Artist Outreach Project

Application Deadline: July 31, 2015

The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation

Kenneth A. Picerne, President and Chairman of the Board of The Picerne Group, an international investment firm, has provided charitable contributions for youth mentoring, childhood development, and other community concerns for many years. The company, with headquarters in San Juan Capistrano, California, was built on the premise that acting in a socially responsible manner, with integrity and honesty, leads to personal success and a thriving community.

In 2004, Mr. Picerne formed a social entrepreneurial operating foundation with offices in San Juan Capistrano, California, to apply these values in an active and systematic way to his philanthropic endeavors. The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation’s mission is to develop innovative programs that promote human development. These programs provide unique opportunities for individuals to fulfill their potential.

1. The Objective
The objective of Artist Outreach Project is to enable accomplished visual, performing and literary artists the opportunity to provide educational, mentoring and/or therapeutic experiences for underserved populations in Orange County, California. The Foundation is well aware of the enormous therapeutic and educational contribution artists can make to those in-need within their communities. Artists often do not receive the support necessary to allow them to make this contribution. The Foundation also recognizes that significant therapeutic and educational impact rarely occurs in short “hit-and-run” programs. Therefore, the Foundation has developed a yearlong program that provides support for experienced artists who are motivated to contribute to their community. The objectives of Artist Outreach are:

  • To provide accomplished visual, performing and literary artists the opportunity to help underserved members of the community
  • To provide high quality educational, mentoring and therapeutic experiences to the underserved

2. The Stipend
The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation will provide up to twenty stipends in 2015 to artists age 55 and older. The selected artists will receive a grant of up to $12,000 to pursue a 12-month project of their own choosing. The grant is intended to cover artists’ actual contact time with participants and will be paid out on a monthly basis. Artists may submit an additional request for reimbursement for materials directly related to service provision. Items such as the rental of office space, capital expenditures for permanent equipment, general office supplies, extra personnel, and travel expenses will not be reimbursed. The Foundation expects artists awarded the full grant will devote six to eight hours of direct contact time per week to the people they wish to serve at a nonprofit organization of their choice. Partial grants may be awarded to artists wishing to contribute fewer hours.
3. The Artist
Stipends are available to literary, visual, and performing artists who are:

  • Fifty five years or older and
  • Residents of Orange County

4. The Community Project
Projects should be designed for an in-need population that normally would not have access to the proposed services. There are no restrictions regarding the age of the participants the artist chooses to serve. However, projects should be educational, mentoring and/or therapeutic experiences for the participants. Artists awarded the grant will be expected to participate in a project evaluation.
Projects should be carried out in association with organizations that possess not-for-profit, tax-exempt status. Artists may propose to work with one or more underserved groups and nonprofit organizations. If the artist would like help in locating individuals or groups that could benefit from an artist’s services, the Foundation will provide help in selecting a worthy nonprofit. Projects are not limited to Orange County based agencies or organizations, although preference may be shown for these projects.
Information about the previous Artist Outreach Project Grant recipients and their projects can be found on the Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation website at picernefoundation.org. Examples of potentially fundable projects include:

  • Teaching ukulele to convalescing wounded war veterans
  • Helping homeless children create collages
  • Teaching drama to inner city African-American youth
  • Engaging youth in creative writing who have been identified by police as at-risk
  • Conducting nature photography on a one-on-one basis with autistic children
  • Leading interpretive dance in a retirement facility

The Foundation will not fund:

  • Performances, demonstrations or “showings” of the artist’s own work
  • Projects in schools that are traditionally part of the academic curriculum
  • Projects that are primarily religious in nature
  • Projects where the primary applicant is a nonprofit or educational organization rather than a literary, visual, or performing artist

Artists are encouraged to contact the Foundation in advance of their written applications in order to discuss their intended projects. They can also receive assistance in connecting with a suitable group at this time, if needed.
5. The Application Process
Application Timeline: The Foundation will begin accepting applications on May 1, 2015. The application deadline is Friday July 31, 2015. Please contact the Foundation at 949-267-1517, or by email at , if you would like to discuss your plans for an Artist Outreach Project application.
Pre-submission: Prior to submission of an application, interested artists are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the Foundation staff in a phone call or e-mail. Qualified artists with ideas that appear to fit the project criteria will be encouraged to submit a formal application. Application materials can be obtained by phone, by e-mail request, or by download from the Foundation website by clicking on the download an application link at the bottom of the Artist Outreach Description & Details page.
Formal Application: Artists may submit a written application to the Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation by e-mail or regular mail. The Foundation will evaluate all proposals in terms of the reliability and professionalism of the artist and the artist’s likelihood for success. Foundation staff will also evaluate the educational and psychosocial impact of the proposed project.

It will be the applicants’ responsibility as part of the written application to describe the project they would engage in, the time they will devote, and a budget outlining the supplies necessary for the project. Artists are also expected to provide a letter of support from the nonprofit organization(s) they have chosen to host the project with the application. The letter of support should demonstrate the nonprofit’s interest in supporting the artist’s project if the artist is awarded a grant. Finally, applicants will be asked to submit a resume of their art experience and references with the application.
Interview:Based on the written application, the Foundation will select finalists for the consequent interview phase.Finalists may be asked to present samples of their work in advance of the interview. Artist proposals, plans, and budgets will be reviewedin more depth during the interview. Finalists are often asked to follow up on one or more items after the interview, before the Foundation makes a final decision about awarding an Artist Outreach grant.
6. Summary of Criteria for Eligibility
The following criteria are used to determine eligibility for the program:

  • Artist is age 55 or over
  • Artist is an Orange County resident
  • Applicant is a practicing artist in the literary, visual, or performing arts
  • Preference given to projects involving individuals, agencies or organizations located in Orange County
  • Projects will be carried out in association with organizations that possess not-for-profit, tax-exempt status. An organization that does not possess non-profit status may be considered if a non-profit organization agrees to sponsor it.
  • Projects are to be educational, mentoring or therapeutic arts based programs.

7. Contact Information

For assistance, questions, and to request or submit an application contact:

Victor Nelson, Executive Director
The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation
30950 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 200
San Juan Capistrano, CA92675
/ E-mail: Telephone: 949-267-1517
Fax: 949-487-6263

Artist Outreach Project Application

Application Deadline: July 31, 2015

1. ARTIST INFORMATION

Last Name:
First Name:
Application Date: / Birth Date:
Address: / Apt. #:
City: / State:
Zip: / Home phone:
email: / Cell phone:
Work phone:

2. TARGET NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Nonprofit 1 Name:
Type of Service Provided:
Website:
Contact Person:
Title of Contact Person: / Phone:
Address: / Suite #:
City: / State:
Zip: / email:
[1]Nonprofit 2 Name:
Type of Service Provided:
Website:
Contact Person:
Title of Contact Person: / Phone:
Address: / Suite #:
City: / State:
Zip: / email:
*Nonprofit 3Name:
Type of Service Provided:
Website:
Contact Person:
Title of Contact Person: / Phone:
Address: / Suite #:
City: / State:
Zip: / email:
*Nonprofit 4 Name:
Type of Service Provided:
Website:
Contact Person:
Title of Contact Person: / Phone:
Address: / Suite #:
City: / State:
Zip: / email:

3. PROJECT NARRATIVE

Please respond to the questions that follow. Number your responses correspondingly.

  1. Describe your project, its participants, and its goals.
  1. How will your project address important needs of the population you propose to serve? What compelling therapeutic, educational or other impact will your work have with this population?
  1. Why is this project important to you? Why are you pursuing this project at this time?
  1. Describe any art related professional or volunteer experiences in which you taught or mentored others.
  1. Describe how the nonprofit organization or group you have chosen to engage with will help implement your project. What support will they provide?
  1. What challenges or difficulties will you face in successfully implementing your project?
  1. What will be the outcome of your project? How will you know if your project has been successful?
  1. Briefly summarize your work plan:
  2. How frequently will you have direct face-to-facecontact with the people who you wish to serve?
  3. How much direct face-to-facetime will you spend with the people you serve during each contact?
  4. Where you will meet with the people you wish to serve? Have you agreed on a specific location(s) with the nonprofits and groups you have chosen?
  5. When will your project begin and end? Are there nonprofit organization or school schedules to consider?

4. EXPENSE BUDGET

What materials or supplies will you need? Itemize and propose a realistic annual budget for supplies related to the project. A sample budget is located in appendix A. Note that the Foundation will only reimburse expenses directly related to service provision. Items such as the rental of office space, capital expenditures for permanent office equipment, general office supplies, extra personnel and travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

5. RÉSUMÉ

Submit a current résumé that describes your artistic background. If your work is posted on a website, include the web address in the résumé.

6. REFERENCES

Provide three work related references. Indicate their relationship to you and their telephone contact information. References should include individuals who are familiar with your work as an artist as well as individuals who can attest to your capabilities in working with others, organizational ability and communication skills.

7. LETTER OF INTEREST

Submit a letter of support signed by the director, principal or executive of the nonprofit organization(s) or group(s) that you will be working with indicating their understanding of your proposal and interest in supporting your project if your grant is approved.

Application Checklist

Applications will not be considered until all information has been received. All information and attachments must be received prior to the application deadline.

1. Artist Information
2. Target Nonprofit Organization Information
3. Project Narrative
4. Expense Budget
5. Résumé
6. References
7. Letter of Interestfrom Target Organization

Assistance

Assistance from the Kenneth A Picerne Foundation is available to applicants prior to the application deadline. For assistance or questions contact:

Victor Nelson, Executive Director
The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation
30950 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 200
San Juan Capistrano, CA92675
/ telephone: 949-267-1517
email:
fax: 949-487-6263

Appendix A

Artist Outreach ProjectBudget for Supplies

Artist Name:Date:

Amount / Brief Budget Item Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total
Amount:

© 2007, Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation Artist Outreach Project – ApplicationPage 1

[1]Only one nonprofit group or organization is required. However, some applicants choose to work with more than one group or organization as part of one grant. Please include contact information for additional groups or organizations.

Estimate how much you plan to spend for materials each month or for the entire year.