General Operating Support represents an investment by NYSCA in an organization's ongoing work, rather than a specific project or program. GOS is intended to help organizations become more effective in fulfilling their mission.

The Council examines the nature, scope, and quality of an organization's programs and activities, its managerial and fiscal competence, and its public service when considering the provision and level of GOS support.

GOS grants will be no less than $5000 and shall not exceed 25% of an organization's budget, based on the income and expense statement for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year. GOS support is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Eligibility for other NYSCA support

Applicants cannot apply for both General Operating Support and General Program Support.

Organizations receiving GOS from NYSCA may also apply for project support in other disciplines. In addition, sponsored applicants and the following categories are exempt from the three-request limit:

Apprenticeships (Folk Arts)

Independent Projects (Architecture, Planning & Design)

Commissions (Dance)

Long-Term Residencies (Dance)

Rehearsal Space (Dance)

Translation (Literature)

Facilities (formerly Capital Projects)

Decentralization

Regrants (all disciplines)

Partnerships (all disciplines)

Prerequisites

An applicant for GOS must meet the following conditions:

Application Instructions

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Background
Describe your organization and how it was established.

2. Artistic/Cultural Vision
Articulate your organization's artistic and/or cultural vision.

3. Program Overview
Describe your programs and/or services for the coming year and how they help your organization to realize your artistic and cultural vision.

4. Changes and Challenges
Describe any recent significant programmatic changes, developments, and/or challenges, indicating how any challenges will be addressed.

Managerial/Fiscal

5. Staff
Detail any recent significant changes in key staff positions.

6. Governance
Describe your board in detail including committee structure, diversity, meeting schedule, and approach to staff and fiscal oversight.

7. Organizational Development
Outline your organization's approach to institutional planning, highlighting the roles of staff and board.

8. Finances
Detail your plans for meeting current and future expenses. Include sources of earned and unearned income. Explain any current and/or recurring surplus or deficits.

9. Artist and Programmatic Consultant Fees
Indicate how payment to artists and any outside consultants is determined. Please include your range of fees.

Service to the Public

10. Constituency
Describe the audiences and communities served by your organization.

11. Development and Outreach
Detail efforts being undertaken to cultivate and broaden your constituency.

12. Marketing
Describe your marketing strategies.

13. Online Resources
Describe your use of the Internet and social media.

14. Evaluation
Articulate how your organization evaluates its programs, services, and/or other organizational initiatives.

Support Materials

15. Support Materials
Please list all of the support materials and/or work samples you are submitting. These materials are critical to your application's assessment.

Support Material

Support materials must be postmarked, hand-delivered or made available online by the deadline. Please direct them to your appropriate contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or khelmerson@nysca.org or cleahy@nysca.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Refer to the Instructions for Work Samples and Support Materials prior to submission.

NYSCA encourages the submission of Web-based Work Samples and Support Material whenever possible.

1. Résumés or biographical statements of key staff.

2. Organizational Chart.

3. Representative marketing materials (do not include press coverage, reviews or notices).

4. Conflict of Interest policy.

5. Audited financial statement or approved board financial statement.

6. Long Range or Strategic Plan (optional).

7. Up to 10 images that best represent your request for support.

8. One copy each of sample programs and organizational flyers, catalogs or brochures of the past two years.

9. Program schedules including a list of participating or exhibiting artists and works presented over the past two years.

For GOS Workspace Facilities requests, please include:

1. A list of participating artists for current and previous years, dates on site and stipends paid. Identify New York State artists.

2. List of available tools, equipment and computers, including special software, available on site for artists' use.

3. Recent written evaluations (at least 3 and up to 10) from New York State based artists who have participated in your workspace program.

4. Work samples in cases where there is training or workshops.

For GOS Exhibitions and Installations, please include:

1. An exhibition schedule for the proposed year of activity and any comments relating to the schedule, including: date of exhibition(s), minimum and maximum artist's fees, title of exhibition(s), names of curator(s) and artists involved in the exhibition. Note those artists confirmed to date.