HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM 2021

This year’s grant program is to support interpretive programs and projects that explore the history and heritage of indigenous people who have historically lived in the Upper Housatonic Valley region.

2021 Heritage Partnership Grant for Interpretation:
Interpretation, Education, Research, Exhibits, Events & Programs Related to Native Americans in the Upper Housatonic Valley Region.
Maximum: $5,000

The 2021 Heritage Partnership Grant for Interpretation is intended to provide residents and visitors with new / expanded opportunities for deeper understanding of indigenous peoples of the Upper Housatonic River Valley. The grants will support research projects, interpretive exhibits, events and programming that provide informed and thoughtful exploration of Native American history, culture, spirituality, named places, people and events.

HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM

Housatonic Heritage periodically offers grants to eligible non-profit organizations, educational institutions and municipalities for specific programs and projects. Typically these grants are up to $5,000 (though larger grants are considered) and require a 1:1 match of non-federal cash and / or in-kind service. Additional details are below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The mission of Housatonic Heritage is to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.

The operational goal of the Heritage Area is to provide a management framework that furthers the mission of the heritage area, and fosters a close working relationship with all levels of government, the private sector, and local non-governmental organizations within the region.

Another goal is to assist communities and non-profit organizations in the heritage area region of Massachusetts and Connecticut in identifying, interpreting, and developing the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the region for the educational and inspirational benefit of current and future generations.

GRANTS REFLECTING THE MISSION OF HOUSATONIC HERITAGE

To further the Heritage Area’s goals, a grant-making program will award matching funds to projects proposed by area non-profits, accredited educational institutions and governmental entities that support and further the heritage area’s mission to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.

THE UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY REGION

The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area includes nine towns in Connecticut and twenty in Massachusetts. The Connecticut towns are Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren. The Massachusetts towns are Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesboro, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlboro, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge.

ABOUT THE 2021 HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM

(Download the Program Summary here):

The 2021 Heritage Partnership Grant Program makes available a maximum $35,000 grant to any qualified organization or entity, though specific collaborative programs / project that involve multiple organizations may qualify for larger grants. In addition to helping fulfill the mission of Housatonic Heritage, heritage projects under the 2021 grant program must also improve the quality of life and economy of the area, and are subject to the following conditions:

DATES AND DEADLINES

Timeline for Heritage Partnership grants:

Friday, May 14, 2021 by Noon EST: All applications must be submitted by email.
April / May 2021: Grant awards announced on a rolling basis.
June 30, 2022: All grant work completed.
Final Reports due no later than 90 days after an event or completion of the project or no later
than September 30, 2022, whichever comes first.

Qualified applicants must be a non-profit organization, as evidenced by IRS non-profit determination letter, a public entity (municipality, state government), or accredited educational institution.

Before preparing and submitting a Partnership Grant application, the responsible Officer of the applicant organization should review the following to determine if the organization is able to comply with the grant requirements.

IN ADDITION

Project must fall within the geographic boundaries of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (See maps at www.housatonicheritage.org)
Project must NOT include any “bricks & mortar” component, or any element of historic preservation (rehabilitation or construction) work that would invoke Section 106 requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
Project must closely relate to the mission of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, and in particular – to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.
Project or portion of project to be funded with a Partnership Grant must NOT begin before the grant is awarded and Housatonic Heritage grant contract is signed

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Adhere to all Housatonic Heritage reporting requirements, which include providing thorough project reports and documentation of all project income and expenses. Please use the 2021 Housatonic Heritage Budget Report Guidelines, available for download from our website
Meet Housatonic Heritage deadlines set forth in the grant criteria
Monitor project work

ADDITIONAL GRANT REQUIREMENTS

Acknowledge Housatonic Heritage’s support in all press opportunities and materials publicizing or resulting from grant activities
Use the Housatonic Heritage logo where appropriate (brochures, websites, newsletters, etc); logo is available for download from our website.
Provide digital photographs of project or program activities
Provide Housatonic Heritage with copy of all original work (DVD, brochures, photographs, etc)

To discuss your project prior to submitting an application, call (860) 435-9505 or email info@housatonicheritage.org. (see additional contact information below). Follow the Profile and Criteria sheet for the specific category you are applying in. In addition to the category criteria, your application package must conform to the following standards in order to be considered for funding, your application package.

GRANT REVIEW PANEL & CONFLICT OF INTEREST

In order to maintain the highest standards of fairness in the competition for grants, Housatonic Heritage operates to avoid any possible conflict of interest. Any member of the Grants Committee and Board of Trustees will abstain from deliberating or voting on any proposal in which he/she is connected through employment, through service as an unpaid consultant to the project, or as an officer or other representative.

ALL ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING

One (1) original signed application (PDF preferred) sent via email to: info@housatonicheritage.org
Grant narrative, budget forms and other attachments may be included with the application as a single PDF, or may be sent as separate PDFs

MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT

The Partnership Grant Program awards matching grants of federal funds on a reimbursable basis.
Grant recipients must match all grant awards on a minimum ONE-TO-ONE basis, with cash funds or in-kind contributions. The total cost of the project must be AT LEAST TWICE the amount of your grant request. For example, if your request is $2,000 then you must demonstrate that your project costs AT LEAST $4,000.
Applicant must have sufficient funds to cover the applicant’s entire share of the project
Applicant must have evidence of applicant’s ability to provide one-to-one matching
Grant Application must include a letter signed by the responsible Officer of the applicant organization that documents the amount of match funding being contributed to the project, and the source of that funding.
Match Funds must be verifiable from your records, and must be considered “necessary and reasonable” for proper and efficient completion of your project.
Match Funds CANNOT be included as direct contributions from any other federally assisted program or be paid by the federal government under another award. This includes operating costs of the organization and routine repair and facility costs.

CASH AND IN-KIND MATCH

Match funds can be cash or in-kind contributions of time, materials, or services
Cash match requires that real money change hands, and must be documented by copies of invoices or receipts and evidence of payment (cancelled checks, bank statements)
In-kind match must be documented and applied only to this grant project
In-kind matches must be documented and may include personnel time for employees, board members, and volunteers as well as contributions of services, materials and supplies
A Donor Form is available from Housatonic Heritage, and is recommended for documenting the resources that you receive from others. Sample attached.

The following is a recommended format for valuing and documenting in-kind matches:

Contributed Time

Name of Individual: ____________________________________

Hours ____________ x $_________/hour = $ _______________

Contributed Materials and/or Services

Types of Materials and/or Services: _______________________

Value: $_________________________

Funding and Award Disbursement:

The applicant must have sufficient funding to cover the entire cost of the project
Expenses must be incurred within the grant period dates stated in the grant contract
Expenses incurred outside the grant period WILL NOT be reimbursed upon grant culmination.