NYFA Coaching: for Artists, Arts Businesses, and Arts Organizations
Applying for a new job? Fundraising for a new project or business? Looking for feedback or recommendations for your funder research or grant writing efforts?
In support of a more productive and active 2017 for artists and arts administrators, NYFA is launching a pilot program with targeted coaching services from specialized NYFA staff. All sessions are conducted with an emphasis on personalized feedback, recommendations, and guidance.
Grant Application or Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Review
Preliminary Funder Research
Fundraising Strategy Building/Planning
Resume and Cover Letter Review
Design Your Own Coaching Session
NYFA Coaching sessions are fee-based and require no current enrollment in a NYFA program. They are open to anyone!
Session prices range from $40-$100. All sessions include a high level of dedicated staff time for reviewing your materials and offering direct feedback via email and phone.
Review the full descriptions of the current coaching services.
Reserve your session using our simple online platform. Make sure you provide all requested information so we can give you our best feedback and recommendations.
Be prepared for a thoughtful and productive conversation with your NYFA Coach about your materials and next steps.
Our goal for every session is to give you feedback that is specific to your circumstances and needs. Your NYFA coach will help you strengthen your professional materials and will recommend specific “next steps” for furthering your professional goals. These sessions are created with artists and arts professionals in mind and based on NYFA staff’s own experience as art industry leaders.
Grant Application or Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Review: During this session, staff will review the provided grant application or LOI draft and provide feedback/recommendations on how to improve formatting, language choice, messaging, narrative structure, and the overall efficacy of the application or request letter. The client will be asked to provide a link to the grant guidelines or funder’s website for reference. This session includes the time needed for the coach to review provided materials. Feedback and recommendations will be recorded with digital notes on the draft document and will be discussed over the phone with the client.
Preliminary Funder Research: This session provides clients with a starting point for their own funding research efforts. NYFA will conduct preliminary research using various database resources at NYFA’s disposal, based on information provided by the client in the registration form. A preliminary Research Report will be drafted. The report includes possible funders of interest, opportunities, and recommendations for improving the client’s continued research. If necessary, the NYFA Coach will contact the client prior to starting research to clarify any project or activity questions. The session includes a scheduled phone call where the NYFA coach explains the research findings, issues, and recommended next steps.
Fundraising Strategy Building/Planning: During this session, staff will meet with the client to discuss and brainstorm effective fundraising strategy options that best fit the client and their project, business, or organization. This hour long coaching meeting includes review of any current fundraising materials, an analysis of the client and project’s fundraising strengths and weaknesses, and the development of an “attack plan” for next steps. Prior to this meeting, the client will provide the NYFA Coach with relevant project/organizational information, including information about the current status of fundraising efforts. Although this session will likely discuss funder research, direct assistance with initial research can only be offered through the appropriate NYFA Coaching session.
Resume and Cover Letter Review: This NYFA Coaching session includes a review of your cover letter and resume drafts, written feedback/recommendations, and a scheduled follow-up phone call with your NYFA Coach to discuss next steps. Clients will be required to provide their “best” draft cover letter and resume and a link to the posted job listing. The NYFA Coach will review the materials with the job listing and potential employer in mind. NYFA does not write materials for clients, and the implementation of all suggestions will be at the discretion of the client. NYFA Coaches cannot review application materials for job openings at NYFA.
Design Your Own Coaching Session: During this session, NYFA staff will provide recommendations and feedback in accordance with your own professional or project needs. This session can be whatever best fits you and your goals, such as: the review of promotional, professional, or fundraising materials; strategy building; action planning; resource building; mock interviews; presentation coaching; and more. Please note funding research can only be provided through the Preliminary Funder Research coaching session, as it requires additional time outside of a normal session meeting.
If you have any questions about this pilot program, contact [email protected]. Reservations must be made through the online portal. Fees for scheduling a coaching session are non-refundable, but every effort to reschedule sessions will be made if notified of the cancellation at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment.
Images, from top: Noemie Lafrance (Fellow in Choreography '13); Granger Moorhead and Robert Moorhead (Fellows in Architecture/Environmental Structures ‘10)
