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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Request - Nature of Words#45 Economic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: The Nature of Words Organization Description: Established in 2005, The Nature of Words offers Central Oregon residents opportunities to enjoy acclaimed writers visiting the region to share their works, explore their own writing under the guidance of these writers and feedback from peers. The organization has also expanded to include Creative Writing in the Schools program. This is a year-round outreach program that serves underserved and at - risk youth, as well as traditional middle school and high school students. Project Name: The Nature of Words Literary Festival 2012 Project Description: These grant funds will be used to stage the five-day festival, including out -of -area television and radio promotions, author reading and lecture fees, and author -led workshops. Project Period: Event - November 2, 2011 to November 6, 2011 Amount of Request: $3,500 (Total budget = $129,500) Previous Grants: • September 2005 — $1,500 (Luke $500; Daly $500; DeWolf $500) • March 2006 - $2,000 (Luke $1,000; Clarno $1,000) • February 2007 - $2,000 (Luke $1,000; Baney $1,000) • April 2008 - $1,000 (Luke $500, Baney $500) • March 2010 - $1,500 (Luke $500; Baney $500; Unger $500) • July 2011 - $1,500 (Baney $500, DeBone $500, Unger $500) Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Anthony DeBone Date: y! zq/ao12 Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Commissioner Alan Unger All Three Commissioners Nc.,xe.o-- fords ao► L1+Vc,t14. FAV coo Applicant/Organization: Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: \'‘Q.Nk=ctoi-c t5 -F Ocs-ci S .. U. & S (p Contact Name(s): Fax: Alternate Phone: Tax ID #• City & Zip: Telephone: Email: taoi S(9—(1(Q1-1E F 709 sal - to11 .1233 On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Tammy Baney: Amount: Signature: Anthony DeBone: Amount: Signature: Alan TTnaer• Amnnnt• Cionatnre• April 24, 2012 Mr. David Inbody Deschutes County Administration 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200 Bend, OR 97701-1960 Dear Mr. Inbody, Please find attached The Nature of Words' request for a discretionary grant of $2,500 from the Video Lottery Fund. The Nature of Words is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in Deschutes County and serving the greater Central Oregon region. Now in its eighth year, The Nature of Words (NOW) is proud to offer its flagship annual literary festival and outreach creative writing programs for youth and adults in public schools, alternative educational programs and social welfare programs, as well as at NOW's downtown Literary Arts Center. Each year, thousands are inspired by nationally acclaimed writers during the annual literary festival, and students of all ages benefit from NOW's year- round creative writing programs. In 2012, NOW will serve more than 4,500 youth and adults in Central Oregon. We are very grateful for the past support of the Deschutes County Commissioners and thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request in 2012. Sincerely, 4�. Ellen Waterston, Director APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: The Nature of Words CONTACT INFORMATION: Ms. Ellen Waterston, Director The Nature of Words PO Box 56 Bend, OR 97709 T: 541-647-2233 development@thenatureofwords.org www.thenatureofwords.org PURPOSE, LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE, ACTIVITIES: The mission of The Nature of Words is to strengthen and support the literary arts and humanities in the high desert region of the Northwest through community interaction with acclaimed authors and through creative writing programs foryouth and adults. The Nature of Words (NOW) was founded in 2005 as an annual literary festival, bringing nine acclaimed authors to Bend for five days of readings, workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and a gala author dinner. Events are held at locations throughout Bend, including the Tower Theatre, Oregon State University — Cascades Campus, Central Oregon Community College, and Deschutes Public Library. Since its inception, the festival has featured more than sixty guest authors and attracted more than 14,000 attendees. In order to assure community access to the festival, tickets are priced as affordably as possible while maintaining a sustainable event. In addition, more than 200 student scholarships are available each year for readings, workshops, and lectures. Once the festival was firmly established, starting in 2006 the organization broadened its purpose and outreach, adding educational programs thoughtfully and responsibly as needs were identified. They include: • Words Without Walls, providing creative writing instruction in public schools, alternative educational programs and social welfare programs; • The Storefront Project, offering free, drop-in after-school creative writing workshops for teens and specialty workshops for youth and adults; • The Rising Star Creative Writing Competition, honoring emerging writers age 15+; and • SpeakNOW, a spoken word competition for high school students. In 2012, NOW will reach more than 1,500 students through its year-round creative writing programs in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. The Nature of Words' staff is comprised of the Executive Director, Development and Marketing Director, Programs Director, and Administrative Assistant. In addition, the staff is supported by a dedicated, hands-on 13 -member Board of Directors, 25 Advisory Committee Members, and a roster of over 50 volunteers annually. The Nature of Words was founded by award-winning author and poet Ellen Waterston, who has built the organization over a ten-year period, starting in 2002 as The Music of Words. In June 2012, Waterston is stepping down as Executive Director to help nurture a proposed low -residency MFA program with Oregon State University -Cascades Campus, which will use NOW's festival authors and literary arts center as part of its program. After a nationwide search, Robert McDowell has been named the new Executive Director and will begin in May, -2012. For 22 years, McDowell was the co-founder and Executive Director of Story Line Press, where he published the work of five Pulitzer Prize recipients, six U.S. Poet Laureates, and a Nobel Laureate. He has a teaching and leadership background and is the author of five books of poetry. The Nature of Words' staff and Board are excited to officially welcome McDowell to the community during the June 28 BOOKPLATE Auction & Reception, NOW's annual fundraising event. PROPOSED PROJECT OR ACTIVITY The Nature of Words respectfully requests $2,500 from the Discretionary Grant Program of the Deschutes County Commissioners for the 2012 Literary Festival. 2012 marks the tenth anniversary of the festival, which began in 2002 as "The Music of Words." This year's festival will honor the original event by incorporating music into each author's performance during readings, workshops, lectures, the gala dinner, and the Sunday author reading and open mic. In its author selections, NOW offers ethnic, gender, and genre diversity from emerging and established literary voices. Confirmed authors for the 2012 slate include, in fiction: Brian Doyle, Ayad Akhtar and Jean Auel; in nonfiction: Tracy Daugherty and Thor Hanson; in poetry: Sherman Bitsui, Michael Meade, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Paisley Rekdal; and keynote speaker Dan Wieden, co-founder of Wieden + Kennedy and Caldera Arts. Grant funds will help offset the costs associated with regional and out -of -area festival marketing, including out -of -area television and radio promotions, print advertisements and production costs, as well as guest author fees. In 2011, nearly 20% of festival attendees traveled from outside of Bend for the literary festival. In 2012, NOW's goal is to attract 25% of its attendees from out -of -area, approximately 750 people. TIMELINE The Nature of Words 2012 is scheduled for November 7-11, 2012 Planning for the festival began immediately following the 2011 event and is ongoing until the event begins. In addition to the staff, Board, and advisory committee, the festival uses event -specific contract employees to assure a high-quality event. Authors are secured by May 1 and weekly meetings begin in July to coordinate festival operations. The Discretionary Grant funds would be expended on or before October 31, 2012. IMPACT OF THE NATURE OF WORDS ON COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC HEALTH Since its inception, The Nature of Words has attracted more than 14,000 people to its annual literary festival, and reached more than 8,000 students in its year-round creative writing programs, supplementing under -funded language arts programming in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. The praise for and interest in NOW's festival and creative writing programs continues to grow, and each year NOW helps offset school budget cuts and the reduction of instruction hours with its supplemental creative writing programs for youth. The impact on the regional economy is significant in terms of lodging, restaurant use, and collateral economic impact. This year, NOW expects 25% of its attendees to travel to Bend from outside the area. Numerous businesses help produce radio and television spots, and print, design, and distribute promotional materials. NOW hires more than 20 contractors each year to teach in schools and after school, design and distribute marketing materials, and plan the November event. Especially during difficult economic times, it is important to present a culturally rich community to visitors and residents of Central Oregon. As a nonprofit that serves the youth in the region and also offers a high-quality cultural event that attracts visitors to Deschutes County, NOW is proud to enhance the cultural life of the community and contribute to the education of its young people. SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT The greater Deschutes county population and participants from throughout Central Oregon attend The Nature of Words' November Literary Festival, as well as visitors from outside the region. With students admitted to readings at no charge, student scholarships available for author -led workshops, lectures, and panel discussions, and multiple free events during the festival, NOW offers festival access to people of all ages and socioeconomic status. Surveys show that festivalgoers range from teens to seniors, with significant Hispanic and Native American populations. ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES The 2012 Literary Festival budget is $129,500. Of that amount, $38,000 is designated for author fees, and $27,000 is designated for marketing, advertising, promotion and publicity. The expected revenue from the event is approximately $58,000. A detailed budget is available upon request. A discretionary grant from the Deschutes County Commissioners would be used to supplement: 1) Marketing and Promotion. A portion of the grant would be used specifically to offset the cost of producing 30 -second television and radio spots, to be shown on BendBroadband stations, online via The Nature of Words and partner organizations' websites, and on air on regional radio stations. Airtime is donated in-kind from BendBroadband and radio and website promotion is donated in-kind from partner organizations including Combined Communications, Cascade Publications, Bend Radio Group, the Bend Bulletin, and The Source Weekly. 2) Guest Author fees. The Guest Author slate for 2012 includes nine authors in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and keynote speaker Dan Wieden of Wieden + Kennedy. Authors participate in one night of readings at the Tower Theatre, two author -led workshops and/or lectures and panel discussions, and the gala author dinner on Saturday night. Authors typically arrive Thursday and leave Sunday, and a portion of author lodging fees are donated by the Phoenix Inn and Suites and the Oxford Hotel. Matching funds are received from foundations, businesses, and individuals, including the National Endowment for the Arts, OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon Community College, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, St. Charles Health System, Robberson Ford, and the Old Mill District. The Nature of Words is proud to be an established part of the rich variety of cultural, educational and athletic events and programs offered in Deschutes County. The organization and its events and programs are ongoing throughout the year and are supported by donations, program fees, fundraisers, and festival ticket sales. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE P. O. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201 Date: FEB THE NATURE OF WORDS PO BOX 640 BEND, OR 97709 Dear Applicant: n 907 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Employer Identification Number: 86-1167881 DLN: 17053363017036 Contact Person: THOMAS C KOESTER ID# 31116 Contact Telephone Number: (877) 829-5500 Accounting Period Ending: DECEMBER 31 Public Charity Status: 170(b) (1) (A) (vi) Form 990 Required: YES Effective Date of Exemption: AUGUST 16, 2006 Contribution Deductibility: YES Advance Ruling Ending Date: DECEMBER 31, 2010 We are pleased to inform you that upon review of your application for tax exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the Code. You are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code. Because this letter could help resolve any questions regarding your exempt status, you should keep it in your permanent records. Organizations exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Code are further classified as either public charities or private foundations. During your advance ruling period, you will be treated as a public charity. Your advance ruling period begins with the effective date of your exemption and ends with advance ruling ending date shown in the heading of the letter. Shortly before the end of your advance ruling period, we will send you Form 8734, Support Schedule for Advance Ruling Period. You will have 90 days after the end of your advance ruling period to return the completed form. We will then notify you, in writing, about your public charity status. Please see enclosed Information for Exempt Organizations Under Section 501(c)(3) for some helpful information about your responsibilities as an exempt organization. Letter 1045 (DO/CG)