CLMP Consulting Program For National Presses

Applications due September 30th

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, CLMP is pleased to present literary presses with the opportunity to apply for twelve free hours with a consultant or mentor. These sessions will connect you with an experienced professional to help identify and implement strategies for improvement in areas such as design, digital media, marketing, circulation development, fundraising, or overall operations.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• CLMP member
• Can dedicate time to work with a consultant between 10/15/04 and 2/15/05
• Willingness to provide information to CLMP after the consulting period in order for us to evaluate the effectiveness of the working arrangement and share results with the field.

Application Process

To apply for the consultanting program, please submit the following:

1. Application (available in pdf or rft format at: www.clmp.org/news/forms/press_application_form.pdf or www.clmp.org/news/forms/press_application_form.rtf)
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, such as design, digital media, marketing, circulation, fundraising, bookkeeping, etc. Your proposal must be at least 350 words and typed. It should address (and utilize headers for) the following issues:
   • Primary goals in your chosen area
   • Why you are well positioned to strengthen this area at this time
   • Efforts have you undertaken in the past to achieve your goals in this area (or why have you been unable to undertake such efforts)
   • 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 sample copies of a recent publication.
   • Please include any supporting materials related to the area of operation you have chosen, including web statistics, promotional or press materials and related links, URLs, etc.
   • A copy of your mission statement

Review Process

Your applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence;
• Appropriateness of goals and outlined work for your particular press;
• Potential impact of work on your press's operations; and
• Completeness of application and clarity of proposal.

Working Procedure

Your applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria:

• 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 consultations cannot be guaranteed. The cost of the consultant's time will be covered by CLMP; the press will cover the cost of communications.
• Each press will have a total of twelve hours of consultant time which must be used between October 15, 2004 and February 15, 2005. Presses have the option of reserving four of the twelve hours to be used by April of 2005 for follow-up and analysis if this is agreeable with the consultant.
• Presses may be asked to complete a Request for Information 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 may be spent discussing strategy, asking for advice and referrals, getting feedback on materials, or other mutually agreed upon activities.

Timeline

September 15:	Contact Thom Didato at CLMP if you intend to apply
September 30:	Applications due at CLMP
October 8:	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, 2005:	Final reports due at CLMP

Deadline

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