Performing Arts Program Grantseekers

If your organization is interested in applying for a grant, we ask that you first read the Program's home page and Strategic Framework before submitting a Letter of Inquiry.

After reviewing the information, if you feel your organization or program aligns closely with our goals and strategies, you are invited to submit a brief Letter of Inquiry addressing either our Continuity and Engagement component or the Program Delivery strategy of our Arts Education component within our strategic framework. Do not submit a Letter of Inquiry for both components.

Funding through this Letter of Inquiry is extremely competitive. We are able to fund only a few organizations that submit Letters of Inquiry each year. The Performing Arts Program expects to make up to ten grants through the Letter of Inquiry process in 2013.

Competitive Letters of Inquiry will clearly address the Program's Selection Criteria. In addition, we have specific priorities and preferences that are articulated in the guidelines for each component.

Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot respond to phone calls or emails regarding Letters of Inquiry. We will do our best to respond to submissions via our online Letter of Inquiry form within 4-6 weeks. If your organization is invited to submit a full proposal, a grant decision would be made within six months. You may submit a Letter of Inquiry at any time during the year; there are no submission deadlines. Organizations are eligible to submit one Letter of Inquiry within a twelve-month period.

Organizations or programs that are currently receiving support through the Performing Arts Program are not eligible to submit a Letter of Inquiry.

We do not accept inquiries for the following:

• After-school programs.
• Building construction or capital campaigns.
• County departments of education.
• Education foundations.
• Endowments.
• Expenses or debt that has already been incurred.
• Government agencies or departments.
• Individuals, including individual artists.
• Humanities, literary/poetry, or history programs.
• Lobbying.
• One-time or intermittent events such as conferences, festivals, field-trips, parades, or school assemblies.
• Parent-teacher associations.
• Public or private elementary or secondary schools.
• Scholarships or staff training.
• School districts.
• School bands, orchestras, or choirs.
• Student groups, clubs, or recreational or social organizations.
• Technology projects.
• Touring or travel expenses.

To submit a Letter of Inquiry:

1. Review the Program's strategic framework and grantseeker guidelines.

2. If eligible, submit a Letter of Inquiry using the online form.

• If available, submit our organization's California Cultural Data Project (CDP) Funder Report for the Hewlett Foundation at the time you submit the Letter of Inquiry.
• If your organization is invited to submit a full proposal, your organization must submit a California CDP Funder Report for the Hewlett Foundation with two years of information to be eligible for consideration. For more information about the California CDP, click here.

3. Hewlett staff will review each Letter of Inquiry and will strive to respond within 30 days.

4. Organizations will be notified if they will be invited to submit a full proposal or if the inquiry will not move forward.

• Organizations that are invited to submit a full proposal will be notified of a funding decision within six months.
• Organizations that are not invited to submit a full proposal will be eligible to submit a Letter of Inquiry again in twelve months.

Do not send additional information or submit a full proposal unless your organization is expressly invited to do so, as it will be neither reviewed nor considered.

Click here to see specific Letter of Inquiry guidelines for Continuity and Engagement.

Click here to see specific Letter of Inquiry guidelines for Program Delivery in Arts Education.