MINNESOTA HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL GRANTS - Grants Manual

Grant Amounts and Review Process

The type of grant you apply for determines the size of the grant, the application procedure you must follow and the review process for your application. Matches are not required but are especially encouraged for larger grants.

Small Grants and Structured Grants (up to $7,000)

Also called Fast Track Grants, these grants are awarded more frequently (see Deadlines). This rolling deadline makes possible a streamlined review process and more rapid turnaround of applications. All grants submitted are treated as pre-applications. Those that are ready will be recommended directly to the Society's Executive Committee for action, and those requiring revision or that are ineligible will be returned to applicants.

Structured Grants, an even more simplified option, are tailored to common needs, such as developing a disaster plan for a small repository, purchasing microfilm/fiche, and conducting a museum self-assessment.

Mid-Size Grants ($7,001 Up To $50,000)

Mid-Size Grants, more competitive than Small Grants, require more rigorous application and review processes. These grants fund primarily projects that can be completed within 12 months.

Review process: Eligible applications are reviewed by Grants Office staff and other Minnesota Historical Society subject area experts. Applications, along with review comments, are then sent to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) for consideration at a public meeting. You will receive advance notice of the meeting and will be invited to make a three-minute presentation supporting your application. Such presentations are not required; your application will be given full consideration whether or not you make a presentation.

Based on their evaluation and the review criteria, the HRAC recommends approval or denial of each application and forwards their recommendations to the Society's Executive Committee for final action. You will be notified of their decision by letter. In some cases, special conditions may be required on approved projects; the conditions will be outlined in your Grant Agreement.

Large Grants ($50,001 and up)

Grants at this level are administered in accordance with negotiated terms of a grant agreement appropriate to the project needs. They fund primarily projects that can be completed within 12 months.

Review process: The review process for Large Grant applications is the same as for Mid-Size Grants (see above), with the addition of peer reviewers who are not Minnesota Historical Society employees. Once awarded, Large Grants are subject to increased fiscal oversight and ongoing monitoring by Grants Office staff.