Greetings! 

I recently sat on a 'funders panel' at the Nonprofit Resource Center where private sector funders spoke about the need for prospective grantees to take the time to build relationships with them before being considered for funding. I was proud to say that because SMAC re-grants public dollars, artists and arts groups can successfully apply for a grant without having to build a special relationship with us. 

Each application is treated with the same transparent professionalism that exists in all of our processes. Funding decision are not made by staff. Staff enforce equal access and inclusiveness as they facilitate the evaluation process through peer review panels.

What's the trade-off? Our applicants can't depend on their history with us. They have to spend time writing their applications, answering questions, and providing information that may seem redundant and can be a pain to gather. But all of this keeps the public accountability factor high. 

As we prepare to open two grant opportunities next month, I hope you will help spread the word that SMAC's resources and processes are accessible and open to all.

Regards,

Rhyena Halpern, Executive Director