New York State statute outlines criteria which staff, panels, and Council members use to consider grant applications. Applicants are encouraged to address the following evaluative criteria as they develop their application narratives and budgets, where relevant and appropriate.

Artistic and programmatic quality of your program or activity

Relationship of proposed activities to your organization's mission

Managerial and fiscal competence, including the capability of your organization to carry out the proposed activities

Service to the public, including the number of people served, and your efforts to broaden and/or diversify your audience

Nature and extent of programmatic interpretation, education, or orientation efforts for the benefit of the public

Scarcity or availability of comparable services within the geographic area

Nature and extent of other available earned revenue and/or public or private support.