Nominations for Volunteer Panelists (2-year term) –
Operating Support Grants
Through the Operating Support Grants program, United Arts supports arts and cultural organizations, providing a variety
of cultural experiences for residents and visitors in Central Florida. This comprehensive grant program recognizes the
high value of arts and culture for our region and the established institutions which provide cultural programming for the
public year-round. Funds for these grants are raised through the United Arts campaign, Arts for All Fund. For more
information about grants programs: www.UnitedArts.cc/grants, or contact Mary Giraulo at [email protected] or 407.790.7844.
United Arts seeks community volunteers to participate in grant review panels. Qualified panel
members will be:
 Able to commit to serve a two-year term (renewable for a third year; ¼ of panelists rotate off each year);
 Actively engaged in creating, attending, supporting, promoting, or teaching about arts, culture & humanities ;
 Knowledgeable about the cultural sector, such as prior board members, arts managers, donors or audience;
 Experienced with cultural nonprofit organizations (three years or more preferred), in areas such as
management, planning, development/fundraising, finance, marketing & PR, ADA compliance, etc.; and
 Able to commit significant time in attending cultural events year-round.
Each panel will be chaired by a United Arts board member (non-voting, except in case of a tie) and will have an advisory
member (accountant, CFO, auditor) to review financials.
Panelist Responsibilities
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Confidentiality regarding all application materials, site visits and panel discussions;
Observations of arts events (rehearsal, performance, event or exhibition) for approximately 12-15
organizations– all organizations in the budget category. Tickets are on an as-available basis, requiring sufficient
advance notice. Applicant organizations are asked to provide 2 tickets per panelist per year, and may redirect to
other events when space requires it;
Formal site visits to 2-3 assigned organizations in October, meeting with the organization’s staff or volunteer
leadership. A 1-page site visit report form is due a week after the site visit, and you will report (max 2 minutes)
at the panel meeting;
Copy [email protected] on all communication with applicant organizations;
Review of applications on your own time, coming to panel meeting prepared to discuss and assign scores based
on established evaluation criteria; and
Attendance at the required panel meeting, to finalize scores and determine funding recommendations.
Program Timeline
NOTE: The Operating Support Grants program includes three separate panels that run on the same schedule, Large
Budget, Midsize Budget, and Small Budget. Each panel evaluates around 15 organizations.
December - October
Observation of arts event(s) for each organization in the budget category (on own schedule)
This is a significant time commitment and should be noted.
October
Formal site visit meetings (each panelist will be assigned 2-3 organizations)
October
Applications review (15-20 hours over 4-5 weeks)
Late Oct / Nov
Panel Meeting (1 meeting, 5-6 hours). Max 20 minutes per application; discussion begins with
site visit report and financial report.
Conflicts of Interest (within 2 years)
Panelists must serve without self-interest, and for the benefit of the entire community. All potential conflicts within the
last two years should be explained to United Arts; the committee will evaluate whether a significant conflict is in place
that would prevent the panelist from discussing or voting on that application. Undisclosed conflicts of interest are
grounds for immediate removal from the panel. A conflict of interest includes but is not limited to:
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Would receive direct financial benefit from the applicant organization or the project;
Serves or has served within the past two years as an employee, volunteer or governing board member of the
applicant organization; or as a consultant, assistant, or advisor to the applicant organization, with or without
payment;
 Has a familial relationship with the applicant or a staff member, volunteer or governing board member of the
applicant organization;
 Has applied but not been selected for an RFP or other opportunity within the last two years; or
 Has a real or perceived bias regarding the applicant or its work that would make it difficult or impossible to
render a fair assessment and/or funding decision; particularly if prior actions or statements have indicated bias.
Nominees with conflicts regarding one applicant may be eligible for a panel that does not judge that applicant or its
peers (such as a different budget category).
Nominations by Grant Applicants: Grant applicants may nominate potential panelists or may forward this form to
qualified individuals. Staff or board members of arts groups are encouraged to apply; nominees will be selected for a
panel where they have no conflicts. To nominate, email [email protected] with the nominee’s name, phone, and
email, which type of panel (organizations or artists), and your reasons for nominating him/her.
SELF-NOMINATION FORM – VOLUNTEER PANELISTS
United Arts Grants Programs
Send the completed form with a resumé to [email protected] or fax 407.628.9110, attention Mary Giraulo.
Panelists will be selected based on applications and availability. Applications are accepted year-round but panel slots
may become available on an unpredictable schedule; UA maintains a list of nominees.
Nominee Contact Information – Name, affiliation & email will be made available to applicants if selected.
Name:
Title (if any):
Employer:
County of Residence:
Email:
Phone:
Address:
Brief Bio for Panel List (max 50-60 words) – This should serve to introduce your expertise to the arts organizations.
Interest in Grant Panel(s)
Operating Support – Small Budget (under $250K)
Operating Support – Midsize Budget ($250K-$749K)
Operating Support – Large Budget ($750K+)
References (optional) - Persons well known in the arts community are the best references.
Name:
Name:
Phone or Email:
Phone or Email:
List of qualifications
Arts Discipline(s) – as practitioner, educator, administrator, volunteer, board member or patron:
Arts Education
Media/Film
Theater
Dance
Multidisciplinary Arts
Traditional/Folk Art
Design/Tech
Museums
Visual Arts
Literary Arts
Music
Other:
Management
Development/Fundraising
Other:
Planning
Finance
Other:
Marketing & PR
ADA Compliance
Other:
Nonprofit expertise:
Other:
Familiarity with local cultural community (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole counties)
Sensitivity in making constructive critical judgments
Significant time available year-round to attend arts events and exhibitions (for about 15 organizations depending
on panel)
Time available in October to perform formal site visits of 2-3 assigned organizations, and to review applications
before the panel meeting
Time available in November for the all-day panel meeting
Explanation of qualifications – Please explain how your knowledge, skills and experience, in the areas indicated
above, qualify you for this position. If you have a main area or area(s) of expertise, please explain. You can attach
extra pages if necessary, and must attach a bio and/or resumé.
Prior Panel Service – List any past experience as a panelist or juror, including the location/organization.
Demographics (optional)
Please check your gender:
Male
Female
What is your race or ethnicity? (mark more than one if applicable)
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian
Black/African American
Please check your age range:
18-34
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific
Islander
35-44
45-54
White
Multi-Racial (no single race
applies)
55-64
65+
Conflicts of Interest (in last 2 years) - See the list of organizations on the next page, and the definition of conflict of
interest in this document, and explain any perceived conflicts of interest here (attach extra pages if necessary):
Conflict
Organization
LARGE BUDGET CATEGORY ($900K+)
Art & History Museums, Maitland
Bach Festival Society
Crealdé School of Art (including Hannibal
Square Heritage Center)
Downtown Arts District / CityArts Factory
Enzian Theater & the Florida Film Festival
Garden Theatre
Mad Cow Theatre
Orange County Regional History Center
Orlando Ballet
Orlando Fringe
Orlando Museum of Art
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Orlando Repertory Theatre
Orlando Science Center
Orlando Shakespeare Theater
MIDSIZE BUDGET CATEGORY ($250K$899K)
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture
Gardens
Association to Preserve the Eatonville
Community - Zora! Festival and The
Hurston Museum
Bay Street Players
The Center for Contemporary Dance
Central Florida Ballet
Central Florida Community Arts
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra
Holocaust Memorial Resource and
Education Center of Central Florida
Mennello Museum of American Art
MicheLee Puppets
Mount Dora Center for the Arts
Osceola County Historical Society
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
The Winter Park Playhouse
Familiar
Conflict
Familiar
This chart also asks you to identify which cultural groups you are familiar with. We are looking for panelists with a wide
range of interest and who frequently attend events. Other organizations not on this list may also apply.
Organization
SMALL BUDGET CATEGORY ($25K-$249K)
Asian Cultural Association of Central
Florida
Creative City Project
Global Peace Film Festival
HAPCO Music Foundation
Lake Eustis Museum of Art
Leesburg Center for the Arts
Melon Patch Players
Opera Orlando
Orlando Gay Chorus
Performing Arts of Maitland
Steinway Society of Central Florida
Urban Think Foundation
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Winter Park Historical Association
Other – please specify:
Other – please specify:
Other – please specify: