Application Process
Below is a step by step guide to FACTOR’s application process.
In order to apply to FACTOR, you first need rated Artist and/or Applicant profiles. If you have not created these profiles yet, go back to the How to Apply page.
Our Applicant Resources page is also worth visiting for helpful materials to guide you through this process. You are always welcome to contact your Project Coordinator with any questions you may have along the way.
Our Step-by-step Guide to Applications
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Sign In
Click the sign-in link at the top right corner of the home page. This will take you to your dashboard. Across the top of this page you will see a menu that includes tabs for projects, artists, and applicants.
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Create a new project
Click on the projects tab. This will take you to your project dashboard, which contains a table that displays all the projects that you have created.
Click on the create new project button at the bottom. This will take you to new window where you will be prompted to complete the following:
1. For all projects, you will need to select an Applicant profile from the drop-down field provided. If you are applying for funding for an artist, you will also need to select an Artist profile. If these drop-down menus are empty:
• You have not yet created or submitted profiles for the applicant or artist. Ensure that you requested review on the profiles, and that the profiles have been successfully rated.
• You have not been given permission to create and submit applications on that applicant or artist’s behalf. Only the administrator of a profile, and individuals that have been granted read and write access to a profile, can create projects. If you think that this might be the case, see Security and Sharing.
2. Name the project with a descriptive title, like: “Band X West Coast Tour.”
3. You will see a table that shows the components available for your program. If a component is mandatory, it will be pre-selected. If it is not, choose the component you wish to start with.
4. Save your new project by clicking on the Save button at the top right of the window. If the information has saved properly, a green bar with a message will appear at the top of the window. You can now close this page; your project has been created and you can start to fill out the contents of your application.
5. If you’re not ready to start your application just yet, you can sign out of Portal and work on your application later.
The project will now be listed within your project dashboard, along with an assigned project number. Open your project by clicking on the project name. This will take you to the project’s home page. On this page, you will see the details of the project you just entered, including a table that lists all active component applications and completions.
The project home page also includes a field that may contain important notes from FACTOR.
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Choosing Project Components
Each of our programs contains one or more parts called components. This allows you to apply for funding toward different yet related activities under one single project. For example, our sound recording programs all contain six different components: sound recording, video, marketing, radio marketing, showcase, and tour support. In some projects, specifically for programs with set deadlines, certain components are mandatory and must be submitted and approved before others. It’s important to read through the program guidelines to make sure you are submitting the correct components. Each component is divided into two sections, the application and the completion.
On the project home page, you will see a table of components that are available for your project. Click the name of the component that you want to start with. This will open the component’s application.
To begin an application, you will need to select and click the application variant in the component table. This will open a new window and take you to the component’s application home page. Your project information will appear in a grey field at the top of the page. You will also see a menu bar that contains multiple tabs — some of which you will need to fill out in full for your application to be completed.
Adding additional components: From the project home page, you may add additional components by clicking the yellow add component button at the bottom right of the component table. Or, you can delete a component by selecting it in the component table, and then clicking the yellow delete component button at the bottom right of the component table.
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Filling out your Application
From the menu bar on the application component, you may see the following tabs: home, goals, component information, public funding, or budget. Depending your project’s requirements, you will be expected to fill out information or upload mandatory documentation in all or some of these tabs.
Not all of our programs require a budget on application.
Read the tips on each page of your application thoroughly. The Program Guidelines also contain helpful information on application
When you complete each tab, save your work by clicking the yellow save button at the top right of the page. If all the information has been entered correctly, you will see a green bar with a message saying, “Save was successful”.
You may see a red error message that tells you there is something to be fixed. Once you have fixed the error, click save again.
When you have filled out all required application tabs, go back to the home page of your application. At the bottom of this home page you will see several fields related to your budget and offer. FACTOR will populate the grey fields, but you will need to enter the amount of funding you are requesting in the field called total request.
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Validating your Application
Once each required tab in an application has been filled out and saved, it must be validated. Validation is an automated process that provides an initial check for any mandatory material that may be missing from your application.
Return to the project’s home page and select the application you’d like to validate. Click the yellow validate/submit button at the bottom left of the component table. This will open a pop-up window. Click the yellow validate components button. If any mandatory material is missing or incomplete, an error message will appear. Go back to your component’s application fix the error.
When you have finished, go back to the project home page and repeat the validation.
This is an important step, but it may not capture all missing parts of your application! If you submit an application that is missing mandatory material, it will be rejected as ineligible.
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Submitting your Application
If validation of your application is successful, click on the submit component button at the bottom right of the component window. This will open a small pop-up window that requires you to acknowledge that you have read and agreed to FACTOR’s Terms of Use.
By clicking yes, your application will be submitted and you will be returned to the submit application components window. This window will now have a green bar with a message stating that your project components have been successfully submitted. Close that window and return to the project home page. In the top left of the window you should see that date submitted field is now populated. If the date does not appear, you may have missed a step. Return to the validating your component step.
Once an application has been submitted, an email confirmation will be sent to you at the email address you provided in your user profile.
Your first submitted project component application will be reviewed by your project coordinator, the FACTOR board, and, depending on the program, a jury, to determine if your project will be awarded funding. This process can take from 6-12 weeks, depending on the program you have applied to, and that program’s application deadline.
Sign In
Click the sign-in link at the top right corner of the home page. This will take you to your dashboard. Across the top of this page you will see a menu that includes tabs for projects, artists, and applicants.
Create a new project
Click on the projects tab. This will take you to your project dashboard, which contains a table that displays all the projects that you have created.
Click on the create new project button at the bottom. This will take you to new window where you will be prompted to complete the following:
1. For all projects, you will need to select an Applicant profile from the drop-down field provided. If you are applying for funding for an artist, you will also need to select an Artist profile. If these drop-down menus are empty:
• You have not yet created or submitted profiles for the applicant or artist. Ensure that you requested review on the profiles, and that the profiles have been successfully rated.
• You have not been given permission to create and submit applications on that applicant or artist’s behalf. Only the administrator of a profile, and individuals that have been granted read and write access to a profile, can create projects. If you think that this might be the case, see Security and Sharing.
2. Name the project with a descriptive title, like: “Band X West Coast Tour.”
3. You will see a table that shows the components available for your program. If a component is mandatory, it will be pre-selected. If it is not, choose the component you wish to start with.
4. Save your new project by clicking on the Save button at the top right of the window. If the information has saved properly, a green bar with a message will appear at the top of the window. You can now close this page; your project has been created and you can start to fill out the contents of your application.
5. If you’re not ready to start your application just yet, you can sign out of Portal and work on your application later.
The project will now be listed within your project dashboard, along with an assigned project number. Open your project by clicking on the project name. This will take you to the project’s home page. On this page, you will see the details of the project you just entered, including a table that lists all active component applications and completions.
The project home page also includes a field that may contain important notes from FACTOR.
Choosing Project Components
Each of our programs contains one or more parts called components. This allows you to apply for funding toward different yet related activities under one single project. For example, our sound recording programs all contain six different components: sound recording, video, marketing, radio marketing, showcase, and tour support. In some projects, specifically for programs with set deadlines, certain components are mandatory and must be submitted and approved before others. It’s important to read through the program guidelines to make sure you are submitting the correct components. Each component is divided into two sections, the application and the completion.
On the project home page, you will see a table of components that are available for your project. Click the name of the component that you want to start with. This will open the component’s application.
To begin an application, you will need to select and click the application variant in the component table. This will open a new window and take you to the component’s application home page. Your project information will appear in a grey field at the top of the page. You will also see a menu bar that contains multiple tabs — some of which you will need to fill out in full for your application to be completed.
Adding additional components: From the project home page, you may add additional components by clicking the yellow add component button at the bottom right of the component table. Or, you can delete a component by selecting it in the component table, and then clicking the yellow delete component button at the bottom right of the component table.
Filling out your Application
From the menu bar on the application component, you may see the following tabs: home, goals, component information, public funding, or budget. Depending your project’s requirements, you will be expected to fill out information or upload mandatory documentation in all or some of these tabs.
Not all of our programs require a budget on application.
Read the tips on each page of your application thoroughly. The Program Guidelines also contain helpful information on application
When you complete each tab, save your work by clicking the yellow save button at the top right of the page. If all the information has been entered correctly, you will see a green bar with a message saying, “Save was successful”.
You may see a red error message that tells you there is something to be fixed. Once you have fixed the error, click save again.
When you have filled out all required application tabs, go back to the home page of your application. At the bottom of this home page you will see several fields related to your budget and offer. FACTOR will populate the grey fields, but you will need to enter the amount of funding you are requesting in the field called total request.
Validating your Application
Once each required tab in an application has been filled out and saved, it must be validated. Validation is an automated process that provides an initial check for any mandatory material that may be missing from your application.
Return to the project’s home page and select the application you’d like to validate. Click the yellow validate/submit button at the bottom left of the component table. This will open a pop-up window. Click the yellow validate components button. If any mandatory material is missing or incomplete, an error message will appear. Go back to your component’s application fix the error.
When you have finished, go back to the project home page and repeat the validation.
This is an important step, but it may not capture all missing parts of your application! If you submit an application that is missing mandatory material, it will be rejected as ineligible.
Submitting your Application
If validation of your application is successful, click on the submit component button at the bottom right of the component window. This will open a small pop-up window that requires you to acknowledge that you have read and agreed to FACTOR’s Terms of Use.
By clicking yes, your application will be submitted and you will be returned to the submit application components window. This window will now have a green bar with a message stating that your project components have been successfully submitted. Close that window and return to the project home page. In the top left of the window you should see that date submitted field is now populated. If the date does not appear, you may have missed a step. Return to the validating your component step.
Once an application has been submitted, an email confirmation will be sent to you at the email address you provided in your user profile.
Your first submitted project component application will be reviewed by your project coordinator, the FACTOR board, and, depending on the program, a jury, to determine if your project will be awarded funding. This process can take from 6-12 weeks, depending on the program you have applied to, and that program’s application deadline.