Grant Review Criteria

The following is the list of criteria the Opportunity Fund utilizes to review proposals. Panelists and Board Members choose ratings for the following criteria for each application, and the average scores are used as a non-binding tool to move toward award decisions.

For Arts Applications

Artistic Priorities – Opportunity Fund supports the creation, development, production, and presentation of art that is crafted with rigor and which fits within our primary funding areas: theatre, dance, music with particular focus on classical chamber music and jazz, and visual art with particular focus on the field of craft. Artistic experiences and objects can energize, vitalize, help us to feel more connected to others’ humanity and our own, break down barriers, build empathy, illuminate new perspectives, criticize existing systems, connect us, humanize us, make the world more beautiful, open our hearts, and/or remind us to aspire.

For Social & Economic Justice Applications

Impact of the Organization or Project – There are many ways to think about impact and we encourage you to assess within that complexity. Does it have promise for a transformative effect on the issue/community? Will it impact a large number of people? Will it impact fewer people with deep and significant effects? Will it impact one or both of Opportunity Fund’s key constituencies: Black/African American/People of African descent and/or LGBTQ people? Is the organization committed to continued evolution and transformation? 

For All Applications

Alignment – The organization/program/project/culture is a good fit for one (or more) of the Opportunity Fund’s Focus Areas as well as the Opportunity Fund’s Guiding Values. 

Feasibility of the Plan – The stated goals, design, measurement, and budget are all aligned, and reasonable, achievable, and appropriate to the work. 

Impact of Opportunity Fund Funding – Will the funding make a significant impact on the organization or entity? 

Heart of Hearts – The overall rating of how strongly the reviewer believes this request should be supported by the Opportunity Fund, according to their truest and innermost feelings.