GET SET!

Grants for Museum Advancement

Sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by Museumwise: The Museum Association of New York

Click here to view a list of 2012 Grants for Museum Advancement recipients.

2013 GET SET! grants - there will be two postmark deadlines for submitting applications - February 1st and July 1st.

For our cars and our homes, each of us occasionally secures the assistance of a professional to perform a tune-up, recommend improvements and make changes. All organizations can benefit from the assistance of outside help from time to time.

The goal of the GET SET! grant is to provide your organization with access to professional ideas and opinions, knowledge, and expertise not found in your institution. These skills and new ideas will strengthen your organization and increase your institution's level of professionalism.

Grants of up to $3000 can be used only for consultants' fees and travel expenses. If you do not have a formal strategic plan, please apply for a GET READY! grant. If your organization has completed a GET READY! grant, you may apply for a GET SET! grant to work with a consultant in developing a strategic plan. What is a strategic plan? It is a formal document, adopted by an organization’s board of directors that determines the direction of the organization for a three-five year period.

For an organization with a plan in place, your GET SET! grant must clearly relate to the goals within your strategic plan. The review panel will evaluate your application with the following criteria in mind:

• Does the task proposed represent a step forward in the organization’s strategic plan?
• Is the consultant working in a clearly advisory manner? (For example, we CAN fund a consultant to train volunteers or staff in cataloging; we CANNOT pay for a consultant to do the cataloging.)
• Is the plan of work clear?  Have the responsibilities of the consultant and the organization been clearly defined?
• Can the work be accomplished within the proposed time frame?
• Are the costs appropriate?  (For example, Grants may be awarded up to $3000 with no required match, but the funds may ONLY be used to cover consultant fees and consultant travel.  We do not put a cap on consultant fees)
• Is the consultant appropriately qualified for the described work?
• Is the proposal clear and understandable?  If not, where do you see particular weaknesses?

Consultants may work in any area of museum operations, including, but not limited to strategic planning, board/staff relationships, interpretive planning, exhibition development, collections management, conservation, educational programs, technology, fund raising, and marketing. For your reference, click here to find examples of successful projects.

We can help locate an expert in your field of interest if needed. To begin the process of locating a consultant, visit the Museum Association of New York consultant database at www.manyonline.org. We strongly suggest that you contact several consultants to find the best fit for your organization.

There are two GET SET! postmark deadlines per year: February 1 and July 1. If that day falls upon a Sunday or legal holiday, your application must be postmarked the next business day.  Grant applications will not be accepted by email. Grant awards are made approximately 60 days after the application date.  We recommend sending applications via certified mail. To apply, complete the GET SET! application located here  or here for a PDF of the application, making sure to include all supporting materials. Note: GET SET! applicants must submit four (4) copies of their application and supporting materials. Applications should be mailed to Museumwise: The Museum Association of New York, 265 River Street, Troy, NY 12180

GET SET! projects must start after the date of the award letter, generally about sixty days after the application deadline. Your organization has one year to complete the grant. The final report must be submitted within sixty days of the grant completion.  Any change in consultants must be approved by Museumwise: MANY.

Before you begin writing your GET SET! grant application, please check our tips for a successful grant. We also recommend that you contact the Museumwise: MANY staff at 800.895.1648 with any questions or to discuss your grant application before submission.

GET SET! application (DOC) (PDF)

Applications are accepted by mail only and should be sent to: Museumwise: The Museum Association of New York, 265 River Street, Troy, NY 12180