Registration deadline: January 22, 2010
Application deadlines: February 17, 2010; April 12, 2010

General Operating Support (GOS) is unrestricted support for ongoing institutional operating activities of organizations whose central mission is to provide public programs and/or services in literature. GOS is designed to support organizations that demonstrate a consistent track record of artistic achievement, public service, and managerial competence. The Council examines the nature, scope, and quality of an organization's programs and activities when considering the provision and level of GOS support. GOS support reflects NYSCA's recognition of the artistic and organizational capabilities of qualified arts and cultural organizations.

GOS grants will be no less than $5,000, and will rarely exceed 25% of an organization's budget, based on the income and expense statement for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year. GOS support is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for General Operating Support, an organization must meet each of the following conditions.

A primary focus in Literature

At least three consecutive years of previous support from the Literature Program

Paid staff

National organizations must have significant services or activities within New York State

Non-arts and non-cultural organizations are not eligible for GOS funding and are referred to the General Program Support or Public Programs funding categories.

Eligibility for Other NYSCA Funds

Organizations receiving GOS from the Literature Program may also apply for support in the Translation and Services to the Field categories. Applications in the Translation category are exempt from the Council's four-request limit. Additional funds may be requested from other discipline programs of the Council. Please be reminded of the Council's four-request limit.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Complete the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet as part of this request. (Click on the link in the green navigation bar to the right of these instructions to access this form). 

Required support materials are listed below. First-time GOS applicants are strongly advised to contact Program staff before the January 22, 2010 registration deadline.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Literary Program Overview
A) Describe the literary programs and/or services planned for the coming year, highlighting your curatorial approach/es. B) Provide a representative list (up to 8 names) of the writers/teachers proposed for the coming year, including a one-sentence biography on each writer.   (Provide a complete roster of names on the Literary Presenters’ Fact Sheet. You are not required to duplicate artists’ information already provided in your printed support materials.)

2. Challenges/Developments/Challenges
A) Describe any significant changes or developments in your programmatic activity in the past three years. B) Detail plans for new, expanded or reduced programming over the next three years. C) Describe your goals/expected outcomes for these activities. D) What are your key programmatic challenges and how will you meet them?

3. Artists' Fees
A) Discuss your policy regarding payment of artists' fees. B) Explain any changes or improvements planned.

Managerial/Fiscal

4. Staff
A) What is your staffing structure?  Please indicate the principal positions. B) Detail any changes of key staff members since the last Council review, noting the impact of those changes.

5. Governance
A) What is the size and committee structure of your board? B) How often do the committees meet? C) How are board members recruited? D) How reflective are they of your community? E) Do board members have term limits? F) Describe the involvement of your board in management and program oversight.

6. Organizational Changes and Development
A) Describe any significant changes or developments in your organization since the Council last reviewed it. B) How do you actively engage board, staff and the public in organizational planning?

7. Finances
A) Discuss how the current financial landscape is affecting your organization. B) Describe plans, projects and activities for meeting program expenses. C) Describe the ways in which the board and senior staff are involved in these efforts.

Service to the Public

8. Current Audience
A) Describe the audiences and communities served by your literary organization, noting any important changes or audience trends since your last Council review. B) What opportunities exist for audience growth and diversification? C) What steps are you taking to maintain, increase and diversify your audiences?

9. Membership
A) If you are a membership organization, how many members do you have, and how fully do they represent your audience and community? B) What are some potential areas of membership growth? C) What levels of membership and benefits do you offer?

10. Marketing/Technology
A) What strategies are used for expanding and diversifying audiences through packaging, promotion and pricing of programs? B) Please describe a recent success. C) Discuss how your organization employs the internet, social  networking media and emerging technologies to better reach and serve the public, including artists and audiences with disabilities?

11. Assessment
A) How do you set programmatic goals? B) How do you carry out the ongoing assessment of programs, services and/or other organizational initiatives?

12. Facilities
A) Briefly describe your organization's facilities as they relate to literary programming and services. B) If you program in collaboration with other organizations, please discuss how facilities are shared. 

13. Community Context
What other organizations provide similar or complementary literary services to the community, and how do you work in partnership with them?

Other

14. Fact Sheet
Have you completed the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet? See Support Materials for instructions. 

15. Fieldwide Issues/Technical Assistance
A) What do you see as the principal issues and opportunities facing the field of literature and literary artists at present? B) Beyond its grant-making activities and current technical assistance programs (see Technical Assistance) how might NYSCA assist the field in addressing these?

Support Materials

Support material must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Program by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

1. A representative sample of literary publications and 3 copies of promotional brochures/calendars listing literary programs and writers presented in the most recently completed year and the current year, if available. 

2. Updated resumés of key artistic personnel including resumé of the literary curator/coordinator. (3 copies)

3. Optional: submit a copy of the organization's long-range plan or strategic plan.

4. Complete the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet and email sheet to lit@nysca.org or mail with support materials. See link in green navigation bar to the right of these instructions.