Opportunity Grants
Opportunity grants fund expenses that support the program costs of smaller public humanities projects through a simplified application process. Applications are accepted year-round for amounts up to $1,000 and are approved by the Executive Director at the close of every month.
For more information, please call Erica Nunn at 602/257-0335 x26 or email enunn@azhumanities.org.
Opportunity Grant Guidelines
Opportunity grants support the program costs of smaller public humanities projects through a simplified application process. Opportunity Grants are available for the purpose of implementing humanities-based public programs in Arizona whose funding request is below the limit for a Project Grant, and for specific costs related to project planning for AHC-eligible Project Grants and Cultural Heritage Tourism Grants. Applications are accepted year-round for amounts up to $1,000, and are reviewed by the Executive Director at the beginning of each month. Applicants may be awarded only one Opportunity Grant each fiscal year (1 November 2008 through 31 October 2009).
1. Eligibility
Eligible applicants include private nonprofit (501c3) organizations; local, tribal, and state governments; institutions of the federal government, academic institutions, and unincorporated organizations or groups that are constituted for nonprofit purposes. Applicant organizations do not need to be located in Arizona, but the project’s resulting public programming must take place in Arizona.
2. Opportunity Grant Criteria
The following criteria will determine the eligibility of your project:
- Project Goal and Content
The project goal must be to increase the accessibility of humanities scholarship to the general public through public programming in Arizona. At least one humanities scholar must be included in the project planning, content development, and implementation of the project. - Program Format
Projects will result in at least one public program in Arizona that must be advertised as being free, or of nominal cost, open and accessible to a general public in Arizona. Projects that result in audio/visual products including, but not limited to, film, video, Web sites, and radio documentaries must include plans for public programming that present humanities content to the general public in Arizona. Opportunity Grant funds will also support planning projects designed to assist organizations in planning an eligible, AHC Project Grant and/or Cultural Heritage Tourism project.
3. Award Information
Applicants may request up to $1,000, which must be matched by in-kind and/or cash contributions. Applicants may only receive one Opportunity Grant each fiscal year (1 November 2008 through 31 October 2009).
Eligible expenditures include honoraria for staff, scholars, and consultants; travel and per diem; printing and publicity; equipment and facilities; and program and documentation supplies.
Ineligible expenditures or activities include: projects not accessible to the public; honoraria related to creative or performing arts; museum or library acquisitions; operating or indirect overhead costs; permanent equipment; institutional development or academic credit; scholarships and fellowships; food, beverages, or entertainment; fund-raising activities; partisan objectives, advocacy, or lobbying; grants to individuals; and expenses incurred before a grant is awarded or outside of the grant period.
4. How to Apply
Eligible organizations may submit Opportunity Grant applications at any time. Proposals are reviewed by staff and approved by the Executive Director at the beginning of each month, and successful applicants are notified within four weeks. Grant funds are available approximately four weeks after a grant agreement has been signed and returned to AHC. Proposals must be submitted no later than eight weeks before the start of the funded program(s).
5. Certifications/Federal Requirements
If funded, the applicant certifies that it will comply with the following nondiscrimination statutes and their implementing regulations:
Certification Regarding Nondiscrimination Statutes:
1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), which provides that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the applicant received federal financial assistance;
2) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance;
3) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance; and
4) Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, except that actions which reasonably take age into account as a factor necessary for the normal operation or achievement of any statutory objective of the project or activity shall not violate this statute.
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion (45 CFR 1169):
1) The applicant, by submission of this proposal, certifies that it is not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal department or agency;
2) Where the applicant is unable to certify to any of the statements in the certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.
NEH Code of Ethics for Projects Related to Native Americans: Grantees have the responsibility of ensuring that researchers and scholars working on projects related to American Indians, Aleut, Eskimo or Native Hawaiian peoples adhere to the NEH Code of Ethics, which conforms to the principles of Public Law 95-561 (the Indian Religious Freedom Act), Public Law 96-515 (the National Historic Preservation Act amendments of 1980), and other relevant public laws governing relations with native peoples of North America. For a copy of the code, please contact AHC.
ADA Compliance: NEH and the state humanities councils are working to ensure that their spaces, programs, and other activities are accessible to all members of the public. In compliance with the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, recipients of AHC grants need to ensure that disabled persons are not subjected to discrimination in the form of architectural, transportation and communication barriers. AHC also suggests that grant recipients include language in their publicity and on registration forms asking if any accommodation is needed because of disability, and that large-print versions of handouts and/or tapes of programs be made available when feasible.
Opportunity Grant Deadlines
Applications Accepted
1 November 2008 - 31 October 2009
Applications Reviewed
At the start of each month
For Projects After
Eight weeks after application
