News You Can Use

Nonprofits and the New Federal Overtime Rule
The Department of Labor has raised the threshold by which full-time employees must be paid overtime from $23,660 to $35,568/year. Under this measure, the number of workers eligible for overtime will rise by about 1.3 million. The change will go into effect on January 1, 2020. Click here for details.

Inspire! Grants for Small Museums
As a special initiative of the Museums for American program, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issues grants in size from $5,000 - $50,000 to help small museums implement projects that address priorities identified in their strategic plans. Inpsire! has three project categories: lifelong learning, community anchors and catalysts, and collections stewardship and public access. Deadline: November 15, 2019.

Museum Assessment Program (MAP)
The Museum Assessment Program is supported through a cooperative agreement between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the American Alliance of Museums. It is designed to help museums assess their strengths and weaknesses, and plan for the future. A MAP assessment requires members of the museum staff and governing authority to complete a self-study. After completion of the self-study, a site visit is conducted by one or more museum professionals, who tour the museum and meet with staff, governing officials, and volunteers. The reviewers work with the museum and MAP staff to produce a report evaluating the museum's operations, making recommendations, and suggesting resources. Deadline: December 1, 2019. 

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issues grants in size from $5,000 - $250,000 to build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums. Deadline: November 15, 2019. 

Professional Development Grants for Museum Staff
Through Museums Empowered, a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issues grants in size from $5,000 - $250,000 to support staff capacity building projects that use professional development to generate systemic change within a museum. Museums Empowered has four project categories: digital technology, diversity and inclusion, evaluation, and organizational management. Deadline: November 15, 2019. 

Museums for America
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issues grants in size from $5,000 - $250,000 to support projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public. Museums for America has three project categories: lifelong learning, community anchors and catalysts, and collections stewardship and public access. Deadline: November 15, 2019. 

National Leadership Grants for Museums
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issues grants in size from $5,000 - $1,000,000 to support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums can improve services for the American public. This program has five project categories: collections care and public access, data analysis and assessment, digital platforms and applications, diversity and inclusion, and professional development. Deadline: November 15, 2019. 

Save America’s Treasures Grants Announced
The National Park Service (NPS) today announced $12.6 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to assist funding 41 preservation and conservation projects in 23 states. The NPS, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), awarded these matching grants to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections through the Save America’s Treasures program. Congratulations to the following New England member organizations who received grants:

• John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, $500,000, Preservation, Conservation and Digitization of Kennedy Family Collection, Scrapbooks and Albums
• The Preservation Society of Newport County, $500,000, Marble House Roof Restoration

Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awards up to $300,000 to support organizations in the preparation of editions and translations of pre-existing texts of value to the humanities that are currently inaccessible or available only in inadequate editions or translations. Typically, the texts and documents are significant literary, philosophical, and historical materials, but other types of work, such as musical notation, may also be the subject of an edition. Projects must be undertaken by at least two scholars working collaboratively. Deadline: December 4, 2019. 

Audio Preservation and Scientific Research Projects
The GRAMMY Museum is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for their 2020 grant cycle. With funding generously provided by the Recording Academy®, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program awards grants each year to organizations and individuals for audio preservation projects, as well as scientific research efforts. The program’s aim is to advance the archiving of the recorded sound heritage of the Americas and to explore the impact of music on the human condition. LOI Deadline: October 15, 2019. 

Massachusetts Historic Preservation Grant Program
Preservation Massachusetts is excited to announce a new matching grant opportunity. The 1772 Foundation, in cooperation with Preservation Massachusetts, is making available 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 for preservation projects, such as exterior painting, finishes and surface restoration, repair to/restoration of porches, roofs, and windows, foundation and sill repairs, chimney and masonry repointing.  This program is open to non-profit organizations but funding will not be provided for schools or churches. LOI Deadline: December 31, 2019. 

New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
The New England Foundation for the Arts funds presentations of New England-based performing artists from outside of a presenter’s state. Deadline: December 2, 2019. 

New England Presenter Travel Fund
The New England Foundation for the Arts supports travel costs associated with researching artistic work that may eventually be presented in New England. Rolling deadline: due no later than on month prior to departure date.

National Dance Project Travel Fund
Through the New England Foundation for the Arts, the National Dance Project Travel Fund provides monetary assistance for U.S. based presenters, curatorial staff, and residency directors or for current NDP artist grantees to connect in person to explore feasibility of presenting NDP-funded works. Rolling deadline. 

Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations 
StEPs is AASLH's self-study standards program designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. Through a workbook, online resources, and an online community, organizations enrolled in StEPS assess their policies and practices and benchmark themselves against nationally recognized standards. NEMA members that enroll in StEPs receive a free AASLH webinar registration. For complete details, click here.  

2020 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers Enrollment
The American Alliance of Museums is partnering with Wilkening Consulting on the 2020 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers. Participating in the survey provides data that can be used to take immediate action and make decisions that contribute to the sustainability and vibrancy of your museum. The participation fee for 2020 is $1,000.00 for museums launching by February 29, 2020 (this fee increases to $3,000 for museums launching March 1, 2020 or later). To enroll your museum, click here. 

Resolutions Adopted by the 34th General Assembly of ICOM
On September 7, 2019 the 34th General Assembly of International Council of Museums held in Kyoto, Japan, adopted the following resolutions: 1.) On sustainability and the implementation of Agenda 2030, Transforming our World; 2.) Commitment to the Integration of Asia into the ICOM Community; 3.) Commitment to the Concept “Museums as Cultural Hubs”; 4.) Measures to safeguard and enhance collections in storage throughout the world; and 5.) Museums, Communities and Sustainability. For the full text of the resolutions, go here. 

ICOM’s Extraordinary General Conference Postpones Vote on New Museum Definition
After a profound and healthy debate among ICOM members, the Extraordinary General Assembly has decided to postpone the vote on the new museum definition. The decision gathered 70% votes in favor. Since ICOM’s creation in 1946, the ICOM definition played a central role for museums and museum professionals and became a reference in the international museum community. Read more information here.  

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
NEH’s Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) program helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and support institutional resilience: the ability to anticipate and respond to natural and man-made disasters. The next cycle’s application becomes available November 15, 2019 with a deadline of January 15, 2020.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Emergency Funds
Intervention funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation is awarded in emergency situations when immediate and unanticipated work is needed to save a historic structure, such as when a fire or other natural disaster strikes. Funding is restricted to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. Emergency grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, but unlike the majority of our grant funding, a cash match is not required for intervention projects. Contact the NTHP if you believe your project qualifies for this type of funding. Funding is very limited.

Archives Collaboration Grants
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) of the National Archives supports projects that promote access to America’s historical records to encourage understanding of our democracy, history, and culture. The Archives Collaboratives: Implementation Grants support projects to plan and develop a working collaborative designed to enehance the capacity of small and diverse organizations with historical records. Draft deadline: November 1, 2019. Final deadline: January 16, 2020.

TD Charitable Foundation   
TD Charitable Foundation grants will be awarded to area non-profit and public institutions to create meaningful change and improvement in the communities.

Community Partnership Projects
The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) offers grants of up to $1,000 toward the development and implementation of Community Partnership Projects (CPP), formerly known as Angels Projects, not associated with AIC’s Annual Meeting. Funds are to help defray organizational costs, necessary materials and supplies and other expenses such as marketing and publicity. CPPs pair conservators with collections that need care. A successful CPP includes local and regional publicity on the need for collections care and preservation.  Click here for more information. 

The Edwin S. Webster Foundation
The Edwin S. Webster Foundation will consider requests for capital programs, special projects or operating income. They support organizations with an emphasis on hospitals, medical research, education, youth agencies, cultural activities, and programs addressing the needs of minorities. Generally, the foundation confines its grants primarily to the New England area. Before submitting a request, please contact foundation assistant Phil Cappello at: pcappello@gmafoundations.com. The deadline is November 1.

Maine Humanities Council
Maine Humanities Council offers major grants ($1,001 - $7,500), which support a wide variety of public humanities projects, such as exhibits, lecture and film series, reading and discussion programs, symposia, cultural celebrations, etc. New application forms. Deadline: January 31, 2020.

New Hampshire Community Project Grants 
New Hampshire Humanities Council awards two types of Community Project Grants. Mini Grants offer up to $1,000 to support simple, single-event or short-series projects, and are available in as little as six weeks from submission deadline. The next Mini Grant application deadline is November 1, 2019. Major Grants of up to $10,000 enable organizations to design and carry out larger projects that attract diverse audiences, engage minds, and stimulate meaningful community dialogue. Draft proposal deadline: January 1, 2020.

Rhode Island Mini Grant Program
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities' Mini Grant Program for requests up to $2,000 invites individual researchers, nonprofit organizations, and schools to apply for funding in support of public humanities projects. Deadline: November 1, 2019.