Oneness Project
2008 Project Grant
 Application Guidelines

Revised 1/10/2008

What is the Project Grants Program?

In year 2000, Oneness Project established an endowment fund, from which annual revenues are granted to individuals, dance circles and other organizations to support worthy DUP projects around the world. These guidelines and policies describe how to apply to Oneness Project for Project Grants. You may wish to print out the guidelines and policies for reference as you prepare your application.

Oneness Project's role in funding projects tends to fall into the following categories:
Enabling - The project would likely not take place without Oneness support
Safety Net - Oneness is asked to serve as a guarantor of a project against loss. In this category the applicant promises to return any unused funds.
Merit/Innovation - The project demonstrates such excellence, innovation or importance to the dance community that funds are granted as an award of recognition, support and assistance

Our grants committee determines which categories apply based on the information in a grant application.

Who may apply?

Dance circles, nonprofit organizations, and individuals may apply. Oneness encourages applicants to locate or establish a fiscal agent, such as a DUP dance circle with its own bank account or a legally recognized, nonprofit entity, to receive grant funds and bear financial responsibility for the conduct of the project. However, an individual may serve as fiscal agent where necessary.

Application and Grant Review Process

We suggest that you begin preparing your application well in advance of the proposal due date. OP Executive Director Peter Reynolds [peter@onenessproject.com, 406 961-5181] is available to answer questions about preparing your application and will also review an early draft, if the draft is sent to him no later than 2 weeks prior to the due date. If you are new to proposal writing, you may want to review some of the excellent resources on the World Wide Web, including the Foundation Center's resources on proposal writing at www.fdncenter.org/.

When to Apply/Due Dates

Oneness Project accepts and reviews project applications twice annually. Applications must be received in the Oneness Project financial office no later than 24:00 on April 1 and October 1, 2008. Apply at the April 1 deadline for projects beginning after July 1, 2008 and at the October 1 Deadline for projects beginning after January 1, 2009.

Amounts

Grants of up to $8,000 are awarded in this program. Awards in excess of this amount are unusual and will be considered only if the project is deemed to have significant merit to the Dances of Universal Peace. Applicants contemplating a request in excess of $8,000 must contact OP Executive Director Peter Reynolds (peter@onenessproject.com) of their intent to apply well in advance of the deadline. If you're applying for support for an event, you might want to ask Oneness Project to serve as a guarantor, or "safety net" against loss. In this case, you would return any funds that are not needed to break even.

Project Grant Awards: How do we decide?

After you submit your application by email, or by regular mail as described on the application form under Preparing Your Application, the Oneness Project Grants Committee then studies the proposals. A Grants Committee member may contact you if we need more information prior to our meeting. The committee meets to review the proposals based on the funding goals and criteria given below and then makes their recommendations to the Oneness Project Trustee Council. The OP Trustee Council makes the final grant award decisions and informs applicants whether or not they have received an award by about June 10, 2008 and December 1, 2008.

Examples of the Kinds of Projects We Fund

We define a "project" as an activity with a specific beginning and end date that is intended to meet stated objectives. The Grants Committee evaluates each proposal according the funding goals, criteria and policies given below. Here are some examples of the kind of projects we often fund:
1. Funding travel costs for certified dance leaders to establish new dance circles and bring more people into the dances.
2. Supporting travel and fees for certified dance leaders to present a retreat, camp or training event.
3. Supporting a multi-year project designed to build a local dance circle and increase the repertoire and capacity of its dance leaders.
4. Providing scholarships and travel support for young people to explore spirituality through the Dances.

Funding Goals

Successful proposals have potential to fulfill one or more of the following goals. Projects which:
a) Promote and encourage increased participation in the Dances of Universal Peace
b) Encourage excellence in dance leading and dance meeting facilitation
c) Encourage cooperation, sharing of resources and talents among dance circles and communities
d) Foster teamwork among dance leaders working within the same dance circle, community or region
e) Enable children and youth to enjoy Dances of Universal Peace and to have meaningful experiences at dance camps and retreats
f) Enhance and develop local dance activity. In this case, the proposal must demonstrate that the proposed project has wide support among the local dance community and/or will significantly increase the quality of the dance experience or numbers of participants.

Evaluative Criteria

Our grants committee will evaluate proposals according to the following criteria:
 Project is likely to fulfill one or more of the Funding Goals (listed above)
 Qualifications and abilities of the project personnel
 Capacity of the applicant to carry out the project
 Extent to which the proposed project meets the needs of the dance community and/or network
 Financial need of the applicant for the requested grant
 Cost effectiveness of the proposed project
 Quality of the applicant’s follow-up plans for the project, including the opportunities and commitments presented

In addition to these Guidelines please view additional policies by clicking the link below.