New York State Technical Assistance Program [NYTAP]
Mentor Program for Literary Presses Guidelines and Instructions

Applications due September 1st

With support from the New York State Council on the Arts' Literature Program and the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, CLMP is pleased to offer New York State-based literary presses the opportunity to apply for twelve free hours with a consultant or mentor. These sessions will connect you with an experienced professional to help you identify and implement strategies for improvement in areas such as marketing, publicity, fundraising or overall operations.

Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• New York State-based literary press (location of main editorial offices)
• CLMP member
• Can dedicate time to working with a consultant between 10/15/05 and 2/15/06
• Willing to provide information to CLMP after the consulting period so we can evaluate the effectiveness of the working arrangement
• Have NOT received a NYTAP mentoring award in the last 18 months

Application Process
To apply for the consultant program, please submit the following:

1. Application (available at: www.clmp.org/about/mentor_app_nytap_05.pdf)
   
   
2. One-page proposal: You must submit a one-page proposal describing the project you would like to work on with a consultant. Your proposal should focus on an area of operations that already exists within your press but can be improved upon, such as refining a marketing plan, improving publicity efforts, decreasing production costs or increasing fundraising to individuals. (Do not apply for a project to introduce a new area to your organization, such as marketing to classrooms, if you've never done so before.)
   
   
   The proposal must be at least 350 words and typed. It should state:
   
   
   1. What is your goal in your chosen area
   2. Why you are well-positioned to strengthen this area at this time
   3. Recent efforts or activities in this area
   4. Why and how you believe working with a consultant on the area you have chosen will benefit your press
   
   
3. Supporting Materials: You must include 2 copies of a recent title and 2 copies of the latest edition of your catalogue with the proposal. You may also include any supporting materials you wish related to the area of operation you have chosen.

Review Process
Your applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence of your publications;
• Appropriateness of goals and outlined work for your particular press;
• Potential impact of work on your operations;
• Completeness of application and clarity of proposal.
• Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously been awarded a NYTAP consulting opportunity.

Working Procedure

• CLMP will match presses with a consultant based on your proposal and help you to set up a work plan. You will be asked to map out the time frame of your consultation and inform CLMP of start and finish dates.
  
  
• Presses selected for the mentoring component will work with their consultants/mentors either in person (if possible and convenient) or via e-mail, fax and phone. Because travel funds are not part of the mentoring grant, in-person consultants cannot be guaranteed. The cost of the consultant's time will be covered by NYTAP; the press will cover the cost of communications
  
  
• Each press will have a total of twelve hours of consulting time which must be used between October 15 and February 15. Presses will determine, along with their consultant, an eight-week period within these three months when hours will be used. Presses have the option of reserving four of the twelve hours to be used by April of 2006 for follow-up and analysis if this is agreeable with the consultant.
  
  
• Presses may be required to complete a Request for Information (RFI) specific to your project to be forwarded to your consultant prior to the start of the consultation. You will also be required to provide information and data to CLMP in a final report.
  
  
• Your consulting time might be spent discussing strategy, asking for advice and referrals, getting feedback on materials, or other mutually agreed upon activities.

Timeline


• August 15: Contact Thom Didato at CLMP if you intend to apply
• September 1: Applications due at CLMP
• September 19: Recipients announced
• October15: Consultants will be assigned and confirmed Presses receive Request for Information, to be completed prior to start of consultation
• Oct. 15—Feb 15: Consulting period
• February 25, 2006: Final reports due at CLMP

Deadline
Complete application must be received at CLMP by September 1, 2005 at 5 p.m. This is not a postmark deadline. No late proposals will be accepted. Send to:


Thom Didato, NYTAP Director
Council of Literary Magazines and Presses
154 Christopher Street, Suite 3C
New York, New York 10014




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