[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6089664,"mediaKeyId","2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc","parentId",2872107,"title","WAB Q&A: evaluation measures, letters of support, nonprofit proof and in-kind budget rules","audioSeconds",1713,"startMs",957000,"endMs",2670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc&start=957&end=2670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc/thumbnail_957000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089664/Wisconsin/WAB-QA-evaluation-measures-letters-of-support-nonprofit-proof-and-in-kind-budget-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089664-f922666b86a62055e3dfa332af9530e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534866&Signature=ncbR8BgFtRFyvsBjTyAQlkMVBkeeMkNfqcLlaF9NYT4QKIAkrw4D2Zq72HF9keIOmnmyQ4hT7to9fFhw7WaBD9wv6P1e8pmKeJvx2jgnyLIA9wgezpMHKnXDw28A7FIYa52aKbGJlH-wt~-8GmfstMlFLwhTvEIVa7Z0IDyOC~PolKMrhOl50KcueMiCteuoKLDpv1YlUJV7gz3J3ly7IjRpNUFkjUrUspdq0rX3Wi7kxi5SoYFGbGbNEOY9j5mMgl2co-FBu31dvpzm7WSnc6iROPKQK7zp08hbDLjM7r6WZvLCzhB-Wl~avA8ROCfG9khkEkjG3HbsOk5gHJ7dPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-04T09:05:04.743Z","article","Wisconsin Arts Board staff answered questions about evaluation strategies, letters of support, nonprofit-status documentation and how to record in-kind donations during a virtual applicant session.

On evaluation, staff recommended applicants clarify what they intend to change (attitudes, actions or beliefs) and suggested the Americans for the Arts \"Animating Democracy\" toolkit as a resource for designing measures and baseline questions. \"What is the cultural understanding issue...what do you want to see different in a year or two years?\" a staff member asked, advising applicants to define outcomes and select surveys, focus groups or interviews accordingly.

For letters of support, staff said applicants should prioritize commitments from organizations that are essential to project delivery rather than seeking excess letters that might strain relationships. \"If there's an organization you're really collaborating with on this project, please include one from them,\" a staff member said, adding that optional support materials may strengthen an application but are not required.

Applicants asked whether the portal requires current nonprofit-status documentation; staff said if an organization's nonprofit status predates the portal and has been previously submitted, it may already be on file, but applicants should reupload proof if their documentation predates the system.

On budgets, staff directed applicants to the income section's final lines for in-kind donations such as lodging or meals, and advised applicants to list only income and expenses tied to the project activity within the board's funding window (07/01/2025 through project end). Staff also discussed how volunteer-driven organizations should more explicitly describe community engagement and volunteer participation in the narrative so the panel can assess whether the group is broadly community-involved or serves a narrower membership.

Staff reiterated they can review drafts and advise applicants on prioritizing letters of support and clarifying volunteer engagement in their narratives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FY26 Creative Communities Phase 2 Q&A Session","oneSentenceSummary","Staff recommended applicants use established evaluation toolkits for measuring social impact, prioritize letters of commitment from key partners, upload nonprofit documentation if required by the portal and record in-kind donations on the income section of the budget.","taxTitle","Wisconsin Arts Board, State Agencies, Executive, Wisconsin","taxId",29155,"location","Wisconsin","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6089672,"Wisconsin Arts Board urges applicants to plan for disability and language access in applications",307,2069000,2376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc&start=2069&end=2376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc/thumbnail_2069000.jpg","/articles/6089672/Wisconsin/Wisconsin-Arts-Board-urges-applicants-to-plan-for-disability-and-language-access-in-applications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089672-d106ebf561e8e357ac4e0f11ffb25955/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534866&Signature=MZ13W70MQvHDHUyXxOhvsf9K1bNmf7x3XCOVbbD29ups~br-8-yYCfdnfhCzLyrqpy71Et1RZbIqHEyScu7Oi1AO1ZyIqJMyXcRNjhfOwwT-IITuQ-Bqjo1gGvma0~KUc0QVnlEMutpgdLAAhHfTMPiABfizif0ikfmve~KeoZyjbMgwtiHcghdW1cMX5r09sEnW0VtBe9qfzk05LOJ6SbfuqNkbRb7QD2y6r8SLl5QbS1q~K390Y85IeBVjXwZwUghWhQuNG7E5g8PhSxoqQ4iS2gEUjdp9oPUcEaXA0Ooj58cArqdPHZm-5UsG8tsC5MWTcTC6JaLNMnOLoowMOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wisconsin Arts Board staff told grant applicants they should identify anticipated accessibility needs and describe concrete steps to make projects accessible to people with disabilities and to non-English speakers.

\"The more you can tell the panel, the better off they'll understand the nature of the work that you're doing in that space,\" a board staff member said when asked which disabilities applicants should address. Staff gave examples: American Sign Language interpretation arranged in advance, audio descriptions or QR-coded audio for people with visual impairment, and plans for translation or bilingual outreach when projects serve Spanish-speaking communities.

Applicants who plan to mount pop-up or mobile programming were told to think specifically about how people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices will enter and use the space and how people with sensory or speech differences will be able to participate. Staff recommended applicants state foreseeable accessibility issues in the application and propose practical responses or a plan to secure needed accommodations.

The application also contains a prompt to link to census data for the applicant's community; staff recommended embedding the specific census link on the application information page so panelists can see demographic context, including counts of residents with disabilities.

Board staff said the agency's current access questions come from the NEA reporting requirements but that the board is considering additional language about language access in the future. Attendees were encouraged to document reasonable accommodations in the access field and to include logistics such as lead times for interpreters in the narrative or support materials.","Board staff recommended applicants describe likely access needs and concrete accommodations — including ASL interpreters, audio descriptions and translation — and to use census links in the application to document community needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6089676,"Wisconsin Arts Board: cultural-bearer projects generally acceptable; avoid misappropriation when framing reenactment",174,250000,424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc&start=250&end=424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc/thumbnail_250000.jpg","/articles/6089676/Wisconsin/Wisconsin-Arts-Board-cultural-bearer-projects-generally-acceptable-avoid-misappropriation-when-framing-reenactment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089676-5f356cf28b96af5d464b5f86c0a656d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534866&Signature=ZSMHqtWnTbXBmgM4q3OqHwCAbo4cvMqtHfxlYIis4EIR4SYigBVuPp7vbpyfpR03-1TvHpTHJa~7VkDrBlCAdedRmPufmzdmKa~i3tC~14-ZoKkUouLElLyWNfhkXM3rpP4BbSksw2ZXN0CzqXhMCeU1jeDkw5L2CPLxa~rIAE7otMpi4ezw8eX4J44LiFXozDAm~5Kc8rAiDKlVR0xJMZqWXlInih3b71z6oPNtMzbw8GoDeTAOKNNaXJgzkyTpPpnuW02P2bs4OzPLi4NohABuWY2GZFuFErVvIEimaju-aFysrR-263Bbbr-ihbMgACmOdHaP9SigJOn~yN2~Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wisconsin Arts Board staff told auditioning applicants that the agency does not categorically rule out projects described as \"reenactment,\" but panelists will evaluate proposals for possible cultural appropriation and for whether participants are authentic culture bearers.

\"I don't remember anything that says that we don't fund reenactments,\" a board staff member said during the virtual session, adding that the distinction often comes down to whether practitioners are culture bearers and whether the project is carrying on living traditions rather than staging past practices in ways that could appropriate another culture.

Staff and applicants discussed a specific example: storytellers and Sami artists. The board said it welcomes applications that involve culture bearers continuing traditions, and recommended applicants clearly describe how invited artists are legitimate representatives of the tradition and why the project would not constitute appropriation.

Panelists advised applicants to frame projects to emphasize cultural stewardship and continuity. Where projects could appear to be reenactment of another group's history, staff recommended clarifying the relationship between artists and the communities whose practices are presented so the panel can assess cultural authenticity and ethical sourcing.

Applicants were told to consult the board's website language about folk and traditional arts and to use the application support materials to provide context or documentation that demonstrates respectful community relationships.","At a grant Q&A, staff said the Wisconsin Arts Board does not have a blanket ban on reenactment but panelists will examine projects for cultural appropriation; applicants should frame projects to show cultural stewardship and use precise language distinguishing reenactment from culture-bearing practice.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6089680,"Wisconsin Arts Board warns applicants grant checks may be delayed pending state budget; offers timeline and funding options",233,659000,892000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc&start=659&end=892","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc/thumbnail_659000.jpg","/articles/6089680/Wisconsin/Wisconsin-Arts-Board-warns-applicants-grant-checks-may-be-delayed-pending-state-budget-offers-timeline-and-funding-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089680-c3799b723b3e0cdef46907e9a64c1f40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534866&Signature=Ynp6VqljWZKBjBYBQjVjZvKQr7S0tf2YQUQuRVKnAIpXqQSLMEoh2isJ5rCiD77aTeXNLnw2DUvJu6eF5jDqKdI0kxN49zzQ-L1DMyi~pS9BiEmphJ7bnqsv3j3n2s5j47ULKC8D3IbGNjlWbmc6tXXfSI6A3-CwaEKAIEBnpWL~FcjKrKakkVyrcI3nbOhnYblWJRh5msEKF-xn32rkeHgcOZDHHT4eZn8WKEKi00J6hcHY5yAEMRucaYjDoxmprumCQYJOpsX~lGwaEmjecuNzakJOBy9BAa1aTziXA6SyyqChUB84F~BQ00P-~YQAYAGvCUi8k4NFpKIcJOapAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wisconsin Arts Board staff told applicants in a virtual Q&A that grant payments could be delayed past the program's July 1 start date because the board awaits final state budget action and matching funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

\"If we don't have the money from the legislature...we can't give out specific grant award amounts until we know how much money we have,\" a Wisconsin Arts Board staff member said, adding that in prior biennial-budget years eventual payments have been delayed; staff cited a past worst-case delay to October.

Staff offered applicants several mitigation options. Applicants may adjust project timelines; the board will request a grant-proposal revision if an award is smaller than requested and asks teams to explain how they will alter the project or raise additional funds. Staff said projects may start a preparatory phase before July 1 but that no grant funds can pay for work done prior to the agency's allowable funding window. Budget entries should only list income and expenses tied to the project activity between 07/01/2025 and the project's stated end date.

If applicants need cash flow to begin work, staff suggested internal reallocation, short-term loans from local banks based on the award letter, or other bridging strategies, noting that organizations often staff-funded projects in advance and reimburse themselves when checks arrive.

Staff also said they will notify awardees and ask for a grant-proposal revision report when necessary. Applicants were told to contact agency staff if timeline changes are needed: \"Timeline adjustments are completely appropriate,\" the staff member said.

On federal funding, the board told attendees it expects to receive NEA fiscal-year 2026 funds and is proceeding on that assumption; staff also said the Wisconsin Humanities funding situation is uncertain and that the humanities organization is communicating its next steps publicly.","Board staff told applicants that state legislative timing and the agency's NEA match can delay checks past July 1; staff recommended options including timeline adjustments, internal cash flow and loan strategies and a grant-revision report if awarded less than requested.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6089684,"Wisconsin Arts Board reiterates 2,000-word limit, offers guidance on samples and narrative sections",400,128000,528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc&start=128&end=528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2872107-200e05cd1c41b3825015696813959bdc/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6089684/Wisconsin/Wisconsin-Arts-Board-reiterates-2000-word-limit-offers-guidance-on-samples-and-narrative-sections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089684-429a241ba2b125d3a7d43d80f7ec2496/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534866&Signature=lmpi28~pEpLLgsv~xYkKQzX~le9l7ao~Q55hx2oaGZkNPpSUXu-z5DjnnaLsmQ9UgzumjFmXAtmA0PSa8EEBUBNJA8d4v-dejJG020Uws-0DtXJdtbOv5w2wRjiv96RjwfvTJg9h935KY4EHGgyZVwpLUtoHy6~dzRx-rBqORa8PTVw8K~Hl0QxAYMuGo12hYF030U0ZOA677kmIEL-WnIBAue1S3hs7n7xaCZ~6DpHH75axV7ZATCm5xDamNWVmTqErqvMrpftTuhmDU-O5OaB2kMOa~iWzgBx2H5pE4iMoMQpIB4AXSPPpjIrKLaROIxko8AiiiX3Wyb2PyQ-xTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wisconsin Arts Board staff told applicants in a virtual Q&A that the grant narrative for Creative Communities applications is limited to 2,000 words (four pages) and offered specific guidance on using the narrative, the organizational-history and community-description sections and on what kinds of art samples to upload.

The guidance matters because the panelists read many applications and staff said the limits are intended to make evaluation feasible. \"We are sticking to 2,000 words and 4 pages,\" a Wisconsin Arts Board staff member said, adding that applicants who struggle to cut text are welcome to submit drafts for staff feedback before the deadline.

Board staff advised applicants to avoid repeating organizational history inside the narrative because the application includes separate fields for organizational history and community description. The community-description field is the appropriate place to explain who the project serves and how the proposed activity aligns with local needs; organizational history is where applicants should summarize prior work and capacity.

On art samples, staff said applicants should submit the best examples they can provide: audio files or video with good audio quality are acceptable. If an applicant does not yet have named artists for a project, staff said it is permissible to submit samples that represent the quality of work the applicant expects to hire. Staff also noted Creative Communities awards can support projects for up to three years and that later project years are an opportunity to add other art forms such as theater or dance if those elements are not finalized in the first year.

The session also described how panels review applications: five panelists will participate, with primary and secondary readers taking deeper responsibility but all panelists reviewing the full slate at some level.

Staff encouraged applicants who have difficulty trimming their narrative to share drafts for review, and reminded applicants that support materials can be uploaded and referenced in the application when a visual or audio sample helps the narrative.

Applicants with questions about how to position content for the panel were told staff can look at drafts up to the deadline and, when capacity allows, briefly into the following week.","At a virtual Wisconsin Arts Board question-and-answer session, staff confirmed the 2,000-word/4-page limit for the narrative and advised applicants how to use organizational-history and community-description sections and what types of art samples to submit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

WAB Q&A: evaluation measures, letters of support, nonprofit proof and in-kind budget rules

Wisconsin Arts Board urges applicants to plan for disability and language access in applications

Wisconsin Arts Board: cultural-bearer projects generally acceptable; avoid misappropriation when framing reenactment

Wisconsin Arts Board warns applicants grant checks may be delayed pending state budget; offers timeline and funding options

Wisconsin Arts Board reiterates 2,000-word limit, offers guidance on samples and narrative sections