Pictured above: New Orleans Ballet Association, 2014 grant recipient

Community Programs Grant Criteria

Goal: American Dance Movement (ADM) is committed to building healthier communities by awarding grants to programs that make a positive impact through the benefits of dance. ADM and it’s grant recipients support overall health through the experience of dance and movement for therapeutic, educational and artistic growth.
Purpose:  Through our Grantee Partners we aim to make an impact in 3 key areas:  
    1. Education – Support academic and community settings that increase access to dance and movement as a community building activity to foster socialization and the skills of executive functioning, discipline, self confidence and exercise.
    2. Therapeutic – Enrich medical and therapeutic settings by supporting programs that provide movement based therapies to improve the psychological, emotional and physical integration of the mind / body connection for overall health and well-being.
    3. Artistic – Inspire and encourage artistic growth through dance and movement programs that foster creativity, body awareness, self-expression and joy.

Program providers should be qualified instructors and/or licensed/board certified movement therapists (psychological, physical, social and mental health professionals) who increase impact in their communities through responsible, diverse and inclusive programming.

Who Do We Fund: American Dance Movement supports a variety of eligible organizations (established or emerging) in order to increase access to dance and movement that make a measurable impact in their communities. ADM funds non-profit organizations including community programs offered by libraries, community centers, parks and recreation, social service agencies, and after school programs. Grants are also awarded to other 501(c)(3) and government organizations, hospitals, and therapy centers focused on movement therapy through the art form of dance.

Based on the merits of each application and the individual program needs, American Dance Movement shall determine the number of organizations it will support and the amount of funding awarded in its sole discretion, including the right to not award grants in any given year.

Eligibility

Applicants must be eligible non-profit or governmental organizations and serve children under the age of 18. All applicants must adhere to the following eligibility criteria to be able to apply for Program Funding.

The program must:

  1.  Be a non-profit organization including community programs offered by libraries, community centers, parks and recreation, social service agencies, and after school programs. Grants are also awarded to other 501(c)(3) and government organizations, hospitals, and therapy centers focused on movement therapy through the art form of dance.
  2. Provide services to at least 5 students/patients per week.
  3. Provide dance and movement classes/sessions on an on-going basis (not a one-time event, workshop, assembly or festival).
  4.  Not charge the participant a fee that is greater than its actual cost to operate the program (on a per participant basis).
  5. Have a published non-discrimination policy on basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
  6. Serve participants that reside in the United States and Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam).
  7. Serve participants who are under the age of 18 (special consideration given to developmental/individual needs).
  8. Have financial systems in place to monitor grant expenditures.
  9. Show expenditures that are consistent with the program budget.
  10. Exhibit competency in dance experience, education, and/or professional licensing/certification.

Based on the merits of each application and the individual program needs, American Dance Movement shall determine the number of organizations it will support and the amount of funding awarded in its sole discretion, including the right to not award grants in any given year.

When to Apply

Our Grant Program will re-open in 2019. Please check back for the announcement of our open application period.

*Please Note: any individual submissions received outside the open application period will NOT be considered. All applications must be completed via the online application link, only made available on this website during the open application period.

How to Apply

American Dance Movement has partnered with Acceptd, Inc. to act as host to our online Community Grant applications. The link to our online portal will go live on the first day of open applications each year.

Acceptd, Inc. (Acceptd) is a global leader in performing and visual arts recruitment and screening. They work with more than 500 programs in the US and internationally, including top performing arts programs such as The Juilliard School, the National YoungArts Foundation, American Ballet Theatre and the National Dance Education Organization. By utilizing Acceptd’s recruitment, marketing and audition management services, programs can connect with thousands of talented dancers worldwide. 

An account with Acceptd will need to created in order to submit an application. Applicants will be able to save & return to their form throughout the application process. You will also be able to view and print your submitted application to keep on file. Once successfully submitted, you will receive an email notification from Acceptd to confirm it has been received. You can check messages about your application through your Acceptd account.

If you experience technical difficulties whilst submitting your application, please be sure to contact Acceptd’s support team directly by emailing support@getacceptd.com or calling 1-888-725-2122.

Notification

Applicants will receive a notification email from Acceptd once an application has been successfully submitted. As American Dance Movement will also receive this notification, there is no need to confirm directly with American Dance Movement.

All applicants are notified via email of the Board’s decision immediately following the review process.  Notification emails will be sent out via Acceptd with an additional email from American Dance Movement.

Reapplying for Funding

American Dance Movement strives to balance supporting ongoing partners and broadening its partnership base. Previous Community Grant recipients are eligible to submit applications for renewal each year.

Previous funding recipients MUST, however, complete the required online application for each subsequent grant cycle. There is NO automatic reconsideration or renewal nor any guarantee of automatic funding for the following year. American Dance Movement determines in its sole discretion whether or not continued funding will be awarded to any organization based on the strength of its application.

The ADM Board, in its sole discretion, determines the total amount of grant funding given and the number of organizations supported in any given year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I qualify for a community program fund?

Please be sure to read the ADM guidelines for Community funding listed above which clearly outlinehow organizations qualify.

Does American Dance Movement give community support to organizations outside the USA?

In keeping with our mission, American Dance Movement works to support, improve, and increase access to dance education in the United States. While we wish we could support deserving organizations/programs elsewhere in the world, there is still much work for ADM to do within the United States before we are can move our focus internationally.

Can public schools or school districts apply for your Community Program?

YES!

We know that school budgets are suffering under the current economy and that Arts programing is often in short supply for schools/districts. Provided that each school/district meets the eligibility criteria outlined above and is able to offer dance programing that satisfies ADM’s requirements, it is welcome to apply.

Can my dance studio apply for your Community Program?

Yes!

Provided that your dance studio meets the eligibility criteria outlined (i.e., is a non-profit organization) and is able to offer dance programing that satisfied ADM’s requirements, you are welcome to apply.

We applied for a ADM Community Funding Grant in previous years and have been invited by ADM to apply again. Does this mean we will automatically receive funding since ADM has invited us reapply?

Unfortunately not. Each application is considered on its individual merits and in the context of all other applications received in that funding cycle.

Each year, ADM sends out an invitation to all previous applicants to let them know of the open application dates and welcomes them to apply again. However, this is not a guarantee for funding, as all successful funding is based on the strength of your organizations’ application amongst the pool of applicants in any given year.

Our organization needs new dance floors/costumes/ballet barres/money to enter our students for a national dance competition. Can you help us?

In keeping with our mission, American Dance Movement does not fund community programs for any of these. Please refer to the information on WHAT WE DON’T FUND for a clear overview of what funding is not provided for.

Our organization/program is not registered as a 501(c)3 and does not have non-profit status. Can we still apply if we have a fiscal sponsor who is?

ADM wants to ensure that all funds are going directly to the programs we support. This is why ADM chooses only to work with eligible non-profit organizations and does not accept applications with a fiscal sponsor.