Introducing the Music Enhancement Grants (MEG program). The MEGs are designed specifically to give grants to 501(c)3 organizations whose mission aligns with the goals of Interfilk.

With this program, we’re aiming to support and enhance existing or new programs at regional science fiction conventions in North America. If your regional convention has a struggling or under-staffed filk track, you can write up a plan to bring in support from another part of the region or start growing your own track by bringing in experts to train your local crew.

In order to get grant monies you will have to write up a plan (see guidelines here) to help us understand the strategy, the scope and the cost. Money must pass directly from Interfilk to the granted 501(c)3, who can in turn use that money to support their plan.

It works like this: ExampleCon writes up a plan to bring Filker A and Filker B to their convention. Interfilk reviews their grant and decides to approve their plan. They give the monies to ExampleOrg, ExampleCon’s parent organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. With that money ExampleOrg can give ExampleCon the opportunity to execute their plan.

It might look like this: Filker A will organize the local fans, teaching things like how to set up a successful circle, how to bring people to the filk room, and how to run interesting cross-over programming with other con-tracks, while Filker B will lead song teaching during the day and serve as a circle anchor each night, playing guitar while local filkers get up to speed on leading circles and song sessions.

ExampleCon may opt to apply for this grant two years running to really establishing filking at their con. By the time Filker A and Filker B are no longer regular attendees, their presence will have helped to foster continuity with the local filk staff, as well as the larger community, creating a knowledge of best practice in building community in the circle, and a reminder that local filkers can build this dream themselves with a little support from ExampleOrg and Interfilk.

A few important caveats about the MEG. While Interfilk can suggest likely candidates, we don’t know the character of your local con, so it’s best if you decide who and what you need. When writing up your proposal, please include WHO you want and for what purpose, it’ll help us to make the decision about whether we think your grant proposal will succeed. We want to see well-thought-out plans that will support long-term growth at your con. One-off events are great and may drive traffic to the filk room temporarily, but it is our belief that the backbone of supporting filk for the long term comes from growing the evening circle and the daily programming, and making sure that you have continuity of training in your filk staff.

Please submit your grant proposals 6-12 months ahead of the start date of your convention. Earlier is better.

Thank you!