FAQs

What are the Foundation’s eligibility requirements? 

To be eligible for funding, your organization must: 

• Be a 501(c)(3) or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3). 
• For 501(c)(3)s: Be incorporated in New York State and be based in New York City. 
• For fiscally sponsored applicants: Operate in New York City (fiscal sponsor can be incorporated elsewhere).  
• Organizations must have three years of operating budgets (both revenue and expenses) that are over $250,000. Please see the Interest Form for specific details; and 
• Be able to provide an audit, CPA’s review report, and/or 990 tax form. 

Additionally, your organization cannot receive a Howard Gilman Foundation grant if it is a current grantee of a Gilman-funded regranting program. If you have questions about this, please contact the Grants Team. 

Does my organization need to have 501(c)(3) status to apply? 

We accept applications from both 501(c)(3)s and fiscally sponsored organizations. Note that your own organization must have a budget that exceeds $250,000 to be eligible; we are not evaluating the budget of your fiscal sponsor. 

How many years of operating budgets must exceed $250,000 in order to be eligible to apply? 

In general, an organization will need to show three years of operating budgets that exceed $250,000. Which years you will need to show depends upon the time of year and your organization’s fiscal year end date. Please visit the PDF of our Interest Form for specifics about this year’s requirements.  

What if I am a current grantee and my organization’s budget falls below/is projected to fall below $250,000? 

Over the course of the year, if you have concerns about your projected budget, you are encouraged to inform your Program Officer. 

Can I include in-kind support within my operating budget?

In-kind support can be represented within your organization’s operating budget but will not be considered when determining if your organization is eligible for funding. Organizations must meet the $250,000 minimum budget without the inclusion of in-kind support. 

What if my organization is not required to have an annual audit? 

In the state of New York, all organizations with budgets over $1M need to provide an audit. Organizations with budgets between $250K and $1M should provide an CPA’s Review Report. If you are a current grantee and you cannot provide an audit or a review, contact your Program Officer. 

What do you mean by “New York City”?  

By New York City, we mean the five boroughs. We do not fund organizations incorporated or based in New Jersey, Connecticut, or parts of New York State outside of the five boroughs. If your organization is fiscally sponsored, your operations must take place in New York City, though your fiscal sponsor may be located elsewhere. 

My organization was just recently founded. Is it eligible?  

Your organization must have at least one completed fiscal year showing revenue and expenses that exceed $250,000. Current and future fiscal years must also meet that threshold. Other than that, there are no requirements in terms of number of years in operation.   

What does the Howard Gilman Foundation fund?  

• Generative performing arts companies, such as dance companies, music ensembles, theater companies, and multidisciplinary performance groups
• Performing arts presenters and venues
• Service organizations that support the sector, including those focused on residencies, artistic development, advocacy, and administrative and fiscal health
• Gilman only funds organizations that are based in New York City. We also have specific priorities that we use to determine which new applicants will be added to our roster each year. Those priorities can be found here. 

Does Gilman fund arts education?  

Gilman does not fund arts education programs or programs where youth or teens are the generative artists. We also do not support tuition-based, degree-granting, or pre-professional training programs.  

Does Gilman fund other types of cultural institutions unrelated to performance? 

Gilman does not fund visual arts museums, galleries, botanical gardens, zoos, or other cultural organizations with primary missions unrelated to performance. We do not fund organizations focused on literary arts or film and television. Additionally, we do not fund social service organizations, nor programming that takes place in hospitals, senior centers, prisons, or shelters.  

My organization’s mission is not dedicated to the performing arts, but we have strong performing arts programming. Should we apply? 

Gilman rarely funds organizations with missions that are not exclusively devoted to the performing arts. However, if your organization has a mission that is broader than the performing arts but features robust performance programming in alignment with our priorities, you are welcome to fill out an Interest Form.  

What does Gilman look for when adding a new organization to its roster? 

Our specific priorities for new funding can be found here. Please note that Gilman only adds a small number of new applicants to our roster each year.

When should my organization apply for renewed funding? 

The dates and deadlines for Renewal Applications can be found here.  

When should I apply for new funding? 

Our application process for funding new organizations has recently changed. The Foundation now accepts Interest Forms for new funding once per calendar year. The dates and deadlines for applying for new funding can be found here.  

When are my multi-year interim report materials due? 

The due dates for Multi-Year Interim Financial Updates can be found here. Due dates are always listed within your award letter and grant agreement, and you will receive a reminder email from our Grants Team one month before Interim Financial Updates are due.

Is my organization a Current Grantee? 

In general, your organization is considered a Current Grantee if you have been awarded a Gilman grant in the prior calendar year or a multi-year grant two years ago. If you have a question about whether you are a Current Grantee, reach out to your dedicated Program Officer or the Grants Team. 

My organization’s funding lapsed. How do I apply now? 

If your Gilman funding has lapsed, please follow the steps on the Applying for New Funding page. 

My organization has applied in the past but has never been awarded funding. What form should I fill out? 

Please follow the steps on the Applying for New Funding page. 

How do I register for an account? 

In order to apply for funding, you will need to register your organization in our grants portal. Instructions and troubleshooting are included in our Grants Portal User & Contact Guide. Once registered, follow the steps to complete your Organization Profile.   

I’ve registered; why can’t I see the Interest Form? 

The Interest Forms are only open during the timeframes outlined here.  

Where can I view a sample of the Interest Form? 

You can view a PDF of the Interest Form here. 

Where can I view a sample of the Application for new organizations?

You can view a PDF of the complete Application for advancing new organizations here.  

Where can I view a sample of the Current Grantee Renewal Application? 

You can view a PDF of the Renewal Application here.  

How long should my Interest Form answers be? 

We provide suggested lengths for narrative questions on the Interest Form. We strongly encourage you to adhere to these suggestions and be as brief and clear as possible. Bulleted lists of activities, accolades, and/or other pieces of information are welcome. If you need to go over the suggested length however, you are not penalized. We do not have character limits. 

How long should my Application answers be?  

We provide suggested lengths for narrative questions on the application. We encourage you to use relevant writing that you’ve already crafted for other applications and/or bulleted lists of information. If you need to go over the suggested length, you are not penalized for doing so. We do not have character limits.

How do I approach the Application if my organization has a fiscal sponsor?  

 If your organization has a fiscal sponsor, here are a few things to keep in mind:  

• When asked to enter your organization’s contact information on the Application, use your own organization’s information, not your fiscal sponsor’s.  
• If you answer “yes” to our question about being fiscally sponsored, you will then be prompted to share your fiscal sponsor’s address and contact information.
• Include your organization’s own operating budgets, not the budgets of your fiscal sponsor.  
• Include the audit or CPA’s Review Report of your fiscal sponsor.
• Include your own list of board or advisory council members, not those of your fiscal sponsor. 
• If you are awarded a grant, we will notify both you and your fiscal sponsor.  Your fiscal sponsor will sign the grant agreement and we will send the funds to your fiscal sponsor. We will also send a copy of the grant agreement to your organization for your records. 

Should my organization apply for general operating support or project support?  

For New Funding: There is no need to distinguish between general operating support and project support on the Interest Form for new funding. If you are advanced to a Full Review and are filling out the full Application, note that most Gilman grantees apply for and receive general operating support. However, there are times when project support might be a better fit. If you think project support is preferable, check in with your assigned Program Officer to discuss before submitting the application.  

For Renewal Applications: These are generally for the same type of support you received the previous year. If you have questions about this, reach out to your dedicated Program Officer.  

My organization would like to be considered for a capital grant, cash reserve, or multi-year funding. How do we apply for these types of grants?  

There is no formal way to apply for these types of funds, though we encourage all Current Grantees to discuss the full breadth of their challenges and opportunities in their Renewal Applications. Your Program Officer will be happy to discuss these issues further during your proposal review meeting.  

Note that we generally do not provide capital support, cash reserves, or multi-year grants to organizations seeking first-time funding. 

How much funding do first-time grantees typically receive?  

Most first-time grants range between $10,000 and $30,000. There is no set formula for determining a grant amount. Programming, budget size, organizational needs, location, business model, and alignment with our priorities are all considerations. 

How much renewal funding should my organization expect to receive? 

Current Grantees may generally expect to receive a renewal at their established annual amount. Ultimately, all award amounts and decisions (including funding increases, decreases, and supplemental support) are recommended by staff and approved by our Board of Trustees. 

The decision notification date has passed, and my organization hasn’t yet received an email. What should I do? 

We email grant notifications to the Grant Contact and Executive Leader Contact that your organization listed in your Application. If those contacts have not received an email and the notification date has passed, please check your junk or spam folder. Please reach out to our Grants Team for further assistance. 

My organization was not funded or was funded at a level lower than expected. How come?  

All applications are evaluated within the context of field-wide circumstances, the overall application pool, the unique needs of individual organizations, and Gilman’s current priorities. Funding recommendations are made based on the results of that comprehensive evaluation process. We are happy to discuss questions about award amounts, declinations, and/or next steps. Please reach out to the staff member identified in your notification email or your dedicated Program Officer. 

My request was declined. How soon can I apply again? 

The Foundation only accepts Interest Forms, Applications, and Renewal Applications once per calendar year. 

How can we invite Gilman team members to upcoming performances and events? 

All applicants will be asked to list upcoming performance opportunities in the Interest Form and/or Application. You are also welcome to email invitations to staff members; all contact information is available on our Team page. 

How can we request a meeting?  

Current grantees are welcome to email their Program Officer anytime. If you are applying for new funding, we encourage you to fill out an Interest Form before requesting a meeting. If you have questions about your organization’s eligibility, contact the Grants Team. 

Who is my Program Officer? 

Your Program Officer is the Gilman team member who serves as your primary contact during both the application process and grant period. They evaluate your application, meet with you to discuss your proposal, attend your performances, and share information about your organization with Gilman’s full staff and board. Though you might have relationships with several people at Gilman, your organization has one Program Officer assigned at a time. If you are unsure about who your current Program Officer is, contact the Grants Team for help. 

Why did my Program Officer change? 

At Gilman, we strive for meaningful relationships with our grantees. We also value a variety of opinions and perspectives. That is why we generally try to pair a grantee organization with the same Program Officer for several years and then shift that organization to another member of the Programs Team. This allows relationships to develop over time and gives more of us a chance to get to know more of you. We take great care to create smooth transitions so that you don’t feel like you are starting from square one. If you have any concerns, just let us know! 

How should I send an acknowledgment letter? 

Please feel free to email an acknowledgment letter to grants@howardgilmanfoundation.org and your Program Officer.  

Is there a logo I can use on promotional materials? 

You are welcome to use the Howard Gilman Foundation logo in any printed or online materials that pertain to your award. You will find files for our logo and information about how to acknowledge Gilman here.

How do I update my organization’s contacts? 

We know that staff changes happen throughout the year. It is your organization’s responsibility to keep your contacts up to date in the Gilman portal.

If the new Grant Contact or Executive Leader would like to be a portal user:

• Click the “Create an Account Now” button on the main login screen of the grants portal.
• Create and submit a new registration.
• We will connect the new contact to your organization’s record. 

If the new Contact or Executive Leader will not be a portal user, but you would like them to be included as an organizational contact:

• Log in to the grants portal.
• Click “People” on the left side menu.
• Click the “Create New User” button on the bottom right of the screen and add the contact’s information.

As a reminder, notification emails are only sent to the Grant Contact and Executive Leader that are designated on each grant application. 

To download a step-by-step guide to registering users and updating contacts, click here.