The grant application process is three-part:

1. Before submitting a formal proposal to the Terra Foundation, prospective applicants must write a letter of inquiry (LOI).
2. After reviewing the letter of inquiry, the foundation may invite the submission of a formal proposal.
3. Formal grant proposals undergo a review process before final decisions are made by the foundation’s Board of Directors.

Please see here for information about the application process and deadlines for Publication Grants which are different from the grants described below.

Letter of Inquiry

A letter of inquiry must precede any formal grant proposal to the Terra Foundation; formal proposals are accepted only by invitation of the foundation after review of the letter of inquiry. Prospective applicants can expect to hear from the foundation within three weeks of their letter’s receipt. The letter should be no longer than 3 pages (including attachments) and include:

• Brief statement of the organization’s purpose and goals
• Description of the project, including its beginning and ending dates as well as the need and audience it addresses
• Objectives of the project
• Other organizing partners and funding sources and amounts for the project, if relevant
• Total cost of project and the grant amount requested

All letters should be written in English, addressed to the grants manager, and sent by email to grants@terraamericanart.org. Additional printed copies of the letters may be sent to:

Terra Foundation for American Art
120 East Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
United States  

Formal Proposal

After a letter of inquiry is reviewed, prospective applicants may be invited to submit a formal proposal. Please note that an invitation for a formal proposal does not guarantee funding at any level. Formal proposals must be written or translated in English and should not be stapled or bound. All attachments should also be written or translated in English.

Below are downloadable PDFs of the application form for each of the program areas: Exhibitions, including Exhibition Research and Development, Academic Programs, Chicago Public Programs, and Chicago K–12 Education Programs. These forms can also be found on the guidelines page for each program area.

Exhibition Program Application Form
Convening Grant for Internationally Collaborative Exhibitions Application Form
International Curatorial Travel Grant Application Form 
Academic Program Application Form 
Chicago Public Programs Application Form
Chicago K-12 Education Program Application Form

Proposal Review Process

During the time that a proposal is under review, applicants must notify the foundation of any significant changes in staff or board leadership, financial circumstances, or the capacity of the institution to accomplish the proposed activities.

Following submission, proposals go through the review process outlined below:

Staff Contact
Foundation staff will contact the applicant to confirm that the required material has been submitted, clarify any questions regarding the proposal, request any additional information, and discuss any special needs or circumstances that may exist.

Staff and Peer Review
The foundation’s program staff reviews all proposals, and may contact other institutions that have knowledge of the grant-seeking organization. Proposals may also be presented to colleagues for peer review and recommendation.

Executive Approval
Proposals are presented to the Board of Directors, which makes final decisions on grants. Currently, the Board of Directors reviews proposals for the Academic Programs, Public Programs, and Chicago K–12 Education Programs in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Exhibition proposals are reviewed twice annually, in Spring and Fall.

Notification
Foundation staff will notify the organization of a decision by telephone or by mail approximately 2–3 weeks after the Board of Directors meeting at which the proposal is considered. Please keep this in mind while writing your project timeline.

Please note:
If a grant is awarded, the recipient will be expected to provide regular reports to the foundation on the project’s progress and the expenditure of grant monies.  

Deadlines

All required materials should be submitted to the Terra Foundation by the following deadlines:

Exhibition Program

Letter of Inquiry	Proposal	Board Meeting
March 1, 2013	June 3, 2013	Fall 2013
August 1, 2013	October 15, 2013	Spring 2014
March 3, 2014	June 2, 2014	Fall 2014

Academic Program

Letter of Inquiry	Proposal	Board Meeting
December 16, 2013	March 5, 2014	Summer 2014
March 14, 2014	June 16, 2014	Fall 2014
December 15, 2014	March 2, 2015	Summer 2015

Public Program  

Letter of Inquiry	Proposal	Board Meeting
May 15, 2013	July 15, 2013	Fall 2013
October 15, 2013	December 9, 2013	Spring 2014
May 15, 2014	July 15, 2014	Fall 2014

Chicago K-12 Education Program    

Letter of Inquiry	Proposal	Board Meeting
May 15, 2013	July 15, 2013	Fall 2013
October 15, 2013	December 9, 2013	Spring 2014
May 15, 2014	July 15, 2014	Fall 2014

 Please see here for information about Publication Grant deadlines.