Grants available through SHSND
The Cultural Heritage Grant Program, administered by the State Historical Society, provides grant funding for local museums, historical societies, and others. In 2011 the North Dakota Legislature authorized $504,500 to the State Historical Society of North Dakota for this program.
The regular 2012 grant round will have $160,000 of grant money available. The grants provide funding for exhibits, a special project or event, education activities, collections and capital improvements. Grant applications for any eligible project will be considered, but funding priority will be given to organizations and property that have been affected by a recent natural disaster or for disaster planning and preparedness projects. Priority will also be given to organizations that did not receive a Cultural Heritage grant in the 2011 grant round.
The SHSND has also established a special funding grant round to assist with recovery efforts of historic properties affected by the flooding throughout the state. An additional $30,000 is available for these grants, and preference will be given to applicants that did not receive funding in the first round in 2011. This special funding is available to individual owners of historic properties.
Under the guidelines, there is a dollar-for-dollar match requirement. That match may be either in cash or in-kind services. Interested eligible parties should thoroughly read the Historic Fund Application Guidelines posted at the SHSND website. Completed applications for the grants must be received (not postmarked) by the SHSND by 5 p.m. on March 30.
Funds are also still available through the Cultural Heritage Fund program for Heritage Training Scholarships and Archival Supply Purchase Grants. Applications can be made and grants or scholarships will be awarded until the funds are exhausted.
Heritage Training Scholarships are available for local and county historical society staff members to participate in training opportunities. Each individual can apply for any number of scholarships throughout the biennium, with the total amount awarded cannot exceed $2,000 per individual. Archival Supply Purchase Grants are available for local and county historical societies, museums, and archives to purchase archival supplies such as storage boxes, photo sleeves, and environmental monitors. Qualifying organizations can apply for any number of Archival Supply Purchase grants throughout the biennium, with the total amount awarded not to exceed $1,500 per organization.
Applications for any of the Cultural Heritage Grant programs are available on the SHSND’s website at www.history.nd.gov or can be requested by contacting Grants and Contracts Officer Amy Munson at 701.328.3573.