The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is accepting applications for the 2024 County History Partnership Program Grant (CHPP)
Donor Name: Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission
State: New Jersey
County: Somerset County (NJ)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/15/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $50,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The County History Partnership Program (CHPP) enables the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) to support both existing and emerging local history organizations serving the public. Funds granted are used to support local history organizations and other non-profit organizations and municipalities within Somerset County that provide history programming, services and development. Grant awards are competitive and seek to encourage excellence in history programming at the local level.
The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC) is the agency officially designated in Somerset County to apply for, receive and administer this annual local History Partnership Program Grant. The SCC&HC accepts grant proposals which conform to the guidelines stated herein. An independent peer panel evaluates all submitted applications, and provides recommendations for funding, which are submitted to the SCC&HC for approval. Upon the Commission’s approval, grants are authorized through resolution with the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners.
Organizations must be Somerset County based and provide programs or services that increase access to New Jersey history and/or expand upon the knowledge of New Jersey history or seek to improve management of a local history organization.
Types of Grants
- General Operating Support (GOS)
- GOS is limited to non-profit organizations whose missions are exclusively devoted to the public presentation of history. GOS funds provide support for the overall operations of these organizations for the calendar year; although there are specific uses for GOS funds that are considered ineligible (See below for Eligible and Ineligible Expenses). GOS funds may be used for most activities that support the organization’s history mission.
- Special Project Grant (SP)
- Open to any organization that meets the eligibility requirements (See below for Eligible and Ineligible Expenses). A special project is a specific, well-planned project that brings quality history programing to the community and has defined start and completion dates. The project may contain multiple events or activities, but these must be clearly related by discipline or theme. Special projects MUST be focused on New Jersey history and benefit the general public in Somerset County. Priority will be given to projects focused on or related to the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Focusing on this initiative is not required but encouraged. Examples of Special Projects (include but are not limited to):
- Original Research for and preparation of nominations to the National Historic Register or the New Jersey Register of Historic Places or research in connection with historic preservation projects.
- Oral History projects such as documenting the experience of veterans, new immigrants and voices of people previously not heard (e.g., women, diverse communities, etc.) and the costs of transcriptions.
- Publications including research to prepare, write, edit and print.
- Public Programming such as lectures or exhibitions on local or New Jersey history.
- Digital Media, digitization projects of historic material not available at other depositories.
- Open to any organization that meets the eligibility requirements (See below for Eligible and Ineligible Expenses). A special project is a specific, well-planned project that brings quality history programing to the community and has defined start and completion dates. The project may contain multiple events or activities, but these must be clearly related by discipline or theme. Special projects MUST be focused on New Jersey history and benefit the general public in Somerset County. Priority will be given to projects focused on or related to the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Focusing on this initiative is not required but encouraged. Examples of Special Projects (include but are not limited to):
Funding Information
- General Operating Support (GOS)
- There is no match required for funds that will be re-granted for 2024. GOS applicant organizations can request up to 50% of their total budgeted income/revenue projected for year 2024. For example, an applicant with a $100,000 annual operating budget can request up to $50,000 in GOS funds. Please keep in mind that requests are not guaranteed to be fully funded, and that showing additional funding support for an organization strengthens the grant application.
- Special Project Grant (SP)
- There is no match required for funds that will be re-granted for 2024. Applicants requesting Special Project grants can request 100% of the total projected eligible expenses of the special project. Showing additional funding sources for a project strengthens the grant application. Please keep in mind that requests are not guaranteed to be fully funded.
Grant Period: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
Eligible Expenses
- General Operating Support (GOS)
- Salaries and wages
- Contracted services / outside fees and services
- Printing, publicity, marketing
- Postage and telephone
- Fundraising and development
- Staff training / capacity building
- Lease expenses
- Mortgage interest
- Equipment purchase, installation, and lease (e.g., computers, office furnishings, files)
- Utilities and HVAC (operational costs of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
- Maintenance of collections and the interiors of structures (Note: Interior construction is not considered maintenance and is not an eligible expense)
- Basic grounds maintenance
- Project Specific Travel and transportation (automobile travel @$.31/mile, train, or air coach travel)
- Insurance
- Licensing and registration fees (e.g., New Jersey charities registration)
- Planning for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Long-term and strategic planning.
- Special Project Grant (SP)
- Archival folders, boxes, and other material for conservation of historical materials such as manuscripts, books, costumes, and photographs
- Archival or research library user fees
- Equipment purchases with the following restrictions: only institutions and organizations may use grant funds to purchase major items, such as computers or video cameras. All grant recipients, however, may use grant funds to purchase items such as inexpensive recording devices and computer software.
- Equipment rental
- Materials for fabricating and installing exhibitions
- Microfilming
- Oral history tape transcription
- Payment of exhibition loan fees and shipping costs
- Photography and photocopying
- Production of promotional or advertising materials
- Projects looking to design new or update existing signage or interpretative materials. (Projects that do not intend to update outdated information will not be funded.)
- Travel and maintenance for speakers and honoraria for speakers in the following amounts:
- Keynote speakers, up to $1,000; one keynote speaker per program
- Main speaker, up to $500
- Chairperson or moderator, up to $250
- Panelist, up to $175
- Additional funds for higher honoraria may be requested if you can demonstrate the speaker’s particular merits
- Supplies to be used in the project (such as storage materials, office supplies, display materials, and materials for educational projects)
- Travel and/or maintenance while conducting research
- Travel expenses with the following limits:
- Automobile travel: $.47 per mile
- Train or airplane fares (coach only; not first class)
- Food and accommodations: up to $150 per day
- Publication costs, such as typesetting, printing, copyright permission fees, and binding. Note: publications must be approved by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission prior to final printing and one final copy must be submitted as proof of completion.
- Wages or stipends for project personnel, such as conservators, curators, educational consultants, and researchers
- “Artful History” projects in which at least 25% of the cost to be covered by the applicant is for consultation with qualified historian(s) outside of one’s own organization, of the subject matter, or if they are the outcome or byproduct of a previously awarded CHPP grant that has been acknowledged to be genuinely history based. If a proposed application cannot meet these requirements, the application may be better submitted through the Local Arts Program grant. The following may be considered “Artful History:”
- Artistic history-based happening
- Historically based murals
- History focused musical arrangements or performances
- Historic re-enactments or performances on historical subjects inside or outside a theater
- Other forms may be proposed and considered upon approval.
Eligibility Criteria
Organization must be Somerset County-based, operating as a:
- Non-profit organization – 501(c)3 or 501(c)4
- Unit of local government
- Institution of higher education or
- Faith-based organization.
- Organization must provide a program or service that increases public access to New Jersey history and/or expand upon the knowledge of New Jersey history or seek to improve management of a local history organization.
- Organization must have provided public history programs and/or services in Somerset County for the benefit of the general public for at least two years prior to application.
- Organization must provide proof of stability and fiscal responsibility.
For more information, visit SCCHC.
