Application Criteria

The 2009 PONCHO funding cycle is now underway. Organizations that wish to apply for PONCHO funding may download the application materials by clicking on the link below. Interviews with organizations selected for consideration will be held during March-April of 2009. Organizations that have not received funds from PONCHO before are encouraged to contact Sara Lawson (sara@poncho.org or 206-623-6233x201) to discuss their proposed project before submitting an application.

The deadline for receiving completed applications is Monday, February 2nd, 2009, 5:00 pm.

Application Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for PONCHO funding, an organization MUST be a State of Washington nonprofit corporation with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax exempt status, operating in the performing, visual, or related arts. In addition, organizations SHOULD meet these requirements:

Have a minimum of five years of continuous operation.
Have an active board of directors, who are not paid employees of the organization.
Have at least one full-time management staff person.
Have an annual operating budget of at least $100,000.
Have an audited statement from an independent CPA for the most recently completed fiscal year. If an audited statement is not available, a CPA reviewed statement will be acceptable.

Application Review Criteria

Applying organizations may request funding for arts education and/or artistic programs. Multi-year funding requests normally will not be considered. The PONCHO Allocation Committee recommends all grants to the PONCHO Board of Trustees for approval

ARTISTIC PROGRAM CRITERIA

Artistic Quality: PONCHO seeks to fund requests of significant cultural impact which demonstrate a high level of artistic excellence.
Sound Management: There must be documentation of organization stability in staffing, fiscal/revenue planning and ability to complete a project effectively. There must be an active board with defined goals and responsibilities.
Financial Need: The availability of other sources of funding, both public and private, will be examined. Provide documentation of a diversified base of annual support with a diversified ratio of earned to contributed income. If a deficit exists, have working plans for reduction.
Recognition: Recipients are required to provide appropriate recognition for PONCHO. This includes, but is not limited to: naming opportunities, acknowledgement in programs, publications, advertisements, Web sites and other printed or electronic materials associated with the project.

ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM CRITERIA

Programming that addresses any or all of the following criteria will be considered:

Underserved Populations: The program creates access to arts education programs for underserved populations.
Experiential: The program provides an opportunity to experience and deepen understanding of a particular art form, including experiential, hands on opportunities to practice the craft itself.
Quality: The program brings participants into contact with a high level of artistic excellence.
Professional: The program involves professional artists and/or teachers who are trained to and understand how to incorporate the arts into a participant’s overall development.
Multiple Ability Levels: The program provides for appropriate levels of engagement for students to excel and different levels of achievement.
Measurable: The program’s impact on target populations and benefit to the broader community can be measured, linked to clear goals and measured through a well designed assessment plan.
Collaborative: The program involves collaboration with other community and arts organizations to expand reach and provide a more diverse experience.

Download Application Form

You may download PONCHO's application and instructions for the 2008 funding cycle by clicking on the link below:

PONCHO 2009 Allocation Application Form.doc

Note: This is a Microsoft Word form. It can be filled out on your computer using Word, and the information you fill out is saved along with the form.

Download Final Report Form

Click on the link below to download the final report form to be completed by beneficiaries for PONCHO-funded projects:

PONCHO Allocation Final Report.pdf