Funding Guidelines

Thank you for your interest. We are pleased to announce a new funding cycle for 2011-2012 Fall/Winter programs. Please read this page for more information.

OFFTA’s guidelines

1.  PROGRAM FUNDING GUIDELINES
2.  OFFTA’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
3.  THE REQUEST FOR FUNDING PROCESS

Program Funding Guidelines

Oakland Fund for the Arts (OFFTA) provides grants of up to $5,000 for arts education programs in the Oakland, California, public schools.

We fund hands-on arts education programs in which children participate in the direct experience of making art.

We fund arts education programs primarily for elementary grades, although innovative and unique middle school and high school programs will also be considered.

We require the Principal’s support of the arts education program and the active participation of a school liaison to ensure the program’s success.

We prefer the arts education program be conducted at a school (or schools) or at an off-site location in conjunction with a school.

We also provide one-time funding for specific arts-related needs, depending on the circumstances.

OFFTAs Guiding Principles

We support arts education programs that combine the hands-on experience of actually making art with an aesthetic education about the essential role that art plays in our cultures, our histories, and our lives.

We partner with schools, artists, projects, and organizations that share our vision of combining the experience of making art with an aesthetic education.

We support arts education programs that benefit communities in which inadequate financial resources have limited young peoples’ access to a full range of opportunities.

We work with schools in which principals, teachers, and parents partner to provide the support structure necessary to ensure the program’s success.

The Request for Funding Process

Requests for arts education program funding may be submitted two times during the year, although we reserve the right to consider requests at any time.

1. Download the PDF version of the funding request. Please note that, while the PDF will allow you to fill out the form on your computer, you will not be able to save it. We strongly advise you to print a copy and save it for your records. We also suggest that you talk to us first, to determine if your program would be appropriate for our funding. Call our voice mail # at 510.488.3036, or email our administrator at genni@oaklandfundforthearts.org, and someone will contact you personally.

2. A member of OFFTA’s Board (your assigned Board liaison) will contact you to discuss the proposed program. If it is determined that the proposed arts education program appears to be consistent with OFFTA’s mission and guiding principles, you may be asked to arrange a site visit at the location(s) where the program will take place.

3. Please submit your completed Request for Funding proposal by one of the two deadlines.

4. The Request for Funding proposal will be reviewed by the Board of Directors. Your liaison will work with you to make sure you provide all the required information. Incomplete Requests for Funding proposals will not be reviewed.

5. The Board liaison will inform you of the Board’s decision and discuss the next steps.

Requests for Funding (RFF) will be considered according to the following cycle:
Fall/Winter Programs:
September 2, deadline for RFF
September 12, Board review
September 20,  vote

Please send an email request or email your Board liaison if you need help or additional information.