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Grant
Proposal
For
Apsara
Studios

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary 3
Need 4
Description 8
Evaluation Plan 9
Sustainability Plan 10
Budget 11
Organization Information 13

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Executive Summary
Apsara Studios mission is to promotetechnical innovation, social and
environmental consciousness, and self-awarenessin children by encouraging the
natural and artistic abilities of the youth of Prince George’s County. The
organization has recognized and is prepared to address theneed/problem of the
following issues: low graduation rate fromhigh schoolin PrinceGeorge’s County,
the higher crime rate in the County, and money, spaceand equipment. In
addition, the organization is ready to address academic factors that are related to
the downfallof children 18 and under. The causes facing young children in Prince
George’s County are academic factors, interruptions in education, inadequate
access to quality education, outside-of-schoolsupports,lack of multiple path
careerways, high youth unemployment, and missing motivation.
What will take place are the promotion of technical innovation, consciousness of
social and environmental, and the self-awareness of children. Children that are
younger than 18 and are lower-incomewill benefit fromthe program. Also, the
organization will reside in South Prince George’s County, MD. The organization’s
goals are to establish innovate and artistic programs to the children 18 and
younger in South PrinceGeorge’s County, MD and to seek building spacethat is
100% sustainable, LEED certified.
In the evaluation plan, the organization will engage in surveys through moraleto
the students, character building, and evaluation through creativity of children. In
the sustainability plan, Aspara Studios will operate as long as possible; however,
future resources willbe needed to keep it going.
The specific grant amountthe organization requesting is $100,000in year 1 and
more in year 2 and beyond.

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Need
The need for Apsara Studios is money, space, and equipment (donations). The
organization has 6 individuals employed in different capacity. Children that are
18 years and younger that reside in Prince George’s County (South County) and
coming fromlow-incomefamilies are in need. The problems they have are low
graduation rate from high schoolwhich keeps them fromgetting higher education
and high-paying jobs. Also, a higher crime rate plays an importantrole in that
which they are not being able to get out of the cycle. The reason these issues
exist, for a lot has to do with race. The organization will serveall races (African-
American, Hispanic, etc). In addition, families have not been able to afford school
or daycare. As a result, children lack the education and knowledgeto start
businesses.
What will occur if the needs are met is to havechildren that will feel like they’re
not out of control. Bringing innovation and artistic will make them excited about
education; in other words, they can go to college. What and how will it be
different is that there isn’tan organization in Prince George’s County that is doing
arts and innovation for the children. The organization wants to build space that is
100% sustainable, build a building that is a net-zero, state of art (LEED certified).
Itis a learning tool that the children will become initiative within themselves. The
evidence of the problem is the statistics of schooldropouts and joblessness in the
low-incomebracket. In the Community Foundation for the National Capital
Region Connecting Youth to Opportunity: Creating College and Career Ready
Young People in Prince George’s County report, there are approximately 7,000
young people between the ages of 16-24 with no high schooldiploma or job.
These disconnected youth are part of a community facing increased high school
dropoutrates and low high schoolgraduation rates. Once students leave high
school, they are unemployed or underemployed, not enrolled in postsecondary
institutions, or are enrolled but do not complete a postsecondary degree. As a
result, employers cannot find skilled workers to fill necessary positions (3). The
causes are as follows:

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Academic Factors
Students performpoorly on mandatory assessments in coresubjects like reading,
math, science, and social studies. In addition, a significant amount of students
deemed “proficient” or “above” on these assessments strugglewith basic skills
deficiencies in reading, writing, math, and digital literacy. In the 2009/2010
academic year, 1,718 Maryland high schoolgraduates enrolled at PGCC(Prince
George’s Community College). Based on low scores on the ACCUPLACER
placement test, 84.5% of thesestudents were required to enroll in developmental
education courses. The high need for remediation has an impact on persistence,
as many students never make it through the developmental pipeline for reasons
of time, cost, and morale. Therefore, academic “success” meaning graduation is
not consistently aligned with college and career readiness.
Interruptions InEducation
Students suffer academically due to interruptions in their education, including:
 Exclusionary discipline –In-schoolsuspension, out-of-schoolsuspension,
and expulsion are all punishments aimed at removing students fromthe
academic environment. Sometimes these discipline referrals escalate to
juvenile arrests, leading to whatsome call the “school-to-prison pipeline.”
The Maryland State Board of Education has recently adopted new
regulations designed to keep students in schooland continue on track
towards graduation while strengthening schoolsafety. Local school
systems arebeing required to adopt policies that reduce long-termout-of-
schoolsuspensions and expulsions, and usesuch actions only when a
student engages in extreme disruptivebehavior or poses a threat to
themselves and others.
 Student Mobility –Students entering and/or exiting a schoolor school
systemfor various reasons (i.e., family move, homelessness, health, etc.)
often lose valuable records and data about their academic performancein
the process. They mustfrequently repeat courses ata new school or
district, which prevents them from receiving the full benefits of their

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education. During the 2001-2012schoolyear, 2% of PrinceGeorge’s
County Public School students were homeless. This represents justover
2,500 students.
 Late Start – Families do not enroll their children in early childhood
programs until the mandatory age of enrollment, which is five years of age.
A late start in education means that students are more likely to spend the
rest of their academic careers performing below grade-level in reading and
math, and at a higher risk for developmental and behavioral difficulties.
 Young Parents – Teenage mothers and fathers find the dual task of raising a
child and completing their own education overwhelming. Many times
these young parents put their education on hold or drop out of school
altogether to care for their child and look for employment.
Inadequate Access toQuality Education
Students across PrinceGeorge’s County do not receive a consistentquality
education fromone schoolto the next. Inconsistentprogramofferings, varying
staff structures, and different facilities are all factors that can contribute to
uneven studentperformanceresults.
Outside-Of-School Supports
Even when students are successfulacademically, they often lack supports outside
of schoolto offset factors that affect other areas of their life, like poverty,
language barriers, abuseand neglect, or other difficult circumstances. Also
referred to as wrap around services, outside-of-schoolsupports areservices or
programs thatprovide continuity of educational services between the classroom
and home. There are programs thatexist; however, their reach to students in the
county is limited.
Lack of Multiple Career Pathways
There is a missing link between schooland career. Education exists in a “vacuum”
and students view the skills they learn in schoolas separate fromthe skills they
will need and usein their careers. Additionally, students are not awareof their

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professionalopportunities beyond schoolbecause businesses havehistorically
played a small to non-existent part of the educational process. Somepathways
exist for students to explore career options, like dual enrollment programs, career
academics, summer youth employment, and employment programs, butthese
opportunities are currently too limited for the needs of the students in Prince
George’s County.
HighYouth Unemployment
The highest unemployment rate in the County is at 27.1% among youth age 21
and under: a daunting statistic for young people who must enter a labor market
that has tightened over recent years and mustcompete with older, more skilled
workers even for entry-level jobs.
Missing Motivation
Many students in PrinceGeorge’s County arethe firstin their family to attend
college. Some are the first in their family to graduate fromhigh school. To
accomplish this in no small task; to achieve the next goal requires motivation,
planning and guidance. According to a 2001 study by the National Center for
Educational Statistic, only 54% of students whoseparents had completed high
schoolcontinued on to college. Of students whoseparents did not have a high
schooldiploma, only 36% of students continued on to college (4-5).
The problem linked to the organization is the fact that the owner, Angel Brown,
always haveinfinity for kids. She does a lot such as teaches dance, becomes a
scoutleader, and the like. Also, she listens to children; in other words, shelets
them talk and encourage them. For kids can be heard by listening and
understanding. Moreover, sheis sensitive to what’s going on out there. She
found a need that is unmet in the county and she has the passion to do something
about it.

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Description
In keeping arts and innovation in school, thosecritical things will eventually help
the individual be successfulin life. What is talented in each individual will be
determined by Apsara Studios. The evidence to supportthe claim: There’s an
organization in DC that published their statistics and it’s called Sitar Arts Center.
The following goals are to:
1. Establish innovation and artistic education programs to the children 18 and
younger that are concentrated in South Prince George’s County, MD.
2. Seek building spacethat is 100% sustainable, net-zero, stateof the art
(LEED Certified).
The main objectiveis to put PrinceGeorge’s County on the map for employment
opportunities. The center will increase employment and decreasecrime. Most
importantly, it helps the economy of Prince George’s County by establishing job
growth for the residents and futureopportunities. The core values are: advocacy
of children, advancement of community, and to be an avenue for arts. The
method is to have 21st
century learning skill classes in the following: Creative and
Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, and Initiativeand Accountability.
These classes will be done by the following methods.
 Implement 70% or better student proficiency in the 4 targeted skills.
 Students must take 3 or more classes a week.
 Hire summer interns from colleges in MD and DCthat eventually will
improvegrowth of 80% in skills (Punctuality, Communication, Follow
Through, Initiative, Independence, and Flexibility).
 Establish 100% parentinvolvement in school readiness (Easily Childhood
Arts Classes, Ways of Engaging with their Children through play, reading,
music and song movement, and spaceexploration) in the South Prince
George’s County.
 Hire 100 volunteer and partner teachers to sharetheir time and artistic
expertise to the children and youth (Private InstrumentLessonsand Group
Classes.

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 Establish the following programs in the following.
1. Arts Afterschool(Creative Writing, Dance, Digital Arts, Drama, Music,
and VisualArts).
2. Summer at Apsara Studios (Camp Apsara Studios, Summer Musical,
and Teen Arts Intensive).
3. Teens at Apsara Studios (S.E.A.L. Program, Teen Classes, and Teen
Internships and Community Service)
4. Early Childhood Arts
5. Gallery Series (Applying for a Solo Show)
6. PerformanceSeries.
The outcome will be a well-balanced, well-functional, and very successful
organization in South PrinceGeorge’s County that the children can be a part of to
grow, learn, and develop.
Evaluation Plan
The questions will Apsara Studios evaluation activities seek to answer is are the
statistics changing for the graduation of high school students, for the decrease in
crime and increasein either employment or continuing education. For example,
to engage in surveys through:
 Morale of students
 Character building of children
 Engage in evaluation through creativity of children
In the specific evaluation plans and time frames, there will be an annual report
that goes out to donors. Parents will get quarterly reporton their children’s
programs. Thekinds of data that will be collected are surveys to the children on
how the feel about their participation in the programs. Instructorswilldo a
survey on how the skills are increasing. In addition, there will be a guardian
survey on the child’s home and schoollife and those areas that are improving. All
of those will be bi-annually. The strategies and instruments are electronic survey
and city data (crime rates and graduation rates). The comparison is city data

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(need to engage with what’s currentvs. the time that statistics are taken. Change
with times and access are taken to compare with other similar programs.
The construction of the sampleis everyonewill take the survey, notthe sample.
The procedures will be used to determine whether the programwas
implemented as planned are the business plan and definite statistics that are
changing. If statistics is seen in the area that’s change, there will be tangible
evidence. Office staff will conduct the evaluation; whereas, donors and parents
(guardians) willreceive the results. Itis nice to havethe community that will get a
newsletter explaining our impact.
Sustainability Plan
Apsara Studios will continue to operate the organization as long as possible;
therefore, they will never close. Hopefully, the students will come back to teach
and to have someoneto take over as executive director. The resources thatare
needed will be personnel, insurance, instruments, computers, building, art
supplies, office supplies, softwarefor the computer (internet), and green building
materials. The sources of future financial resources thatwill useare community
impact grant with the Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority and
other grants such as Ford Foundation, Cafritz Foundation, etc. The internal plans
for obtaining future funding are fundraising, community events, ticket recitals,
showcases, business-to-business relationships, grantwriters, and local
governments.

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Budget
Expenses
Salaries (k)
Executive Director $60,000
(OfficeManager 45,000
Counselor 35,000
2 Staffed Instructors 50,000
Benefits (h)
Provided Health Benefits 5,000
Other Benefits 5,000
Tangibles/Intangibles
Rent 30,000 (i)
Utilities 6,000 (j)
Communications 6,000 (a)
Insurance 5,400 (b)
Equipment, Furniture, and Supplies 60,000 (c)
Snacks 6,000 (d)
Online and Print Marketing 6,000 (e)
Legal Services 18,000 (f)
Total $337,400
Revenues
Committed
Crowdfunding $25,000
Donor 25,000
Gifts 10,000
Grants 125,000
Total $185,000
CommittedIn-KindSupport
Legal Services $6,000
Total In-Kind 6,000

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Projected Revenue $376,000
Net Income $ 39,000
Narrative
a. Internet/Phone/Fax
b. Insurance(Life)
c. Equipment/Furniture/Supplies
d. Snacks for the Students (beverage, food, etc)
e. Online/Print Marketing (website, advertising, and after the first year, the
office manager takes responsibility for it)
f. Legal Services (Trademark Name, 501(c)(3), and to have someoneon
retainer (Pro Bono).
g. Salaries for the executive director, office manager, counselor, and 2 staff
instructors.
h. Health care benefits and other benefits
i. Rent Space
j. Water and Electric

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Organization Information and Conclusion
The mission of Aspara Studios is that it aims to promote technical innovation,
social and environmentalconsciousness, and self-awareness in children by
encouraging the youth of their natural, artistic abilities. For the Board of
Directors, two individuals are committed to and so is the owner. There is a
counselor, officemanager, and two instructors that teach class that relates to the
organization. The board is recruited by individuals that she knows and the level of
participation is individuals that are there daily. The minimum of the meetings is
monthly. In the activities that the staff engages, the office manager does intakes
by registering students, doing schedules, and accepts donation. The job is to get
donations and equipment, and to keep staffs that are running the studio on a
daily basis. The counselor is to be an advocacy for children by counseling the
children. For example, if the child can go to the counselor if they feel like they
can’t talk to anybody. Both instructors teach dance; however, it will evolve into
arts and other things.
The budget narrative has been decided, but it’s not very realistic. In Year 1,
$100,000 is needed and a million dollars will grow in Year 2 and above. The
assistancethat Aspara Studios will provideis to recruitpeople that are going to
run it on a daily basis. Itwill happen by getting the money and keeping it going.
In the individuals that will servein the organization, therewill be 25 students in
Year 1. In Year 5, there will be 100 students and 150 beyond Year 5. In addition,
there will be a certain amountof paid staff, but the restwill be unpaid volunteers
that teach arts, instruments, dance, photography, etc.
The special or unusualneed that the children will face is the lack of family
support. For instance, they are not talented (don’t feel like they’re good at
something). The reason the children will rely on Aspara Studios is that there isn’t
an outlet that arts deals with arts and get encouraged; in other words, no oneis
cheering them on saying, “whatare you good at”? The numbers of the children
who will be reached through programs in Year 1 are 25 people. The expertise of

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the staff is the owner has dance and acted and understands danceand theater.
Also, she has an instructor named Maya who is a professionalsinger and artist.
There are other individuals that play music;professionals thatare needed but
have to be committed. Finally, the green building will be used as a teaching tool.