Four Friends Grant Fund for Artists & Art Educators

Geographic Scope: Ocala, Marion County, Florida

Overview:
MCA established the Four Friends Grant Fund as a permanent endowment in October 2015, generating income to support small grant requests by individual artists and arts educators. The fund honors the legacy of four important community leaders: Jim Copeland, Mack Dunwoody, E. L. Foster, and an anonymous friend, who were known for their support of education, city life, health, and arts initiatives. The fund was officially launched in 2019.

Focus Areas:

• Individual artists (all disciplines)
• Arts educators
• Support for artist professional development and work

Eligible Projects:

• Registration costs for professional workshops or conferences
• Artist residencies
• Specialized equipment necessary for work
• Fees for professional consultants to learn business skills or marketing

What They DO NOT Fund:

• Offsetting costs for regular salary or substitute worker
• General operating expenses
• Matching funds for other grants
• Funding for pursuit of academic degree, certification, or continuing education

Eligibility Requirements:

• Individual artists, including arts educators
• Must be living and working in Ocala, Marion County, Florida
• Must be a current member of MCA
• Applicant has not received a Four Friends Grant, an MCA Cultural Arts Grant, or any other grant sponsored by MCA within the calendar year of the application
• If there is a registration or attendance deadline, the application must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the required date

"Pay It Forward" Requirement:
Recipients must "pay it forward" in the community by means of a workshop, performance, demonstration, or other activity, to be described in the grant application and included in the final report. This activity must occur within 60 days of the grant award.

Contact Information:

• Phone: (352) 369-1500
• Email: available on website
• Address: 23 SW Broadway Street, Ocala, FL 34471
• Website: mcaocala.org

Application Process

Applications may be submitted online at any time. The Chairman of the Four Friends Committee will convene the committee as per availability. Grant review and scoring may be conducted online or by other electronic means, if necessary. The Committee may offer partial funding at its discretion.

Required Application Elements:

1. Contact Information:
   • Title (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Dr.)
   • First and Last Name
   • Telephone Number
   • Email Address
   • Mailing Address
   • Street Address
   • City and Zip Code
   • Resident County
   • Website Address
2. Proposal Information:
   • Describe the activity, succinctly but clearly
   • Describe the impact of the activity for the artist or the project
   • Description of how you will "pay it forward" in the community by means of a workshop, performance, demonstration or other activity
   • Documentation (for conferences, etc., document structured/documented activities and how the activity was selected)
   • Amount Requested (up to $1,500)
   • Detailed budget including total cost (travel, equipment, and other sources of funding)
3. Supporting Materials:
   • Resume or CV of applicant
   • If others are involved, attach a letter of commitment and support for the request
4. Certification:
   • Certification that all information is true and correct
   • Consent to accuracy of information
   • MCA Membership Certification (must be a current member)

Selection Criteria:

The Committee will evaluate applications based on:

• Nature of the idea/contribution to the artist's work
• Quality of the idea/work
• Artist's commitment to the work
• Impact the grant will have on the artist's work/project
• Completeness of application information

Final Report Requirement:

Grantees must complete a final report within 60 days of project completion, including:

• Records or receipts documenting the initial request
• Documentation of resulting publicity
• Information regarding results of the activity or project