Northeastern Woodworkers Association

The Fiske Fund

Background

The Fiske Fund of the NWA may defray part of your expenses for a woodworking course you may wish to take at an approved woodworking school. With one major exception, most schools are eligible. The major exception is that a course you take at any NWA sponsored event is not eligible. (NWA sponsored events are typically subsidized already by NWA.)

The stated purpose of the Fiske Fund is:

“To provide individual grants for the pursuit of woodworking programs which enhance and advance the understanding and application of woodworking techniques and principles for amateur and professional applications.”

The Fiske Fund is named in honor of Milan Fiske, one of the eight founding members of NWA. (Indeed, Milan and Herm Finkbeiner used to discuss the possibility of forming a woodworkers club for two years before NWA was founded.) Milan Fiske left his woodworking tools and lumber collection to NWA to establish an education fund. This was a great start. Over the years the Fund has grown thanks to various people who have made donations. Donations can take various forms, such as cash, a piece made by a member, a tool or wood. Typically a non-cash donation is sold at auction or raffle and the proceeds go to the Fund. The Fiske Fund qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization, so any donation is tax deductible.

Special mention should be made of the annual Fiske Fund Wood and Tool auction. This is by far the most significant source of income for the Fund. For many years now NWA has held this auction in mid-September at the Shaker Barn. The wood and tools auctioned are a combination of items donated by members and friends of NWA and items (typically wood) purchased by the Fiske Fund for the purpose of the auction and some consignment items. Donations by members and friends of NWA are always welcome. Donations by previous Fiske Fund award recipients are especially welcome.

How It Works

The Fund is administered by a committee of five members. The current Chairperson is Thomas Osborne. Besides its fund raising and financial management duties, the Committee administers the approval of grants. Here is a summary of how it works:

Before you take a class, download the application form here.
Send six copies of the completed form plus photos of your work to Thomas Osborne, 44 Pashley Rd., Glenville NY 12302. (If you are a beginning woodworker, there is no need to send photos.)
At the end of each March, June, September and December the Chairperson distributes all applications received during the previous quarter to each Committee member for review.
If an award is granted, you will be notified of the amount.
After you submit your tuition receipt, you will receive ½ of the award.
After you submit a certificate from the school that you have completed the course, you will receive the other ½.
After you have completed the course you will be expected to share the knowledge you gained with NWA members.
You are also encouraged to donate a piece of your work to the Fund that the Committee might use for its fund raising efforts.

FAQ

How much of an award can I expect?
Each application is unique and the amount of the award depends on the application. As a rule of thumb, if your projected budget for tuition, material fees plus room and board is $X, then the award traditionally has been ½ that amount. (Note that transportation, tools and equipment expenses are not considered when arriving at the award amount, but should still be included.)

Are there limits on the award amount?
Yes. The Fund is reasonably healthy, but it is not intended to cover everything. As a general rule, if you take an extended course and incur several thousand dollars worth of expenses, your maximum award amount will be $1,000.

How many times may I apply for grants?
There is no limit on the number of applications you submit. However, there is a $2,000 limit on the amount of awards any member may receive during a five year period.

Why do I have to fill out a form and why does the process take so long?
From the viewpoint of each individual member who applies for an award these are legitimate questions. This is not just for administrative convenience. It helps the Committee to compare one application to another and to have an idea of how much money can prudently be awarded at any time. Finally, the Fund must keep detailed and accurate records of its grants to maintain its tax status.

Where can I find the classes available?
There is a wealth of information on classes available on the internet. Inquire within your club to find recommendations on quality programs available. Between the internet, word of mouth from club members, and the woodworking periodicals, you should have a good selection of programs to consider.