About Being a Panelist
Volunteer panelists are vital to the integrity of the grant review process. They bring their understanding of the arts, arts education, nonprofit management, creative entrepreneurship, and the community to evaluate each application. There are several opportunities to volunteer as a grant panelist throughout the year.
Panelist Responsibilities:
- Declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest
- Review grant applications and supplemental materials before the panel meeting (Includes giving each application an initial score and constructive comments)
- Discuss each grant application at the panel
- Update scores if appropriate following panel meeting discussions
- Recommend as a panel funding levels (excluding operating support) to United Arts’ Executive Committee and Board of Directors for final approval
Operating Support Grant Program
The Operating Support grant program is a merit-based funding source that provides unrestricted funds to cover overhead costs. This program helps cultural nonprofits keep the lights on so they can continue impacting the community. Operating Support Grants are open to organizations based in Lake, Osceola, and Orange counties that have presented at least three years of programming.
Time Commitment:
- Panelist orientation – 45 minutes
- Observations of artistic products or process
- Individual assessment of applications – 3 to 4 weeks of advanced access
- Panel meeting – half day
Venue Subsidy Grants
Through funding from Orange County, United Arts offers a grant to subsidize the use of event venues in Orange County for cultural programming. This program addresses the need for arts and cultural programming that will appeal to a range of audiences, particularly racially/ethnically diverse communities in Central Florida.
Panels for the Orange County Venue subsidy grant include representatives from United Arts and Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs – including its advisory council.
Time Commitment:
- Panel meeting overview and demo on using grant evaluation software – 30 min
- Individual assessment of applications – 2 weeks of advanced access
- Panel meeting – 1 ½ to 2 hours
Diversity in the arts
Funded by Duke Energy, United Arts’ Diversity in the Arts Program is designed to:
- Remove barriers and increase access to United Arts funding for organizations led by people of color
- Increase participation in programs provided by diverse arts and cultural organizations
- Provide a pipeline for diverse artists, performers, and organizational leaders to serve in leadership positions (volunteer committees, board of directors, etc.)
Time Commitment:
- Panel meeting overview and demo on using grant evaluation software – 30 min
- Individual assessment of applications – 2 weeks of advanced access
- Panel meeting – 1 ½ to 2 hours
Project Grants
Project Grants provide funding for events, productions, projects, festivals, exhibitions and showcases that increase access to and participation in arts, history, and science programming, amplify diverse cultures and voices, and act as a catalyst for change through arts and culture-based community development.
Time Commitment:
- Panel meeting overview and demo on using grant evaluation software – 30 min
- Individual assessment of applications – 2 weeks of advanced access
- Panel meeting – 1 to 1 ½ hours
