Grant awards range from $500 to $50,000 and are awarded in two cycles:

Project Grants
Project grants range from $5,000 to $50,000. The application process for Project Grants consists of two parts. Applicants will first need to submit a Summary of Proposal. Proposals will be reviewed and successful applicants will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

A 15-percent cash match of outside support is required for awards of $5,000 or more (in-kind and cost-share support do not qualify for the match).  Fundraising for the project may begin up to four months prior to the Summary of Proposal deadline. Organizations receiving Heritage Support Grants of $5,000 or greater are also required to have 100% board support. Board support can be financial contributions, volunteer time or a combination of the two.

Grant Cycle A – Project timeline: July 2020 through June 2021

• March 3, 2020 – Summary of Proposal due
• April 30, 2020 – Full Proposal due (must have submitted the mandatory Summary of Proposal)
• June 2020 – Grants awarded
• Jan. 31, 2021- Midpoint Reports due
• Aug. 31, 2021– Final Reports due

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Mini Grants
Mini grants range from $500 to $4,999. No outside matching support is required.

Grant Cycle A – Project timeline: July 2020 through June 2021

• June 2, 2020 – Proposal due
• July 2020 – Grants awarded
• July 30, 2021 – Final Report due

Grant Cycle B – Project timeline: October 2020 through September 2021

• Sept. 1, 2020 – Proposal due
• October 2020 – Grants Awarded
• Oct. 29, 2021 – Final Report due

The objective of the Heritage Support Grants program is to advance the care of and access to history in Indiana, while increasing the capacity of organizations that carry out this work.

In order to apply for a project or mini grant, organizations must meet all the following criteria:

• Be incorporated in the State of Indiana as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation*
• Reflect history as a significant component of its mission and/or propose a project that is clearly history focused.**
  Priority will be given to Indiana history projects.
• Have an annual budget of less than $300,000

*An organization that operates under a larger parent organization is eligible only through a “friends group.” Friends Group applications will be required to supply a letter from their parent organization confirming the following:

• The parent organization supports the project and application for grant funding.
• A representative of the friends group is on the grant project team.
• HSG funds will be held and disbursed by the friends group.

**A history-focused project should interpret, present or otherwise disseminate a historical narrative or information. Structures and landscapes will only be considered if they are primarily used to facilitate historical interpretation or house significant historical collections.

• Collections stewardship – Projects address the storage, management, and care for collections and associated documentation that is entrusted to the organization’s care. This includes historic objects, structures and landscapes as part of collections care. (NOTE: Structures and landscapes will only be considered if they are primarily used to facilitate historical interpretation or house significant historical collections.)
• Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion – Projects focus on efforts to ensure that diverse individuals fully participate in all aspects of organizational work, broaden organizations beyond public accommodations, and working to achieve genuine inclusion.
• Sustainability – Projects meet the needs of the present without compromising its ability to meet future needs. Successful completion of a sustainable project sets the organization up for greater capacity to take important next steps.
• Planning -Projects identify organizational objectives and assess organizational capacity.

Heritage Support Grants will not fund general operating support, including:

• Rent or mortgage
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Salaries, wages and/or benefits for permanent staff
• Items for resale
• Building purchase
• Retiring organizational debt

Applications must be made using the HSG online grant portal. Hard copy (paper) applications will not be accepted.

For more information about the grant review process and evaluation criteria, see Review Process.

Registered organizations will be assigned a coach from the Local History Services staff who can provide guidance and consultation throughout the grant application process. Coaches are available to answer questions about the online grant application process and serve as sounding boards to discuss grant project priorities, processes and timelines. Coaches can also provide additional fundraising resources and review grant applications before submission.

Please note that while Local History Services coaches are available to assist organizations throughout the grant application process, they are not part of the grant selection process. All grant applications will be evaluated by an external committee. The use of a Local History Services coach does not guarantee funding.

After grant awards are made, coaches are available to discuss project implementation and provide feedback on final grant reports.

Local History Services offers a series of free fundraising workshops.  Attendance at workshops is not a prerequisite to apply, nor is being an IHS Local History Partner member.

For more information and upcoming workshop dates, see Training.

Applicants are encouraged to consider the American Association for State and Local History’s Standards and Excellence Program for Historical Organizations (StEPs) when preparing grant applications. Potential grant projects might address:

• Mission, vision and governance;
• Audience;
• Interpretation;
• Stewardship of collections;
• Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes; and/or
• Management

Inquiries regarding the online grant portal, grant requirements, and fundraising training:
Bryce Gorman
(317) 234-9514
bgorman@indianahistory.org

Other inquiries:
Tamara Hemmerlein
(317) 234-0170
themmerlein@indianahistory.org