DORIS DUKE FOUNDATION FOR ISLAMIC ART
BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
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DORIS DUKE FOUNDATION FOR ISLAMIC ART
BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
PROGRAM STAFF
Lillian Osei-Boateng, Program Associate: Lsoei-Boateng@DDCF.org
Zeyba Rahman, Senior Program Officer: Zrahman@DDCF.org
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 PROGRAM MISSION
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The Building Bridges 2014-15 Grants Program will support nonprofit organizations in
their work to plan and implement cultural projects or programs intended to increase
public knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of current-day Muslim
societies through arts or media arts based experiences.
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Projects or programs should offer immersive and/or interactive experiences that are
engaging and tailored to the needs and interests of specific target audience(s).
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 PROGRAM GOALS OVERVIEW
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A total of $1.5 million will be awarded for projects and programs that begin in March 2015
Grants amounts will range between $25,000 - $300,000
Project may take place over a period of 1 – 3 years
Grant funding may support up to 75% of total project budget
Total grant requested may not exceed 25% of the organization’s annual expenses
Organizations that received a grant in the 2013 funding round are eligible to apply again in this
round. Combined grants will not exceed more than $300,000, if selected in this 2 nd grants
round
Nonprofit organizations with operating expense budgets greater than $250,000 are eligible with
$50,000 allocated for arts programming
Grants will be awarded through a competitive panel review process. All applications will be
reviewed by external advisors composed of those with knowledge of the field. DDFIA staff will
not participate in the review discussions or influence outcomes of those deliberations
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 APPLICATION PROCESS
 Includes 3 steps. Each steps needs to be completed to progress to the next
 Intent to Apply Electronic Postcard to notify foundation that your
organization will submit a Letter of Interest (LOI)
Due June 27, 2014
 Letter of Interest (LOI) a brief, preliminary proposal
Due August 15, 2014
 Full Proposal from organizations selected by the LOI review panel
Due December 12, 2014
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 Key Dates
 Electronic Postcards providing organization name and type, and probable arts
discipline(s) of project are due by June 27, 2014 at 4pm EDT
 Informational webinars on July 16 and August 6, 2014
 Letters of Interest (LOI) are due August 15, 2014 at 4pm EDT
 LOI review committee selections to be announced; invitations to submit full
proposals will be issued to finalists the week of October 6, 2014
 Online workshops for full proposal invitees on October 16 and 28, 2014
 Final proposals are due December 12, 2014 at 4pm EDT
 After expert panel review grants will be awarded in February 2015
 Anticipated start date for funded projects is March 1, 2015 onwards
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 There are myriad ways that organizations may design, structure and
implement dynamic projects with arts and media arts
 Organizations should draw upon their strengths to develop proposals using
 Core capabilities
 Audience knowledge
 Resources
 Competitive projects may include but are not limited to
 Development of new projects based on past experience of successful
international artistic programming
 Expansion of existing projects that increase understanding of current day
Muslim societies
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 Organizational Eligibility
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One application per organization
Projects must take place within the United States
501 (c) (3) tax exempt status
Annual operating expenses greater than $250,000 with at least $50,000 for
professional level arts or media programs
A minimum of 3 years of successful arts and/or media arts producing or presenting
experience
The Building Bridges Program does not have a preference for organization size
once eligibility criteria are met
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 Fiscal Sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship may be an option for organizations that are seeking a way to be
eligible for the Building Bridges program. For a 501(c)(3) public charity organization that
may lack tax exempt status, does not meet the minimum annual operating expense and
arts funding criteria or, has less than the required 3 years experience as a 501(c)(3)
organization they can provide a partnership through a formal agreement. For more
information about arts service organizations that provide fiscal sponsorship go to:
 www.fiscalsponsordirectory.org
Examples include:
 www.fracturedatlas.org
 www.nyfa.org
 www.thefield.org
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
Review panel will weigh:
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Project’s quality of vision and rigor in thought for its concept
Program quality and impact on the audience that will be the focus
Organization’s implementation ability
Organization’s financial stability
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
 Projects and Areas Not Funded:
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Requests from individuals.
The development, publication or distribution of books or reports.
Initiatives based exclusively on scholarly research or scholarly presentations.
Initiatives that focus solely on historical, as opposed to contemporary, Muslim arts
and cultures.
Film production or distribution of a single film will generally not be competitive.
Projects that support a performance by a single artist or single performance
production will generally not be competitive. Funding opportunities for single artists in the
fields of contemporary dance, jazz, theater and multi-disciplinary performing arts are
available through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Arts Program. To learn more:
http://www.ddcf.org/Programs/Arts/Initiatives--Strategies/Artistic-Creation-and-Distribution/
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The program will not support direct costs for the development and installation of
exhibitions. Public programs associated with exhibitions are eligible.
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DDFIA: BUILDING BRIDGES PROGRAM
• For further information: www.ddcf.org/Programs/Building-Bridges
• Questions about the logistics including, deadline dates, online
submissions or any technical issues may be addressed to
Lillian, LOsei-Boateng@DDCF.org
• Any additional questions about the program may be addressed to:
Zeyba, ZRahman@DDCF.org
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