Before you begin the application process, please read the following pages:  How to Apply, Check List, Tip Sheet.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2008

Applicants will be notified of committee decisions by

July 1, 2008

To further its mission of “bringing together and nurturing individuals and organizations that use the power of storytelling in all its forms,” the National Storytelling Network supports a Grants Program through which NSN individual and affiliate members may apply for funding to develop new projects. Support is available for the development of individual work, for collaborative projects, for community-based storytelling programs, or for scholarly research.

In extending direct support to members through this program, the NSN Board of Directors has several goals. Though the grants available are not large, we hope that they will both enable storytellers to develop new ideas they might not otherwise have time or funds for and increase public outreach and awareness of the power of storytelling. In all grant proposals, we encourage innovative and experimental thinking. We recognize that "innovation" and "experiment" are relative terms, situated within specific social, personal, and intellectual contexts. One valid proposal may present a storytelling idea never before invented on the planet; another, also valid, may seek to build on an important existing idea or adapt a program, already successful elsewhere, to a very different setting. As creative storytellers, we certainly delight in the unique but we also value insightful development of tradition.

For the 2008-2009 NSN Member Grants period, the committee will award one NSN Member Grant of $1000 and one Huebner Grant for $500.

NSN members may apply for grants in the following areas: 

NSN Fellowships for Individual Storytelling Projects
A member may apply for a grant for the development of an individual storytelling project. Grant funds must be used to cover expenses directly connected with the project, including travel, living expenses, research, and purchase of necessary materials. 

NSN Fellowships for Collaborative Storytelling Projects
A group of individual members, or an NSN affiliate member organization, may apply for support for collaborative development of storytelling events or new story work. 

NSN Fellowships for Storytelling Projects to Benefit Local Communities 
An individual member, an ad hoc group of members, or an NSN affiliate organization may apply for a grant to support storytelling in new ways within particular communities. (Some examples: a youth storytelling club in a detention center; collection and public presentation of stories of recent immigrants within a community; multigenerational storytelling workshops.) 

NSN Fellowships for Scholarly Research on Storytelling
A member may apply for a grant to aid in research focused on the value and functions of storytelling in particular contexts, such as education, business, or community. The research should lead to public dissemination: it may contribute to an academic requirement (for instance, a thesis or dissertation), a public scholarly lecture or conference presentation, or a printed publication.

Jack and Carole Ann Huebner Award

NSN is honored to collaborate with the City of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to offer a grant in memory of the late Carole Ann and Jack Huebner.  The Huebners worked tirelessly to encourage other tellers and build community awareness of storytelling.  Founding members of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild, both Carole Ann and Jack (“TreeTop Wilson”) sponsored many Youth Storytelling workshops, and, in the 1990s, presented a national public radio program, “The Story Tree."  The Jack and Carole Ann Huebner Award, $500, will be given to one of the NSN Member Grants applicants whose proposal  involves the telling of traditional folktales or historical stories. Those applicants applying for the Huebner Award will answer the Huebner Award question on the Member Grants application.

Eligibility: Any current NSN individual or affiliate member who has been a continuing member since a date prior to October 31, 2007, is eligible to apply for a grant. Only one grant will be awarded to any one applicant in a single year.

NSN Committees or Special Interest Groups, members of the Board of Directors and the Member Grants Committee, and full or part time employees of NSN are not eligible for these grants.

Accessibility: NSN does not discriminate against any category of persons in any of its services, including this grants program.

Criteria: In evaluating applications, the Grants Committee will consider the following questions:

	Is the project consistent with the mission of NSN?
	Do the project personnel have appropriate experience and skills to carry out the project?
	Is the scope of the project appropriate within the limits of the grant?
	What audience is this project likely to reach?
	What is the artistic quality of the project?
	In the case of community projects, is there sufficient commitment and support from the community?
	In the case of research projects, is the researcher familiar with current scholarship related to the project, and will the research constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of storytelling?

Notification: All 2008-2009 applicants will be notified of the Grants Committee’s decision by July 1, 2008. Formal announcement will be made at the National Storytelling Conference in Gatlinburg, TN in August, 2008.

Payment of Funds:  Grantees will receive 80% of awarded funds approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of their grant period. The final 20% will be sent within 2 weeks of receipt of the final report at the NSN offices in Jonesborough, TN.

Completion of Projects: Projects may be completed any time before December 1, 2009. The final report must be received by NSN within 30 days of the completion of the work.

Member Grant Final Report Instructions