Invite Congress to Your Museum
The American Alliance of Museums “Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum Week” is August 6-10, 2018. A great step-by-step How To Guide can be found here.
Museum Day 2018
Sign up now for the 14th annual Museum Day on September 22! This Smithsonian initiative encourages access and inclusion by offering free admission to participating sites. The 2018 theme is "Women Making History: Trailblazers in the Arts, Sciences, Innovation and Culture."
FASB and Direct Care
For 25 years the Code of Ethics for Museums and accounting standards have been out of alignment regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of deaccessioned collections. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) recently issued the exposure document (PDF) that would bring the two into alignment: allowing for direct care as well as acquisition. FASB is seeking comments on this proposed change. Comments may be submitted online or by mail (PDF, see page 2) and must be received by August 10.
Call for Public Comment
The AASLH Women’s History Affinity Group is developing a 2020 Suffrage Value Statement, with best practices and principles for the upcoming Centennial Commemoration of the 19th Amendment. The group is surveying the field for comments to help develop the statement. Deadline to submit comments: August 15, 2018. You can participate at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8ZW7LM9
Massachusetts Budget
On July 18, Massachusetts lawmakers passed the FY2019 state budget, which includes a $16 million investment in the state’s arts, cultural, and creative community. This is a $2M increase in funding over last year's $14 million Mass Cultural Council budget and the first approved increase from the full Legislature in 3 years.
Connecticut Pay Equity Law
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed Public Act No. 18-8, "An Act Concerning Pay Equity," into law on May 22, 2018, making Connecticut the sixth state to prohibit employers from asking applicants about salary history. California, Delaware, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont had previously adopted similar bans. The new Connecticut law will permit applicants to file lawsuits for damages and other remedies. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, Connecticut will afford job applicants these new protections:
- Prospective employees may not be asked about past wages and compensation histories at any point during the hiring process, although they may choose to volunteer such information.
- Prospective employees may be asked generally whether their previous employer had stock options or other equity incentives, but may not be asked to specify the value of such benefits.
Discrimination Based on Gender Identity
On June 8, 2018, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed legislation (H.B. 1319) adding gender identity as a protected class under the state’s Law Against Discrimination and thereby prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing on the basis of gender identity. The law defines gender identity as a person’s gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth. The law is effective July 8, 2018. Click here for details.
House Committee Advances Office of Museum Services Funding
On Wednesday, July 11, the full House Appropriations Committee advanced its FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, which maintains current funding at $34.7 million for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The full Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of this bill on June 28. We previously reported the good news that the Senate bill includes a $2 million increase for IMLS. Each bill now awaits a floor vote in its respective chamber. If you have yet to weigh in with your legislators, please let them know how much their support of this funding matters to constituents like you. Use AAM's quick and easy template to contact your legislators in support of OMS funding at IMLS.
New analysis of nonprofit compensation in New England
In this new report, Wage Equity Matters, researchers found that white employees are still over-represented at the top, and wages for the lowest paid in our sector are inadequate. But while data helps us remain vigilant in identifying inequities, it should also spark a commitment to taking action to address the issues. Read the full report here.
Our State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey is a widely cited barometer of US nonprofits' programmatic, operational, and financial health.
https://nff.org/learn/survey
Recently Released: "Nonprofits: America's third largest workforce"
The Nonprofit Economic Data Project from The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies examines U.S. nonprofit employment, finances, and volunteering. This project has developed a way to tap an enormously rich body of official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, providing important new insights into nonprofit employment trends. Download the report here.
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.
Public Humanities Projects Grants
The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Public Humanities Projects grants support projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life for general audiences. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history, or to address challenging issues in contemporary life. NEH encourages projects that involve members of the public in collaboration with humanities scholars or that invite contributions from the community in the development and delivery of humanities programming. This grant program supports a variety of forms of audience engagement. Application deadline is August 29, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Standing Together: The Humanities and the Experience of War
The National Endowment for the Humanities offers the Dialogues on the Experience of War program as part of its current initiative, Standing Together: The Humanities and the Experience of War. The program supports the study and discussion of important humanities sources about war, in the belief that these sources can help U.S. military veterans and others think more deeply about the issues raised by war and military service. Although the program is primarily designed to reach military veterans, men and women in active service, military families, and interested members of the public may also participate. Application deadline is October 24, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Documenting Endangered Languages
The Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL) program is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and advance knowledge concerning endangered human languages. Made urgent by the imminent death of an estimated half of the 6000-7000 currently used languages, this effort aims also to exploit advances in information technology. Awards support fieldwork and other activities relevant to recording, documenting, and archiving endangered languages, including the preparation of lexicons, grammars, text samples, and databases. DEL funding is available in the form of one- to three-year project grants as well as fellowships for six to twelve months. At least half the available funding will be awarded to projects involving fieldwork. Application deadline is September 18, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants
The mission of this Challenge Grants program is to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities by enabling infrastructure development and capacity building. Awards aim to help institutions secure long-term support for their core activities and expand efforts to preserve and create access to outstanding humanities materials. Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other public and nonprofit humanities entities. Programs that involve collaboration among multiple institutions are eligible as well, but one institution must serve as the lead agent and formal applicant of record. Application deadline is August 9, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Public Humanities Projects
NEH Public Humanities Projects grants support projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life for general audiences. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. NEH encourages projects that involve members of the public in collaboration with humanities scholars or that invite contributions from the community in the development and delivery of humanities programming. Application deadline is August 29, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Our Town Grants
The National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places – achieving these community goals through strategies that incorporate arts, culture, and/or design. This funding supports local efforts to enhance quality of life and opportunity for existing residents, increase creative activity, and create or preserve a distinct sense of place. Our Town offers support for projects in two areas: Place-Based Projects and Knowledge Building Projects. Application deadline is August 9, 2018. Click here for complete details.
National Trust Preservation Funds
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Next deadline is October 1, 2018.
Humanities Open Book Program
The Humanities Open Book Program is designed to make outstanding out-of-print humanities books available to a wide audience. By taking advantage of low-cost “ebook” technology, the program will allow teachers, students, scholars, and the public to read humanities books that have long been out of print. Humanities Open Book is jointly sponsored by NEH and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Application deadline is September 26, 2018. Click here for complete details.
Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) 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. Next deadline is on December 12, 2018.
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.
Archive 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. Numerous grant opportunities are available to support preservation, access, digitization, and engagement with historical records. Application deadlines fall during the first full week of October. Complete details online here.
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.
Angel Projects
The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) offers grants of up to $1,000 toward the development and implementation of 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. Angels Projects pair conservators with collections that need care. A successful Angels Project includes local and regional publicity on the need for collections care and preservation. The next deadline for the receipt of applications is September 15, 2018. Click here for more information.
Terra Foundation
Recognizing the importance of experiencing original works of art firsthand, the Terra Foundation supports exhibitions that increase the understanding and appreciation of historical American art (circa 1500–1980). Letter of Inquiry due August 1, 2018. Deadline for Proposal is on October 15, 2018.
Historic New England's Community Preservation Grants
Each year, Historic New England provides Community Preservation Grants of $1,000 apiece to one small to mid-sized heritage organization in each of the six New England states. These grants support projects that raise the visibility of historic preservation and present diverse stories of life in our region. Grant Application Deadline: August 17, 2018. Click here for details.
New England States Touring Grants
The New England Foundation for the Arts NEST (New England States Touring) funds presentations of New England-based performing artists from outside of a presenter’s state. Applications must be submitted a minimum of three months in advance of the proposed project. Next deadline is August 1, 2018.
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 administrator Michelle Jenney at: mjenney@gmafoundations.com. The deadline is November 1.
Maine Humanities Council
Maine Humanities Council offers mini grants (up to $1,000; next deadline August 17, 2018), which support a wide variety of public humanities projects, such as exhibits, lecture and film series, reading and discussion programs, symposia, cultural celebrations, etc. More information click here.
Arts & Humanities Grants: up to $1,000
Arts & Humanities grants, a partnership between the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Arts Commission, support innovative community projects that have BOTH arts and humanities components. Submission deadline is October 19, 2018. More information click here.
New Hampshire Community Project Grants
New Hampshire Humanities Council is awarding two types of Community Project Grants in 2018. Quick 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 Quick Grant application deadline is September 1, 2018. Quarterly 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. The next mandatory letter of interest for a Quarterly Grant is October 1.
Community Grants Program
The NH Charitable Foundation's Community Grants Program is a broad, competitive program that responds to community needs within New Hampshire and our broader communities. It is designed to strategically advance an organization by providing operating support, funding for innovation to increase impact, reduce costs, and/or increase efficiency, and support for capacity-building activities or moment-in-time projects. Grants of more than $5,000 and up to $20,000 (in regions) or $25,000 (statewide organizations). Deadline: August 2, 2018.
Arts Access Grants and Investments in Arts and Culture
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts’ Arts Access Grants (AAG) program provides small grants to new ventures, occasional arts programs, or arts and cultural organizations that do not meet the eligibility requirements of Investments in Arts and Culture. All Arts Access Grants require a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Deadline is October 1, 2018. Click here for details.
Organizational Development Grants
As part of the Rhode Island Foundation's commitment to serving the needs of the nonprofit sector, organizational development grants of up to $10,000 is offered through the Organizational Development Grants. Grants can be used for a variety of activities that strengthen and improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness, including strategic planning, business planning, fund development planning, marketing planning, feasibility studies, reorganization and streamlining, mergers, financial management planning or systems, and transition or succession planning. The fall application deadline is October 12, 2018. If you are uncertain about your organization’s eligibility for these grants, please email or call Jill Pfitzenmayer, (401) 427-4006.
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. The upcoming Mini Grant Deadlines are August 1 or November 1, 2018.
Vermont Grants
The Vermont Humanities Council’s Grant Program supports other non-profit organizations that are conducting various projects related to the humanities. Council awards are re-grants of federal funds from the NEH, and as such grantees must comply with all applicable NEH and federal policies. The Council will reject any project that does not involve at least one humanities discipline. Applications are considered twice a year; the next deadline to submit a letter of intent is July 23 – August 24. The maximum award is $5,000, and grantees must provide, at minimum, a one-to-one cost share. Proposals for new, as well as already-established, programs will be considered.