South Dakota State Poetry Society

SDSPS MINI GRANT PROGRAM POLICY

• SDSPS will budget up to $1,000 annually for distribution as SDSPS Mini Grants for projects that help SDSPS further its mission.
• Up to four SDSPS Mini Grants of up to $250 each in matching funds may be distributed annually.

SDSPS MINI GRANT PROGRAM PROCEDURE

• An SDSPS Mini Grant Committee shall be formed of three SDSPS Board Members, and shall be reviewed annually at the June meeting by the SDSPS Board.
• Any current SDSPS member may submit a proposal to the SDSPS Mini Grant Program for up to $250 in matching funds to promote poets or poetry in South Dakota.
• The procedure for applying for SDSPS Mini Grants shall be as follows:
• The SDSPS Mini Grant Committee shall put out a call for proposals in  Pasque Petals. The committee may also use other media avenues for publicizing the call for proposals.
• Any current SDSPS member, including South Dakota Poet Laureates, may submit a proposal to the SDSPS Mini Grant Committee.

Please upload the following as one PDF document:

1) A cover letter summarizing the request and indicating how the proposed project helps SDSPS fulfill its mission.

2) A brief Project Narrative that includes the following sections:

• Overview: Describe the project in 2-3 sentences.
• Needs Statement: What need does this project meet? Who will it serve
• Project Description: Describe the project in more detail, including a timeline and personnel (including volunteers) who will carry it out. Include start and final dates for the project.
• Assessment: How will you measure the success of your project? How will it help SDSPS fulfill its mission?

3) Project Budget: Include a total project budget that indicates how the funds requested from SDSPS will be spent, as well as how you will secure the required matching dollars. (Your project's total budget must be a minimum of $500, but may be larger.) 

4) A plan for how SDSPS shall be recognized as a sponsor at all activities of the projects that receive an SDSPS Mini Grant. Specifically, information about joining SDSPS and/or submitting work to Pasque Petals shall be made available to all people associated with or attending the project. (We will email you more details and our logo when your proposal is accepted.)

5) A Final Report of awarded projects shall be submitted no more than 30 days following the final date of the project. We will let you know where and how to submit the final report that should include the following:

• An overview of the completed project.
• An evaluation of the completed project using the measures that were proposed in the original proposal
• A financial statement indicating how the SDSPS mini-grant funds were spent.
• Receipts corresponding with the income and expenses (related to mini-grant) on the financial statement.
• Copies of any program or print advertising for the project, and/or links to any online materials to show that SDSPS was recognized as a supporter and that participants received information about how to join SDSPS and submit to Pasque Petals and SDSPS contests.

Please note, when the Poetry Mini-Grant Committee reviews proposals and/or requests for sponsorship, they will be asking these questions:

• Does the project or idea help SDSPS meet its mission?
• Does SDSPS have the cash resources needed to sponsor this event?
• Does SDSPS have the volunteer resources needed to sponsor this event?
• Will the project cast SDSPS in a good light and make people want to be part of the organization?
• Is the person or group proposing the idea able to volunteer to see it through?
• Is the person proposing the idea a current SDSPS member?
• Are there other groups or people we could partner with to make this happen in a bigger way to celebrate and encourage South Dakota poems & poem-making?

If you have any questions about the Mini-Grant program, please send a message to SDSPS through our website's contact page: https://sdpoetry.org/contact/ 

Learn more about other SDSPS Membership benefits and how to join here: https://sdpoetry.org/membership/

South Dakota State Poetry Society Chapbook Contest 2023
Rules and Guidelines
Submit up to 30 pages of poetry. No more than one poem to a page, but a poem may be longer than one page.
Contest open to South Dakota residents only.
Individual poems may have been published elsewhere, but the chapbook as a whole must not have been published anywhere else. Poems may be on any subject and in any form other than prose.
Chapbooks must be submitted electronically through Submittable.
Poets may enter more than one manuscript, but each entry will be charged a separate reading fee.  The reading fee for SDSPS members is $10 per manuscript, and the reading fee for non-SDSPS members is $15 per manuscript.
To join SDSPS, please visit sdpoetry.org/shop

Manuscripts will be judged blindly. Each manuscript should include:

• Table of Contents with no personal information (number your pages).
• Title Page with just the chapbook title and no personal identification.
• A manuscript of poetry with no personal information (only the title, page number, and poem) included; poems do not have to be titled.
• An acknowledgements page listing poems that have been published previously, as well as the periodical, anthology or book, and date of publication.

Please also include a cover letter that includes a brief bio and the title of your chapbook entry.
Only one winning manuscript will be accepted for publication. Should the contest be cancelled, all entrants will be refunded their reading fee. The winning poet will receive publication and ten author's copies. (2023 SDSPS Members will also receive a free copy of the chapbook.) Rights return to the poet after publication.

South Dakota State Poetry Society Chapbook Contest 2023
Rules and Guidelines
Submit up to 30 pages of poetry. No more than one poem to a page, but a poem may be longer than one page.
Contest open to South Dakota residents only.
Individual poems may have been published elsewhere, but the chapbook as a whole must not have been published anywhere else. Poems may be on any subject and in any form other than prose.
Chapbooks must be submitted electronically through Submittable.
Poets may enter more than one manuscript, but each entry will be charged a separate reading fee.  The reading fee for SDSPS members is $10 per manuscript, and the reading fee for non-SDSPS members is $15 per manuscript.
To join SDSPS, please visit sdpoetry.org/shop

Manuscripts will be judged blindly. Each manuscript should include:

• Table of Contents with no personal information (number your pages).
• Title Page with just the chapbook title and no personal identification.
• A manuscript of poetry with no personal information (only the title, page number, and the poem) included; poems do not have to be titled.
• An acknowledgements page listing poems that have been published previously, as well as the periodical, anthology or book, and date of publication.

Please also include a cover letter that includes a brief bio and the title of your chapbook entry.
Only one winning manuscript will be accepted for publication. Should the contest be cancelled, all entrants will be refunded their reading fee. The winning poet will receive publication and ten author's copies. (2023 SDSPS Members will also receive a copy of the chapbook.) Rights return to the poet after publication.