One of the most critical issues concerning the future of the art gallery is how such a project could be funded in future semesters. In order to ensure the greatest number of funding sources, we researched opportunities at the university, city, state, and national levels. After meeting with IIT's Grants Office, we were able to search over 2,400 grants on the Foundation Center's online grantmaker database.This database divides its information into four categories of funding:
1. Private Foundations
2. Corporate Grantmakers
3. Grantmaking Public Charities
4. Community Foundations
This research culminated in the creation of a grant list, available here, outlining eight grants from all of these levels whose goals precisely match the goals of our art gallery. Grants are offered to fund various aspects of the gallery, from general operating expenses to special gallery exhibitions. The amounts of these grants range from a few thousand dollars to over 150 thousand dollars.
Originally our group had hoped to develop a grant proposal for a grant with a due date approaching during this semester. However, it soon became apparent that information from all aspects of the gallery, from budgets to locations, would be required in order to generate a serious proposal. Because the Enpro was simultaneously evaluating new locations, calculating a budget based on new financial data from the first exhibition in the Kemper Room, and researching funding possibilities, we realized it would be impossible to draw up a serious proposal at this time. However, we hope that the information collected by the entire team, along with the potential grants we have discovered, will aid the IIT Art Board in securing funding in future semesters.
After reviewing the collected grant descriptions, our advisor, Bob Krawczyk, has decided to develop proposals for grants with deadlines approaching during the Spring 2005 semester. These include the Sara Lee Foundation Direct Grants Program, which offers awards of up to $15,000 to help with general operating costs of non-profit organizations devoted to providing new or unfamiliar forms of art to people who have limited access to art.