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The KFW Grantmaking Process

The Application Arrives: KFW typically receives more than 100 grant applications for each of its two grant cycles (Artist Enrichment and Art Meets Activism). Every application received is carefully handled. The Grant Program Administrator reads each application, writes a short summary, ensures the application is complete, and prepares the applications to be sent to the grant reviewers. KFW staff does not review applications for their merits or make funding recommendations or decisions.

Grant Review Begins: KFW staff identifies panels of independent grant reviewers, whose work constitutes the heart of the grantmaking process. Each grant review panel consists of three reviewers — two from Kentucky and one from out-of-state — who are all are highly qualified artists and activists from a range of disciplines, including writing, visual art, performing, and media arts. Once these panels have been assembled, the applications are divided among them, according to the art form chosen on the application: literary, performing, visual, and media. The reviewers’ task is to carefully read, assess, and rank the applications and corresponding work samples, in preparation for the grant review meeting. Grant reviewers agree to abide by confidentiality and conflict-of-interest statements to ensure the fairness of the decision-making process.

The Grant Review Meetings: Each panel assembles for a three-hour meeting at the KFW office. Reviewers have already sent in their preliminary rankings, which are used to begin the discussion. During the meeting, KFW staff is present to observe and take notes — but the recommendations about which applications will receive funding and how much they will receive are left up to our expert grant reviewers. Discussion is often lively and decisions are difficult to make, because there are so many worthy applications and grant funds are limited. The criteria that appear on the application forms (e.g., "artwork in sample is strong, highly original, and reflects feminism and social change; applicant’s understanding and practice of feminism; and understanding of the relationship between art and social change,") are the same criteria that guide reviewers in making their tough decisions about funding recommendations.

Recommendations: Once the panels have reached their decisions, their recommendations are forwarded to KFW’s board for final approval. Please keep in mind that KFW is unable to fund most applications at the highest level. Many applicants receive less than they requested. KFW staff works hard to provide constructive comments, straight from the grant reviewers, to each grant applicant.

Notification: For Art Meets Activism grants, applicants typically receive notification by June 1 st. For Artist Enrichment grants, applicants typically receive notification by December 1 st.

A final word: Don’t hesitate to contact KFW staff if you have questions about the application or grant review process. We are here to facilitate the continued funding of wonderful and needed projects expressing Kentucky women’s artistic, feminist, and social change ideals.