Good support information (MCA letter) and community involvement.  

Time line stated seems compact (soloists contracted in Sept, and rehearsals in October seems more plausible, depending on the rehearsal frequency)

Could we hear more about the educational script (for whom) By this, do you mean program notes?

Is the music copied with permission?

I'd like to see more youth involved. This seems like a good intergenerational opportunity for historical and patriotic info that may not get addressed in this way in the standard music curricula.  Will the invitation be extended to the home school network?

Thank you for the proposal. Because you are requesting grant funds for the Veterans Day Concert, it would have been nice to see a video recording from last year's concert to get an idea of the location, sound, etc. I enjoyed the other videos that you attached to your grant.

If you can assign a staff person to oversee Accessibilityt Compliance, you would score a little higher.

Excellence:

• The mission, though having laudable content, is somewhat nebulous.  What are "highest standards?" Why include both general public and targeted audiences?  Are not targeted audiences part of the general public?  The mission left me wondering the aim of the organization.
• The objectives are indeed measurable, but more details are needed. E.g., how many ROTC units do you seek? Which types of venues would you prefer? How many rehearsals are slated? What is the type of "response" you seek within the evaluation?
• Although the objective are measurable, there is VERY little detail about the proposal.  It appears that this type of event is in the early stages of planning and not fully fleshed out.  For instance, how are the listed partnerships of benefit to this proposal?  The ROTC units are obviously, but are they confirmed?  To which level does MCA support the MCC?  While this may be listed in other areas, it should show here how these partnerships will directly affect the proposed event.  

Impact:

• Again here, the proposal impact is light on details (290 characters when 3500 are available).  Are the ROTC and school choirs confirmed? How are you defining a "free-will" offering?  Will you be suggesting a donation in lieu of tickets? If so, what is that amount? Have you done this in the past?  It appears so, but how was the feedback and return rate?
• The marketing plan is very light on details.  What is the exact timeline for these types of advertising?  E.g., when will social media promotions begin?  What is the reach of your various social media outlets? How soon before the concert will posters and business cards go out to the community? How many newspapers, magazines, and public radio spots be sought?

Management:

• The evaluation plan needs the following (too hard to verify this plan without evidence):
  • How concert attendees are tabulated
  • Conductor evaluations from previous events should be in the supplemental materials
  • Questionnaires or other survey implements used to solicit audience reaction should be included in the supplemental materials.  
  • New patrons, singers, and sponsors are always good, but how many have come on-board over the past few seasons?  Conversely, how many have left?  The former number is only beneficial if the latter is shown to provide balance and advancement.
  • How is media coverage measured?  Number of occurrences?  Minutes of air time?  Will advertising be part of this number?  Is the coverage positive, negative, both...which is measured?
  • How has the Board used this data in the past to make informed decisions for future planning?
  • Budget:If the Veteran's Day concert is free/donation-requested, where are the other "admissions" revenue coming from?  One would assume other concerts, but it is unclear in the document.
  • Private support should be included in your next fiscal years plans as the perceived drop in operating income may be viewed negatively.  Additionally, if this support is NOT expected, it would be adventageous to see where in the budget this may be made up.

• • The total cost of this project appears to almost MATCH your entire operating budget.  This seems very odd as this would appear to be the only performance of the year.  Clarity here is essential.