September 28, 2007

Dear Members of New Jersey’s Arts Community,

We are pleased to provide you the guidelines and application forms for New Jersey Cultural Trust grants to support Arts Institutional and Financial Stabilization Projects. This is an important program to enable our state’s nonprofit arts organizations to become stronger by achieving greater financial and operational stability and building their capacity to advance their work and impact.

Last year approximately $500,000 in interest earned on the Cultural Trust was recommended for projects to the Cultural Trust by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The attached guidelines contain information on how qualified organizations can apply for funding. Applications are due in the Cultural Trust office by January 23, 2008. Application guidelines for history and humanities projects are available from the New Jersey Historical Commission.

In order to be eligible to apply for funds from these programs, organizations must first be designated “qualified” by the Cultural Trust. The guidelines and application forms for qualification are available directly from the Cultural Trust office and website at www.njculturaltrust.org. To obtain additional information on becoming “qualified” call the Trust at 609-984-6767 or visit the Trust’s website. We urge organizations not yet qualified to complete the application process as soon as possible to ensure eligibility. Applications for qualification must be received at the Cultural Trust office by December 1, 2007 in order to be considered in time for the January 23, 2008 Stabilization application deadline.

Collaborative proposals and those on behalf of multiple organizations are encouraged. Applicants interested in submitting a collaborative proposal are urged to contact Arts Council program staff.

Workshops to assist organizations in understanding the requirements of the program will be conducted: