Nominations for Volunteer Panelists (2-year term) –
United Arts Grants Programs
Through Operating Support Grants and Artists in Communities Grants, United Arts supports arts and cultural
organizations and individual artists, providing a variety of cultural experiences for residents and visitors in Central
Florida. For more information about grants programs: www.UnitedArts.cc/grants, or contact Mary Giraulo at Mary@UnitedArts.cc
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 on one panel for either Operating Support Grants or Artists in
Communities (renewable for a second two-year term; 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
 (Operating Support Grants only) Experienced with cultural nonprofit organizations (three years or more), in
areas such as management, planning, development/fundraising, finance, marketing & PR, ADA compliance, etc.
 (Operating Support Grants only) 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 the Operating
Support Grants panels 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;
Review of applications on your own time, coming to panel meeting prepared to discuss and assign scores based
on established evaluation criteria;
Attendance at the required panel meeting, to finalize scores and determine funding recommendations; and
Operating Support Grants only:
o Formal site visits to at least 2-3 assigned organizations per year in Sept/Oct, 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.
o Observations of arts events (rehearsal, performance, event or exhibition) for 12-18 organizations yearly
– all organizations in the budget category. Tickets are on an as-available basis, requiring sufficient
advance notice. Applicant organizations may limit to two per panelist, or redirect to other events when
space requires it.
o Copy Mary@UnitedArts.cc on all communication with applicant organizations.
Program Timelines
Operating Support Grants (OS) (3 panels, divided by budget size)
December - October
Observation of 1+ arts events for each organization in the budget category (on own schedule)
This is a significant time commitment and should be noted.
Sept/Oct
Formal site visit meetings (each panelist will be assigned 2-3 organizations)
Sept/Oct
Applications review (10-15 hours over 3-4 weeks)
Oct / Nov
Panel Meeting (1 meeting, 4-5 hours). Max 10 minutes per application; discussion begins with
site visit report and financial report.
Artists in Communities Grants (AC) (includes visual art, performing arts, literature, and film/digital media. Panels may or
may not be divided by genre depending on the number of applications)
April
Applications review (10-15 hours over 3-4 weeks)
May
Panel Meeting (1 meeting, 2-3 hours).
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:
 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 in Operating Support Grants, or a different arts genre in Artists in
Communities Grants).
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 Mary@UnitedArts.cc 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 bio and/or resumé to Mary@UnitedArts.cc 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 will become available on an unpredictable schedule; UA maintains a list of nominees.
Nominee Contact Information – Title and email will be made available to applicants if selected for OS panels.
Name:
Title (if any):
Employer:
County of Residence:
Email:
Phone:
Address:
Interest in Grant Panel(s)
Operating Support – small budget (under $250K)
Operating Support – midsize budget ($250K-$749K)
Operating Support – large budget ($750K+)
Artists in Communities
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
Time and willingness to commit to a two-year term, including application review (in advance of panel meeting), and
panel meeting
If applying for Operating Support Panels, significant time available to attend arts events and exhibitions yearround (for 12-18 organizations depending on panel, for operating support grants only), and time available in
Sept/Oct to perform formal site visits of 2-3 assigned organizations
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) - Operating Support Grants panels only; Artists in Communities Grants panelists
will indicate conflicts after grant applications have been received. 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
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.
Organization
Art & History Museums, Maitland
Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community Zora! Festival and The Hurston Museum
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 Museum of Art
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Orlando Repertory Theatre
Orlando Science Center
Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens
Bay Street Players
The Center for Contemporary Dance
Central Florida Ballet
Central Florida Community Arts
Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center
of Central Florida
Mennello Museum of American Art
MicheLee Puppets
Mount Dora Center for the Arts
Orlando Fringe
Osceola County Historical Society
The Winter Park Playhouse
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Asian Cultural Association of Central Florida
Creative Sanford
Florida Opera Theatre
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra
Florida Young Artists Orchestra
Global Peace Film Festival
HAPCO Music Foundation
Lake Eustis Museum of Art
Leesburg Center for the Arts
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Large Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Midsize Budget Category
Melon Patch Players
Messiah Choral Society
Orlando Gay Chorus
Performing Arts of Maitland
Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater
Steinway Society of Central Florida
Urban Think Foundation
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Winter Park Historical Association
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Small Budget Category
Other – please specify:
Other organizations may apply for this grant –
lists updated annually in September.
Other – please specify:
Other – please specify: