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OCA Funding Applications

Follow 10 expert tips to ace your Dallas funding application: Address key questions, adhere to criteria, detail your project, engage audiences, select event locations wisely, plan marketing strategies, manage your budget smartly, consider risk management, share relevant material, and approach your application like a business. Ensure success by understanding and meeting the Dallas funding program requirements.

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OCA Funding Applications

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  1. OCA Funding Applications 10 tips to help you write your funding application

  2. 1. Ask yourself some basic questions • Is my project going to serve the citizens of Dallas? • Is my office or residence within the City limits of Dallas? • Am I logistically and financially ready to see this project through? • Is my project something the City of Dallas would be proud to support? • Is my project going to take place within the City limits of Dallas?

  3. 2. Funding Guidelines and Criteria • Be sure that you read through the guidelines for the funding program that you are interested before you start your application. • All current Guidelines are located on the OCA website – www.dallasculture.org • Know the application deadlines – these are posted on the OCA website under “Funding Programs” • Don’t wait until the last minute to fill out your application

  4. 3. Project Proposal • Have a project that is already in the planning phase or that has been planned completely • Be descriptive and give concrete details about the project such as – location, dates, people involved, who will it impact, what ages will be involved, and how you are going to accomplish the project • Make sure that you have achievable goals and outcomes • Make sure that you write in a way that everyone will understand • SPELL CHECK!!

  5. 4. Audience Reach • You must be a resident of Dallas serving the residents of Dallas for your project – Highland Park, University City, SMU and surrounding suburbs are not considered in Dallas • Ensure that your project is easily accessible to the public • Focusing on underserved communities or targeted areas of Dallas is desired • Targeting neighborhoods, seniors or audiences that don’t normally have direct access to the arts

  6. 5. Event Locations • All events for your project must take place in the City limits of Dallas • Check with OCA and your venues to make sure that you are able to do your project or event in the space • Ensure that the venue that you have selected meets the City’s code compliance requirements (Permits, certificate of Occupancy etc.) • Have a contingency plan for your venue in case something falls through

  7. 6. Marketing • Have a plan to promote your event especially to your targeted audience • What type of things will you put in place to make sure that the project is a success? • How will you track the audience attendance and demographics? • Remember that you will be asked by OCA to acknowledge that your project has been funded by the City if you are funded. It is important for people to know this to help continue the funding programs.

  8. 7. Project Budget • Having a budget that doesn’t totally rely on OCA funding is a plus. • Make sure that you don’t show more expenses than revenue • Panelists want to see that the budget makes sense for the project • Make sure that you check the Guidelines for the funding program to make sure that you are not putting something in the budget that can’t be funded. • If your application is approved for funding make sure that you understand that you won’t get the funding in one lump sum – be prepared.

  9. 8. Risk Management / Insurance • Based on your project and/or your venue, you might be required by the City to have insurance. Plan accordingly and make sure that you reflect this in your budget. • Check the Guidelines for more information about insurance and what types might be needed – it all depends on your project

  10. 9. Supplemental Materials • Uploading the right supplemental materials to support your project is important. • Choose strong visual pieces or UTube clips to help support what you are planning to do • Limit the number of materials – more is not always better • Make sure you go back and check the Guidelines for any required upload. For example – resumes, Board of Directors etc. • Make sure the materials relate to what you are proposing for funding

  11. 10. Arts Administration or Think Like a Business • Be an arts administrator by thinking of your project in a business mindset as well as an artistic one • Create a timeline of your project and include the deadlines and requirement dates that OCA sets for funded projects. • Be prepared to meet deadlines and requirements before the due date to allow time for contingencies and to avoid delays.

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