General Information on the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program

Grant Overview
The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program is designed to enhance arts education for students in the classroom or other learning environments through the introduction of new technologies, techniques, or methods; visiting artists; or other activities.

The grant program complements PTA’s long-standing commitment to quality arts education by providing funds to local PTAs to establish or enhance arts programs in one or more arts areas: visual arts, photography, music (including dance), and literature (including theater). A limited number of matching grants of up to $1,000 are awarded each year to local PTAs for student-centered programs focused on arts education.

Eligibility
The applicant must be a local PTA in good standing.

Timeline
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2010. Funding decisions are expected to be made in August 2010. Grant recipients will be notified by phone or e-mail.

Grantees will be expected to complete their programs and expend their grant funds no later than April 30, 2011. 

Online Submission
Applications must be submitted online only. No hard copy applications will be accepted. It is recommended that the narrative is typed out in a word processing document before entering it into the online system. Be sure to review the narrative then paste it into the appropriate text boxes in the online application form. Keep a copy of the narrative and the completed online application form for your PTA records. Applicants will be able to save their work in the online application form and come back to revise or complete it at a later time before submitting. After the application has been submitted, an e-mail will be sent to the applicant to confirm the application was received.

Reporting
Grantees must complete and submit a PTA Grant Report no more than 30 days following the completion of the grant or April 30, 2011, whichever is sooner. The report should be submitted to the Program Coordinator for Arts in Education, National PTA, via e-mail to Reflections@PTA.org or fax to (202) 289-6791.

A sample grant report will be available for reference at PTA.org or by contacting National PTA staff at Reflections@PTA.org or (202) 289-6790. Failure to submit a complete report in a timely manner may affect the grantee’s future grant funding eligibility with National PTA.

Matching Funds
This grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match of cash or in-kind contributions. The applicant’s total match value should be equal to the amount of funds requested in the application. Example: If the grant request is $975, it must be matched with $975 in other funds or in-kind contributions that will be used toward the proposed program, making the total program budget $1,950.

One or more letters documenting the sources and amount of match are required. These should be uploaded with the application. If matching funds are being provided by the applying PTA, a signed letter from the PTA president should be uploaded.

Restrictions on Use of Funds
Grant funds may not be used for any overhead costs. Overhead costs refer to the cost of doing business (rental of space, teacher salaries, utilities, etc.). Funds may not be used for capital improvements, construction, or the purchase of permanent equipment.

Funds may support the purchase of software and materials to teach or train students. These grants are awarded to enhance the classroom or other learning environment for students through activities; materials; the introduction of new technologies, techniques, or methods; visiting artists; or programs.

If the program design calls for the use of software or materials, the local PTA is responsible for storing this software or materials safely and keeping an inventory of these purchases. Documentation of this will be required in the grant report.

Grant Application Deadline
All applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2010. Apply online. [link to application form]

Contact
Questions about the grant program, the application, or funding decisions should be directed to the Program Coordinator for Arts in Education, National PTA, Reflections@PTA.org or (202) 289-6790.