Grant Evaluation Criteria

Dear Grant Applicants

In the FY2023 grant application cycle, the Newton Cultural Council will be using the form below to help refine our process of fund allocation.

This form is meant to help both you, the applicants, and us, the evaluators. We highly recommend you attempt to rate your own program before submitting your application. 

You will get a copy of this form as feedback when you receive the decision on your grant application.

This form is intended to help us to more precisely and objectively discern between various projects and allocate funds based on the priorities set out by the Newton Cultural Council.

 

NCC Grant Evaluation Form

 

PROJECT NAME: ______________________________

Contact:_________________________________

QUALIFYING CRITERIA Yes No Disqualified?
Application received by ______ deadline  
Applicant resident of MA    
Dates within 18 mo from July this yr – 

Dec next yr

   
Confirmed venue: in-person or online      
ADA Complaint Accessible venue    
  Open to public – publicly accessible      
  Programmatic non-discrimination      
Benefits Newton citizens
  EXCLUSIONS        
        Public school program
          Request for food/beverages      
          Personal request for scholarship      

Stop here if the application has been disqualified due to one of the criteria above.

 

Please rate each of the following criteria as:

0 (nil) 3 (Marginal) 6 (Average) or 9 (significant) 

Use the guiding questions in each section to evaluate that section

CRITERIA SCORE 

0-3-6-9

Artistic Merit/Quality/Creativity/Social Impact (30%)
  • Background or qualifications of project lead or organization suggest it will be of high quality?
  • Have technical challenges that would impact quality been addressed? (appropriate venue space, audio, lighting, rain or heat alternative, zoom, etc.)?
  • Is project interesting, innovative and/or original?
  • Does this project have the potential for developing into an ongoing program?
  • Does project have BIPOC Leadership?
  • Does project have BIPOC programmatic inclusion?
  • Does project engage with issues of our time?
Clarity and feasibility of Overall project – Timeline, PR (15%)
  • Is there sufficient planning?  Does the timeline make sense to ensure quality in project implementation?
  • Is there a budget and plan for marketing/publicity to reach a diverse public?
Budget (10%)
  • Is NCC only source of funding? 0 = yes 9 = no
  • Are artists being paid to participate?
  • Is the budget clear and complete?
Community Support/Significance to Community Served (20%) “What’s in it for Newton?”
  • Is the applicant/organization a city resident?
  • Does project contribute to the multi-cultural vitality and well-being of the community as a whole?
  • Does project address a community need? Unique programming, and/or DEI
Ability to involve, contribute and enrich an underrepresented population (25%)
  • Does it benefit a historically underrepresented segment of the community?  
  • Does program employ or engage diverse performers/artists/audiences?
 TOTAL SCORE  
Is this a Top 10?
Should NCC fund this project:
Why?