Brockman Grants Program

The Brockman Grants Program

 

We are pleased to announce an exciting new initiative of The Pines Foundation, the Brockman Grants Program. For those of you who did not know Alan Brockman, he was a long-time resident and former FIPPOA president, a towering figure in the Pines who held that position for so many years that no one is quite certain exactly how long. His tenure spanned more than a decade, perhaps more than two.

Alan passed approximately 10 years ago and left a legacy gift to the Foundation. Because of that gift, together with proceeds from the Pines Party, we were able to fund projects that we previously could not afford. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to benefit the community. Today’s announcement of the Brockman Grant Program is the most recent example. There are so many talented people in our community who have ideas to improve our lived experiences of the Pines. While we may not be able to support all initiatives, we now have a process in place to identify and support a few.

We would like to thank the community volunteers who are spearheading the recently formed Brockman Grants Program Task Force on behalf of the foundation’s board of directors. Co-chairs Gary Clinton and Stephen Foster, together with task force members Ryan Espinosa, Darren Jones, William Mattle, and Charles Montorio-Archer, have been hard at work to structure the program for its first two years. Please take the time to read our announcement and consider participating in the effort to get us off to a fabulous start.

Empowering Creativity, Research, and Community in Fire Island Pines

The Brockman Grants Program

The Pines Foundation is the Section 501(c)(3) public charity affiliate of the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA).  The Foundation is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing the quality of life in the environmentally-sensitive community of Fire Island Pines, New York.

In addition to the Foundation’s ongoing grants program (which makes occasional grants, for example, to the Stonewall Foundation, Friends of Carrington, and the Pines Conservation Society), the Foundation has established the Brockman Grants program in order to provide financial support to individuals and organizations undertaking projects that interpret, enhance, reflect, positively impact, and display the history, cultural diversity, and lived experience of Fire Island Pines.

Artistic Production Grants help fund the production and exhibition of artistic creations. Meant to be exhibited in public spaces, these projects should feature high levels of thought, artistic production, and public engagement. Artistic Production Grants may include costs for transportation, supplies, production, exhibition, and publication. Fees for salaries, administrative costs, and other operating costs are not covered.

Research and Production Grants are awarded to individuals or organizations pursuing a research objective having to do with Fire Island Pines.  These projects should feature high levels of thought, and proven research and analytic skills. The intended outcome should be the appearance of the research in a recognized publication or published book. Research Production Grants will be made to help cover the costs associated with the project, which may include transportation, supplies, access to records, and costs associated with publication. Fees for salaries, administrative costs, and other operating costs are not covered. 

Community Enhancement Grants are awarded to individuals or organizations seeking through individual or collective action to provide demonstrable benefit to the Fire Island Pines community. Community Enhancement Grants will be made to help cover the costs associated with the project, and may include costs for transportation, supplies, and publicity. Fees for salaries, administrative costs, and other operating costs will not be covered.

Considerations when developing proposals Applicants are urged to consider several limitations on the use of Brockman Grant funds as they develop their proposals:

  • Brockman funds are not intended for seed funding of projects meant to be income producing for the applicant.

  • Projects that are duplicative of existing efforts in the Pines will not be given high priority.

  • Proposals must specifically tailor their work to include a focus on needs of the Pines.

  • Priority will be given to projects where the work being supported is scheduled for completion by the end of the summer 2026 season.

  • Priority will be given to proposals that are designed to impact larger rather than smaller numbers of people.

Questions for the Committee Applicants and those considering applying may have questions about the focus of the program, the process being used to identify winning proposals and/or how relevant their project is to the Brockman Program focus. Anyone with questions is encouraged to submit them to the Committee at Brockmangrants@fippoa.org. The Committee will respond to these questions by posting replies on the FIPPOA website and by holding an open Zoom call for those interested in early January (tba) learning more about the Program.

The Brockman Grants Committee is appointed annually by the President of FIPPOA.  It is co-chaired by a member of the FIPPOA Board of Directors and consists of a diverse group of community members with relevant expertise in evaluating and selecting grantees. The Committee’s mission is to review grant requests and make funding recommendations to the Pines Foundation Board.

 

2026 Brockman Grants Review and Award Schedule

  • By November 3, 2025 Release Guidelines/Application Form

  • Early January 2026 Zoom call to answer questions about the Grants Program

  • February 2, 2026 Applications Due

  • February 16 - 20, 2026 Committee Review

  • March 2026 Recommended Grants Submitted for FIPPOA Board approval

  • March 23, 2026 Awards Announced

 

The Application Process

The Brockman Grant’s funding is limited to an annual aggregate of $10,000. Individual grants are limited to a maximum of $5,000 per grantee per year.

Applications are due by February 2, 2026.  A completed application should be sent to the Co-Chairs of the Brockman Grants Committee at BrockmanGrants@fippoa.org. We anticipate informing grant applicants of the status of their application by March 23, 2026. If a grant is made, the recipient will be required to sign a Grant Agreement.

Grants will be made in the form of wire transfer or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer payable to the grantee, on a schedule to be determined in consultation with the grantee.

 BROCKMAN GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

The following information must be provided

Indicate NA if the question is Not Applicable

Applications are due by February 2, 2026

by emailing required information to Brockmangrants@fippoa.org

 

  1. Date: _______________

  2. Applicant’s Name ________________

  3. Applicant’s Mobile Number _____________

  4. Applicant’s Email______________

  5. Indicate if you are seeking an Artistic Production Grant, a Research and Production Grant, or a Community Enhancement Grant AND the title of the Project_______________________

  6. Amount of Brockman Grant Sought_____________

  7. Please provide a detailed description of the Project (no more than 500 words in total).

  8. If the applicant is an individual, please provide the applicant’s CV, related experience and, if available, a sample of prior work.

  9. Has the applicant lived, visited, or worked in Fire Island Pines? Please be specific.

  10. If the applicant is an organization, please provide its mission statement, proof of 501(c)(3) status, the organization’s EIN, its most recent financial statements, and its most recent Form 990 if required to be filed.

  11. Provide a line-by-line Budget for the Project, including expenses and funding sources other than a Brockman Grant.

  12. Please state if the applicant is seeking or has received other financial support for the project, include the amount, and the source, and the source’s contact information.

  13. Please provide a line-by-line itemization of what the requested Brockman Grant will cover.

  14. Will the proposed project require performance or display space in Fire Island Pines? If so, of what nature? Keep in mind that display and performance space in the Pines can be challenging to arrange.

  15. Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

 

NOTE: The Brockman Grants Committee may request clarification of information provided, or additional information, in its review process.