Funding Leadership
Alternate ROOTS is an organization that is artist-led and artist-centered. As such, we believe strongly that artists know what they need to make work and to make their work better. We strive to cultivate our re-granting programs with the following in mind:
Our applications are easy to access, simple, and, where possible, have multiple modes of expression in order to honor our multidisciplinary and multiple intelligences.
Our funding is distributed with ROOTS’ core values in mind. We take the diversity of our constituency into account when making funding decisions, including race, gender, sexuality, geography, ability, and age.
In most cases, we have let go of dollar-for-dollar matching requirements so that our artists can focus on the money they receive from us and get down to work. We believe in empowering artists to keep moving forward without sacrificing their time to additional fundraising.
We encourage all member artists to participate in our funding programs, including our board, executive committee, and in some cases, even our staff. We see this work co-op model as something that sets us apart from other organizations. While there are many inherent rewards to being a part of Alternate ROOTS, the more you put into the organization, the more you get out of it.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Adopted by Alternate ROOTS’ Executive Committee, October 2009
Speaking of being artist-led and artist-centered, we acknowledge that ROOTS is an unconventional organization in its nature and structure. Most of our members are the voting members of our board; they have the most direct access to our resources. As a result, Alternate ROOTS has adopted the following conflict-of-interest policy.
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The members of the board of directors and any employees of Alternate ROOTS shall avoid conflicts of interest and any conduct that may suggest the appearance of impropriety in the disbursement of funds.
If a potential conflict of interest arises, the board member or management employee must disclose the potential conflict to the board of directors. Further, the board member or management employee shall not vote on nor participate in the solicitation, negotiation, formation, award, arbitration, modification, or settlement of any contract or grant involving any funds arising under such contract or grant when the board member or management employee stands to benefit, either directly or indirectly, from such contract or grant.
A board member or management employee is not deemed to benefit directly or indirectly from a contract or grant if he or she receives only the salary or stipend due to him or her in the normal course of employment with or service to Alternate ROOTS.
All board members and employees shall be informed of this policy.