Real-Life Communication
You're an administrator for a symphony that hosts a concert series
each summer. Part of your job involves applying for grants, which can be a
very detailed and involved process.
The symphony association wants
to see if you can secure a grant from the federal government. One of your
staff members has brought you a grant application to look at.
You need
to decide if you meet the requirements for this grant. You represent a community
arts association with an annual budget of $230,000. You'd like to use some
of this money to establish a computer system so you and your staff can produce
a web page for the concert series. Consult the regulations for the grant and
see if you should even try to apply. Here's what it says:
Projects
aim to clarify arts organizations' identities and missions; build capacity
and resources to pursue their missions; sustain the arts in an era of constant
change; and build partnerships that strengthen the arts infrastructure.
Projects
may include technical assistance; activities to enhance earned income through
creating or developing products or services; efforts to identify target audiences;
consortium development; and community planning.
Grants range from $15,000
for planning and $40,000 for stabilization projects to $500,000. Stabilization
applicants must have minimum annual operating expenses of $200,000 for the
most recent fiscal year.
First, decide whether the symphony
association qualifies for the grant. After all, if you don't qualify, you
don't want to waste your time preparing the application.
Now, write
a memo to the association's president, Mr. Gunthry. He has asked you to report
your recommendation, and tell him why, or why not, you should apply. You'll
have to ask for permission to apply, or let him know you will keep looking
for a grant.