Since 1993, the Alliance Rural Arts Program has provided limited financial support to Rural Partners that seek to strengthen their organizations through use of an outside professional consultant.

Guidelines and Criteria

Subsidies for outside professional consultant fees are available to all Aliance Rural Partners with current Alliance membership. This support is available year round for consultants working directly with boards and staff to strengthen the organization's infrastructure or professionalism, the organizationís position within its community, or to prepare the organization for planned growth.

Examples of consultant work that can be supported include but are not limited to:

strategic and long range planning

board development

community cultural needs & resources assessment

effective community fundraising or marketing

board staff relations

facilitation of planning retreats that review/revisit the mission, vision and goals of the organization

Examples of consultant work that are not eligible for support:

grantwriter fees

fundraiser fees

Subsidies will only support the consultant fee, and a match is required by the applicant. A first-time request will require a 1:1 match. Subsequent requests can be supported at up to 1:3. No more than 3 requests will be awarded to one organization within a 5-year period. The Alliance can provide suggestions for other resources to match consultant fees. Note that consultant subsidies will rarely exceed $1,000.

Process

An Alliance Rural Partner interested in applying for support of a consultant fee should contact the Rural Arts Director, who can help with the selection of a consultant if necessary, or provide pre-consultant preparation work with the board and staff. Once it is agreed that an application is to be submitted, then:

The Rural Partner submits a letter of request on letterhead, stating purpose of consultancy, selected consultant, length of consultancy and scope of work schedule. A biography and list of recent clients of the selected consultant should be included in this letter of request.

A letter of agreement or contract must be drawn up between the organization and the consultant, to ensure that expectations are understood and met. A sample contract is available through the Rural Arts Director.

Once notified of subsidy support by the Rural Arts Director, the organization will receive appropriate paperwork to include a confirmation letter, client evaluation form and fee payment form. A simple consultant evaluation form will also be included, to be completed and returned by the consultant. All forms are due within 30 days of the completion of the consultancy. After a period of six months to a year, the Rural Arts Director does a follow-up call to the organization to see how things have progressed as a result of the consultancy and determine with staff if there are next steps to consider.