Update: 2009 Community Media Grant Program will be Delayed
October 24th, 2008
Dear Friends & Colleagues,
I am writing to you today about MNN's Community Media Grant Program.
As you may know, MNN receives the majority of it's funding through the cable franchise process. This is where cable service providers like Time Warner and Cablevision pay a fee to the City of New York, and agree to support
local Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access channels, in return for using the public rights of way to deliver cable to homes around the city.
The support MNN gets from the cable providers is how we maintain our center, operate our channels, and provide training, equipment and studio access to Manhattan residents and groups. This support has also funded MNN's Community Media Grant Program for the last fifteen years.
The City's cable franchises are up for renewal this year. But right now this renewal process has been taking longer than expected. As such, MNN will have to delay the 2009 Community Media Grant process for the time being.
Hopefully, the cable franchising process will be completed by early 2009. We will keep you posted.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call Betty Yu, the Director of Community Outreach & Media at (212) 757-2670 x346 or email her at betty@mnn.org.
Thanks so much for your patience and understanding. Again, we will keep you posted as soon as we hear anything.
Sincerely,
Dan Coughlin,
Executive Director
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
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The Community Media Grants develop and support vibrant public interest dialogue, helping community organizations to become active and effective participants in the exchange of ideas.
About Manhattan Neighborhood Network:
Manhattan Neighborhood Network is a non-profit public access media center providing services to the Borough of Manhattan in New York City. MNN administers four public access cable channels on the Time-Warner and RCN cable systems in Manhattan.
MNN programming reaches over half a million households and is also streamed live on the internet.
MNN provides equitable, open and uncensored access to our cable channels. MNN's mission is grounded in and support First Amendment freedom of speech, media justice and public interest values. MNN provides the Manhattan community with training and access to production tools including studio, location and post-production resources.
Overview:
In a just society, access to communication and the ability to freely receive and transmit information is vital. Within a media landscape influenced by the merger of corporate, media and governmental interests, cable public access TV and emerging electronic media technologies provide a space for a free-flowing, diverse and uncensored public discourse.
Through the Community Media Grants Program, MNN works and partners with organizations to use media to build and facilitate community dialog, provide local perspectives in areas of the public interest, foster local artistic and cultural expressions, contribute to a media literate society and develop public interest media agency and infrastructure responsive to the needs of the community.
Community Media Grant History:
The Community Media Grant was established in 1992 through advocacy by public media and community organizations and negotiations between the City of New York, the Manhattan Borough President’s office and AOL/Time Warner Cable. The grant is available to non-profit organizations or community-based groups who are fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) based in and providing services to the Borough of Manhattan. To date nearly three million dollars has been allocated to groups that diversify the programming of our channels and bring significant issues to the forefront. For a listing of past grantee’s and project descriptions go to: http://www.mnn.org/grantees
Eligibility Requirements:
The Community Media Grant funds Manhattan based non-profit, non-sectarian and grass roots community based organizations able to demonstrate the following:
• Manhattan based, serving Manhattan residents, and
• 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS, or a valid fiscal sponsor with same, and
• Demonstrated capacity to provide service delivery in at least one of the following; community organizing, community development, community artistic or cultural activities, community education, and
• Evidence of fiscally sound management and administrative practice, and
• Demonstrated internal/personnel capacity to successfully conduct the proposed project, and
• Adequate physical infrastructure for facilitation of the project, and
• Agreement to provide MNN funded services at no charge to participants.
Funding Requests:
In 2008 the grant will award approximately $120,000 in operating, equipment, training and production support. The grant is very competitive and only a small number of organizations that apply are funded. In the last round 21 organizations were granted awards ranging in amounts from $4500 to $17,000. MNN may, at its discretion, offer to renegotiate a proposal for less than was originally requested. Be aware that unrealistic or inflated proposals are often discarded in the early rounds of consideration.
Special consideration will be afforded to:
• Projects with significant matching resources provided by the applicant or other funding sources.
• Projects with well developed audience building strategies and unique, creative and effective community distribution strategies in addition to playback on MNN’s public access channels.
• Projects demonstrating significant potential for sustainability after MNN funding.
• Projects that increase the diversity of voices on MNN’s public access channels and address communities not normally served by traditional media.
• Projects that include the use of new and emerging technologies in community media to enhance local community media infrastructure and capacity. Possible production and distribution technologies could include internet, blogging/vlogging, video-streaming, wi-fi, public projection, multi-media presentation or a combination of the above.
The Grant Process:
Organizations receiving funding will enter into a grant agreement with MNN detailing specific benchmarks, evaluation criteria, timelines, goals and responsibilities. The objective is to clearly define what MNN will be providing and what will be expected from the grantee. Each organization is paired with a MNN staff liaison who will work with the organization and provide assistance throughout the course of the grant cycle. Grant organizations will be expected to attend various orientation, seminar and other events during the grant cycle.
The Three Grant Areas:
1. Training and Production Grant
Grant Range: $8,000 - $20,000
Download Training and Production application form
The Training and Production Grant is designed to provide organizations with the resources to develop a self-sufficient and sustained media production capability. The grant’s aim is to develop within the organization a minimum core of staff, volunteers and/or constituents capable of providing the organization with an effective on-going media capability and produce regular programming for playback on MNN's channels and other distribution outlets.
What MNN Will Provide
MNN will hire and place at your facility qualified training/mentoring personnel to assist the organization in learning to use media effectively and to advance the goals of your organization. Organizations already working with qualified training/mentoring personnel may submit the names of individual(s) for consideration. MNN will also purchase and place at the grantee's location camcorder and editing equipment packages.
In addition to the above MNN will consider requests for:
• Direct project administrative and overhead expenses (up to 15% of the total budget).
• Grants for Training and Production will also consider requests for training and use of new and emerging technologies (see "Special consideration" page 2).
• Organizations willing to assume training and administrative personnel costs may request a significant portion of the grant be applied to equipment and infrastructure (capital) resources.
What Is Expected From the Grant Organization
Organizations receiving Training and Production Grants are expected to demonstrate and commit a significant level of their own personnel and operational resources to support the project in terms of recruiting and sustaining participation, providing the necessary administrative and coordinating support, providing adequate and accessible space for project activities and provide for the security of the equipment. Organizations must provide at least one person within their organization who will devote an adequate amount of time to ensure the success of the project.
Organizations funded towards the maximum grant range ($15K - $20K) are expected to train 10 to 15 individuals and produce 10 to 12 full length (28 to 58 minute) programs. Organizations funded at lower levels have correspondingly lower benchmarks.
2. Tactical Media Toolkit Grant
Grant Range: $6000-9000 in equipment and MNN training
Download Tactical Media Toolkit Application Form
The Tactical Media Toolkit is designed to provide for organizations that do not have the resources to undertake a full scale Training and Production Grant. The grant’s aim is to work with a dedicated core of two or more staff, volunteers and/or constituents to provide the organization with tactical media resources to respond to community needs and develop an effective media capability.
What MNN Will Provide
The Tactical Media grant will provide organizations with a one-year loan of a toolkit containing a professional digital camera, lighting and sound equipment, a desktop computer equipped with Final Cut Pro and web streaming tools, video tape and other production supplies.
MNN will convene core personnel from the all organizations that receive the grant for training in program production, effective use of the equipment, resource sharing and media strategy. After approximately 30 hours of initial training, organizations take possession of the equipment and will be expected to begin production of regular programming. After a year-end evaluation of the initial video project, organizations can re-apply in the second year to take permanent possession of the equipment based on a demonstrated commitment to continued program production. Tactical Media Grants will also consider requests for training and use of new and emerging technologies (see "Special consideration" page 2).
What Is Expected From the Grant Organization
Organizations receiving Tactical Media Toolkit Grants are expected to demonstrate and commit a significant level of their own personnel and operational resources to support the project in terms of recruiting and sustaining participation, providing the necessary administrative and coordinating support, providing adequate and accessible space for project activities and provide for the security of the equipment. Organizations must provide at least one person within their organization who will devote an adequate amount of time to ensure the success of the project.
Organizations are expected to provide at least one person to attend the initial 30 hours of training and maintain a staff or volunteer core to two to three people committed to the project. Video production can be a very labor intensive process that will require a significant investment of time the participants. A minimum of four full length (28 - 58 minute) programs is required during the course of the grant cycle.
3. Curatorial Media Grant
Grant Range: $2000 -$10,000
Download Curatorial Media Application Form
This grant area recognizes the vast local and national resources of new and archival
programming that breaks with traditional media boundaries. This grant encourages organizations to curate innovative and thematic presentations within contemporary contexts to help inform and educate specific communities and the general public. Organizations are also encouraged to partner with local film and video festivals, archives and media centers in developing series proposals that compliment their missions and the interests of their constituencies.
Organizations are encouraged to develop creative and effective alternative distribution and educational strategies, and plan to organize periodic public screenings in addition to, or in association with, the cablecast of programs on MNN’s public access channels. Organizations should plan to present a season of programming, typically thirteen programs, either 28 or 58 minute in length.
What MNN Will Provide
• Curatorial personnel costs
• Curriculum development costs
• Project-related administrative and overhead costs
• Public projection costs
• Cablecast and public presentation rights and clearances
• Per-diem speaker’s fees and honorarium
• MNN will also consider requests for distribution/curatorial strategies in new and emerging technologies (see "Special consideration").
What Is Expected From the Grant Organization
Organizations funded towards the maximum grant range ($8K - $10K) should plan to present a season of programming, typically 10 to 13 full length (28 to 58 minute) programs. Organizations funded at lower levels have correspondingly lower benchmarks.
Organizations must secure all licensing rights and clearances for multiple cable-casts on MNN's Public Access Channels.
Application Process and Protocols (all grant areas):
Applications will be reviewed by MNN staff, board and community peers. All final grant decisions are determined by the Board of Directors of Manhattan Neighborhood Network
NOTE: There are separate applications for each grant area, please choose the
appropriate form(s), available online as text documents. Simply fill in the application using Word. Applications are available for download at http://www.mnn.org/en/grantapplications. Please refer to the web site for grant updates and additional information.
Incomplete applications (i.e., sections left blank, unsigned, missing enclosures, etc.) and or applications submitted via fax will not be considered.
Applications submitted with alterations to the original format will not be reviewed.
Applicants may not add or change materials in the application after the deadline without prior permission from MNN.
Email the application to: grants@mnn.org and mail 10 hard copies of the application and one copy of enclosures to:
MNN CM Grants, 537 West 59th Street, NY, NY 10019
Enclosures: (Please mail all enclosures with the hard copies).
One (1) copy of IRS 501 (c) (3) letter of determination or letter of agreement from fiscal sponsoring organization along and fiscal sponsors IRS 501 (c) (3) letter.
One (1) copy most recent IRS form 990 or audited financial statement.
One (1) copy of the names and affiliations of organization Board of Directors.
Continuing Support:
Any organization that has ever received MNN funding the Training and Production category must fill out a Continuing Support Application available on the web site. MNN will not consider funding any organization that has received a Training and Production grant in 4 out of the 6 previous years except in the curatorial category. Organizations that have received a Training and Production grant in four out of the last six previous years must wait 2 years before applying again. Organizations applying for continued support will be evaluated based upon the merits of their grant application and the following;
1. Diversity in type of programming
2. Strategic importance to MNN
3. Demographics - locations and constituent communities served
4. Amount of programming production proposed
5. Evidence that the grant would help build the organization’s internal media capacity in an ongoing and sustainable manner and/or help build community media infrastructure (externally, across the city or for a particular range of organizations or sectors)
Download Continuing Support Application Form
Grant Cycle & Calendar:
• Application Seminars will be conducted on:
Monday, September 10, 2007, 1:00-3:00pm
Tuesday, September 11, 2007, 4:00-6:00pm
Wednesday, September 12, 2007, 7:00-9:00pm
Seminars will take place at MNN, 537 West 59th Street. Please rsvp at http://www.mnn.org/en/Seminar_RSVP or call 212 757 2670 x352. Check the website for updates.
• Application Deadline: Mailed hardcopy material must be postmarked no later than Friday, October 12, 2007. Materials can also be hand-delivered to MNN by 5:00 pm, Monday October 15, 2007. Application forms must also be emailed to grants@mnn.org
• Applicants will be notified in mid-December, 2007.
• Grant Agreements will be negotiated in December 2007 and early January, 2008. First payments (if applicable) and equipment distributed in January 2008. Tactical Media Toolkit training will be scheduled in January and February of 2008.
• A mandatory orientation session for administrative/training personnel will take place prior to the first payment and distribution of equipment in January, 2008.
• Approximately six months into the grant cycle an evaluation will be conducted, organizations demonstrating satisfactory performance will receive a second and
final payment if applicable, receive continued training/mentoring support and retain their possession of MNN provided equipment.
• Funding cycle ends and final reports submitted December 2008.
