factors such as the number
of awards to be processed, whether the agency has its appropriation from Congress,
etc.

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Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
This guidance from the federal government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
combines eight separate documents into one, and is intended to improve clarity and
consistency of the pre- and post-award requirements applicable to federal grantees.
Changes are also intended to strengthen accountability for federal dollars by improving
policies that protect against waste, fraud, and abuse.
Under the authority listed above, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) adopts the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200 under §3255.1
Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200. This part gives regulatory effect to the OMB guidance and
supplements the guidance as needed for the National Endowment for the Arts.

General Terms & Conditions
Federal and agency requirements that relate to grants awarded by the National
Endowment for the Arts are highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions. The GTC
incorporates the adoption of 2 CFR Part 200 by reference. The document also explicitly
identifies where the National Endowment for the Arts has selected options offered in the
regulation, such as budget waivers and requirements for use of program income. It also
includes agency requirements for matching funds reporting requirements, amendment
processes, and termination actions. Grantees must review, understand, and comply
with these requirements. Failure to do so may result in having a grant terminated and/or
returning funds to the National Endowment for the Arts, among other things.

Legal Requirements
PLEASE NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may
apply to an applicant or grantee however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding
these and other legal requirements may be found at Appendix A of our General Terms &
Conditions (GTC) which sets forth the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements,
Statutes, and Regulations that Govern Your Award. Please note that there may be other
applicable legal requirements that are not listed here.
1. By law, the National Endowment for the Arts may support only those
organizations that:
•

Are tax-exempt. Organizations qualifying for this status must meet the following
criteria:

(1) No part of net earnings may benefit a private stockholder or individual.

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(2) Donations to the organization must be allowable as a charitable contribution under
Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. For further
information, go to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at www.irs.gov.
Note that organizations who have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for
National Endowment for the Arts support. It is your responsibility to ensure that
your status is current at the time of the application and throughout the life of your
award.
•

Compensate all professional performers and related or supporting
professional personnel on National Endowment for the Arts-supported
projects at no less than the prevailing minimum compensation. (This
requirement is in accordance with regulations that have been issued by the
Secretary of Labor in part 29 C.F.R. Part 505. This part does not provide information
on specific compensation levels.)

•

Ensure that no part of any National Endowment for the Arts-supported project
will be performed or engaged in under working conditions which are
unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of the
employees involved.

2. Some legal requirements apply to every applicant, for example:
•
•

•

•

•

Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in "Assurance of
Compliance" below.
Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with the
record keeping and other requirements set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as
adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2 CFR 32.3254. Failure to
comply may result in the debarment or suspension of the grantee and the
National Endowment for the Arts suspending, terminating and/or recovering
funds.
Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be
suspended when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts,
including judgment liens against property for a debt to the federal government.
An organization's debt status is displayed in the System for Award Management
(SAM). New awards will not be made if an applicant is still in debt status as of
September 1.
Labor Standards (29 C.F.R. pt 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must
comply with the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions
Assisted by Grants from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.
The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq. and 2 C.F.R.
Part 3256). The grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drugfree workplace program as well as comply with other requirements.

3. Some legal requirements apply depending upon what the grant is funding, for
example:

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If your project activities have the potential to impact any structure that is eligible for
or on the National Register of Historic Places, adjacent to a structure that is eligible
for or on the National Register of Historic Places, or located in an historic district,
you will be asked to provide additional information about your project or take
additional action so that the agency can review and comply with the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). NHPA also applies to any planning activities
that may affect historic properties or districts. The additional agency review must be
completed prior to any agency funds being released.
•

•

If your project activities have the potential to impact the environment or
environmentally sensitive resources, you will be required to provide information in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The additional
agency review must be completed prior to any agency funds being released.
If your contract is over $2,000 and involves the construction, alteration, or repair
of public buildings or public works, it must contain a clause setting forth the
minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics employed under the
contract in accordance with The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).

4. Some legal requirements apply depending upon who the Applicant is, for
example:
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25
U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) – which applies to any organization that controls or possesses
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and receives
Federal funding, even for a purpose unrelated to the Act (25 USC 3001 et seq.)
5. In addition, State Arts Agencies must meet the requirements in Section 5(g)(2)
of the National Endowment for the Arts’ authorizing legislation which state:
"In order to receive assistance under this subsection in any fiscal year, a State shall
submit an application for such grants at such time as shall be specified by the
Chairperson and accompany such applications with a plan which the Chairperson finds(A) designates or provides for the establishment of a State agency (hereinafter in this
section referred to as the "State agency") as the sole agency for the administration of
the State plan;
(B) provides that funds paid to the State under this subsection will be expended solely
on projects and productions approved by the State agency which carry out one or more
of the objectives of subsection (c) of this section;
(C) provides that the State agency will make such reports, in such form and containing
such information, as the Chairperson may from time to time require including a
description of the progress made toward achieving the goals of the State plan;
(D) provides--

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(i)
assurances that the State agency has held, after reasonable notice, public
meetings in the State to allow all groups of artists, interested organizations, and the
public to present views and make recommendations regarding the State plan; and
(ii)
a summary of such recommendations and the State agency’s response to
such recommendations; and
(E) contains-(i)
a description of the level of participation during the most recent preceding
year for which information is available by artists, artists’ organizations, and arts
organizations in projects and productions for which financial assistance is provided
under this subsection;
(ii)
for the most recent preceding year for which information is available, a
description of the extent to which projects and productions receiving financial
assistance from the state arts agency are available to all people and communities in
the State; and
(iii)
a description of projects and productions receiving financial assistance under
this subsection that exist or are being developed to secure wider participation of
artists, artists’ organizations, and arts organizations identified under clause (i) of this
subparagraph or that address the availability of the arts to all people or communities
identified under clause (ii) of this subparagraph.
No application may be approved unless the accompanying plan satisfies the
requirements specified in this subsection."

Assurance of Compliance
By signing the application form, the Applicant certifies that it is in compliance
with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the Arts
regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary
to determine compliance. The Applicant certifies that it is in compliance with the
statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the Arts regulations and
will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to determine
compliance.
The Applicant further certifies that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts
funds to comply with these requirements. We may conduct a review of your
organization to ensure that it is in compliance. If we determine that a grantee has
failed to comply with these statutes, we may suspend, terminate, and/or recover
funds. This assurance is subject to judicial enforcement.
The Applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:

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•

•

•

•

On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by
the NEA at 45 U.S.C.1110;
On the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
("ADA"), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101-12213), implemented by the NEA at 45
U.S.C. 1151. The ADA's requirements apply regardless of whether you receive
federal funds.
On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42
U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45
U.S.C.1156.
On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
Applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been
discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or
age may file a complaint with the Director of Civil Rights at the National
Endowment for the Arts.
Applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a
Federal or state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:
Director, Office of Civil Rights
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
Applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3)
years. The Applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as
required by applicable regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The Applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts
funds to comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of
this assurance.
For further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified
above, please contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202/682-5454 or 202/682-5082
Voice/T.T.Y. For inquiries about limited English proficiency, please go to
http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the Office of General
Counsel at [email protected] or 202/682-5418.

Regulations Relating to Lobbying for organizations applying for more than $100,000
(31 U.S.C. 1352)
The Applicant certifies that:

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(a) It has not and will not use federal appropriated funds to pay any person for
influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a
member of a National Endowment for the Arts advisory panel or the National
Council on the Arts, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress,
or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of or
modification to any federal grant or contract.
(b) If it has used or will use any funds other than federal appropriated funds to pay
any person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the individuals
specified above, the Applicant:
(i) Is not required to disclose that activity if that person is regularly employed by
the Applicant. (Regularly employed means working for at least 130 days
within the year immediately preceding the submission of this application.)
(ii) Will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities," if that person is not regularly employed by the Applicant.
(c) It will require that the language of this certification be included in the award
documents for all subawards of more than $100,000 and that all subrecipients
shall certify and disclose accordingly.

Agency Contacts
If you have questions about your Partnership Agreement application, please contact the
State & Regional staff: Laura Scanlan at [email protected] or 202/682-5583, or Andi
Mathis at [email protected] or 202/682-5430.
For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership, contact the Folk & Traditional Arts staff:
Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or 202/682-5726, or Cheryl Schiele at
[email protected] or 202/682-5587.

Additional Information on Arts Education
Through the study of the arts, lifelong skills are gained which help us develop creativity,
communicate better, and make informed evaluations of artistic work. All students need
to have meaningful arts experiences as part of an education program in which the arts
are taught in grades pre-K through 12.
A comprehensive arts education program includes:

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•

•
•
•

•

Curriculum-based learning in all of the arts disciplines -- creative writing, dance,
design, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts -- that is linked to national or state
standards, as appropriate, and that meets the developmental needs of all youth.
Hands-on instruction in the arts that includes the creation, production, and
performance of works of art.
Instruction that balances skills development with arts history and critical theory.
Sequential programs, taught by qualified teachers, and strengthened by regular
engagement with artists, artistic works, and arts institutions to sustain, expand, and
deepen students’ understanding of and competence in the arts.
Interdisciplinary programs to enhance the richness of the arts learning experience.

The arts also can be integrated with other subjects to enable students to make
connections across the curriculum.
Partnership Agreement Support for Arts Education
Partnership Agreement support is intended to respond to the objectives, strategies, and
programs that each state arts agency develops based on national or state arts
education standards, as appropriate, and its state’s needs, opportunities, and
resources. While the focus of our support is on arts education programs within schools,
meaningful co-curricular or extracurricular activities also are important. These can take
place as part of an extended school day or other after-school program, during vacation
periods, and in cultural organizations. Possible components of a state’s arts education
program might include:
•

Artists’ residencies where students and teachers can participate in and learn about
specific arts disciplines. Residencies should be planned with teachers and other
school and community leaders to be consistent with national or state standards,
curricula, and arts education programs. Teacher training, follow-up visits by artists,
and assistance with the development of curriculum or lesson units are encouraged
as components of residencies.

•

Grants and/or technical assistance to local arts agencies, arts organizations, service
organizations, professional associations, and schools for model or demonstration
projects, curriculum development, student assessment or program evaluation, public
awareness, research, or other efforts in arts education.

•

Training for artists to increase their knowledge and skills concerning the
developmental needs of students; school "cultures," policies, and procedures; and
other matters related to their work with students, teachers, and others in pre-K
through 12 education.

•

Training for teachers, school administrators, and others to heighten the awareness,
knowledge, and skills that are essential to planning, developing, and sustaining arts
education programs.

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•

Consortia, task forces, or similar groups at the state and local levels which increase
communication and awareness, provide program coordination, and/or help develop
public policy that is important to achieving the partnership goals for arts education.

Staff Visits
Applicants may be asked to provide up to four complimentary tickets for National
Endowment for the Arts staff visits.

Standards for Service
The National Endowment for the Arts has set the following standards for serving
applicants. We pledge to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.
Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.
Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines
available promptly.
Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.
Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.

We welcome your comments on how we’re meeting these standards. Please email:
[email protected], attention: Standards for Service.
For questions about these guidelines or your application, contact the State & Regional
staff: Laura Scanlan at [email protected] or 202/682-5583, or Andi Mathis at
[email protected] or 202/682-5430. For questions specific to Folk Arts Partnership,
contact the Folk & Traditional Arts staff: Clifford Murphy at [email protected] or
202/682-5726, or Cheryl Schiele at [email protected] or 202/682-5587.
In addition, applicants will receive an invitation to participate in a voluntary survey to
provide feedback on the grant application guidelines on our website and any
experiences consulting with our staff.

Reporting Burden
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average
of 32 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might
have on improving the guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send

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comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: [email protected],
attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are not required to respond to the
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S. Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number.