*UPDATE: As of January 2009, the Etsy Teams Grant Program has been put on hold.  We'll be resurrecting this program soon! We promise it will be worth the wait!*

Does your Etsy Team need a helping hand from Ulysses E. (Etsy) Grant, Etsy's Team Grant mascot?  He's here to help with a new program that subsidizes some Etsy Team promotions!  This new program is called Etsy Team Grants and will assist creative, dedicated and energetic Teams with Etsy promos and financial resources.   This monthly granted funding will help Teams represent themselves at craft fairs, art shows or other local events, help subsidize team advertising (see the Co-Op Advertising Program for a good model of this) or take part in other opportunities.  We also want to give Etsy Teams promos (stickers, postcards, etc) to help spread the Etsy message to their communities.  The applications are reviewed monthly and we have a set budget for the hundreds of Etsy Teams, so make your application shine!  Here are some tips:

1. Elect one person from your team to be the leader of this project, communicate well with your Team, and have them apply on the Team's behalf.
2. Make sure to include detailed descriptions of Team promotions and events your Team has successfully completed.
3. Tell us why and how your grant would help spread the Etsy message in the most effective way.
4. Be creative!  Let us know how your Team will be creatively using the Grant, or contributing more to it.
5. Make a promise to us that you will document the promotion with photos, blog entries or even video!

FAQ's
Here's some of the information you'll need to know about grants, which can also be found on the Teams page for Etsy Team Grants here.

q: When is the due date for an application?
a: We review applications on the 15th of every month. We will let you know if your application is accepted or not as soon as we can.  Applications submitted after the 16th of the month will be reviewed the following month.

q: How do you decide who gets a grant?
a: We can only give so much each month. We will make decisions based on the activity level of your team, the location and focus of your team (i.e. if we haven't already subsidized an event or Team close to you geographically, or a Team with a similar reach and market, your chances are better), the number of Team members that the grant will assist, and the overall benefits to Etsy.com.

q: What can we use the grant money for?
a: Grants can be used toward projects that promote your Etsy Team and Etsy, such as advertisements in publications, fees for table spaces at existing events, or other creative ways to promote Etsy and your Team.

q: Who should apply?
a: Any Etsy Team can apply for a grant. You should elect one point person from your Etsy Team to apply for the grant. It can be your team leader or another member who is in charge of the event or promotion. This person should have a good idea of the goals of the Team for the grant, and communicate well with the Team throughout the process.

q: How much money can we ask for?
a: Ask for what you need! If it doesn't work within our budget, but the application is really great, we'll work with you to fund at least part of the project.

q: How many times can a Team receive a grant?
a: The limit is twice a year per Team. If you are thinking of applying for another grant in the future, make sure you follow up your first grant with lots of information and great photos!

q: How do we receive the money?
a: In most cases Etsy.com will send the payment directly to the event or publication, and ship promotional goodies to an address you provide us.

q: Our Team has another promotional idea that isn't a craft show or an advertisement — can we still apply?
a: There's a section of the application that allows for you to explain your innovative Team promotion. We encourage innovative ideas that show promise of being effective and promoting Etsy and your Team in a creative way! 

If you have any more questions about this initiative, please ask them below or send an email to teams@etsy.com!  Don't forget to check out the Grants page, where you can find the application.