Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program

Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC)
Amount: US $2,500 - US $65,000
Last Updated: August 04, 2025

Summary

The Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program, managed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, provides operational funding to support Pennsylvania museums and county historical societies. Grants range from $2,500 to $65,000, aimed at enhancing the museum community and allowing institutions to address their unique operational needs. Eligible applicants must have a substantial operating budget and professional staff. This funding promotes accessibility and the preservation of Pennsylvania's rich cultural heritage.

Overview

Cultural and Historical Support Grants Overview The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Cultural and Historical Support Grants program provides general operating support funding to eligible Pennsylvania museums and official county historical societies. The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000. All awards are submitted to the Commission for approval and depend upon the availability of funds in the Commonwealth budget. Goals Strengthen the Pennsylvania museum communityProvide general operating support to museum and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programsProvide financial support as unrestricted operating support to address primary needs of museumsAllow applicants to determine and describe how they will use fundsAchieve geographical balance in the distribution of grants Grant Awards Museums - The awards for Museums are based on a calculation that uses the operating budget from the most recently completed fiscal year. Based on projected funding scenarios, awards may range from 1% to 2% of annual operating budget depending on the number of eligible applicants. Official County Historical Societies - The awards for Official County Historical Societies are awarded a maximum of $8,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. A museum must meet the American Alliance of Museums' definition that “a museum must be a legally organized nonprofit institution, essentially educational in nature, with professional staff, which owns or utilizes tangible objects, cares for them, and exhibits them to the public on some regular schedule”Museums (as defined by the American Association of Museums) located in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person.If a museum receives operating support from another Pennsylvania agency or commission, please check to verify if the museum has a discreet and itemized operating budget for its activities to be funded through the Cultural and Historical Support Grants program.Official County Historical Societies. If the operating budget is less than $400,000, the organization must apply as an Official County Historical Society. Official County Historical Societies with operating budgets in excess of $400,000 must apply as a Museum. Who May ApplyMuseumThe following are the types of museums that are eligible to apply:Children's MuseumsGeneral Museums (with two or more equally significant disciplines)History MuseumsHistoric Houses/SitesMilitary and Maritime MuseumsNatural History MuseumsPlanetariumsScience/Technology CentersMultipurpose OrganizationsIndividual museums within multipurpose government or tax-exempt organizations may apply for grants if they function as a discrete unit within the parent organization. A museum that is part of a larger organization will be deemed eligible if:The museum has administrative autonomy for its operations;The museum has a fully segregated and itemized operating budget within that of the parent organization;The museum is able to separately and distinctly fulfill all eligibility and application requirements as defined in these guidelines.To apply for a Cultural and Historical Support grant, a museum must meet the following requirements:Must be located in Pennsylvania;Must have tax-exempt status (501(c)(3)) with the Internal Revenue Service or be an entity of local government;Must have been incorporated and have been exhibiting to the public for at least two years prior to the submission of the grant application; andMust have an operating budget in excess of $100,000;Must have at least one full-time professional staff person (or approved equivalent);Must be registered with the Pennsylvania Commission on Charitable Organizations, as required.Official County Historical SocietiesTo apply for a Cultural and Historical Support grant, an Official County Historical Society must meet the following requirements:Must be located in Pennsylvania;Must have a designation of the organization as the official historical society for the county;Must have been incorporated and operating for a minimum of two years as a membership group with at least 100 paid members prior to filing the grant application;Must hold at least one public meeting per year;Must have a properly adopted constitution and bylaws and have elected officers to conduct the business of the society;Must have tax-exempt status (501(c)(3)) with the Internal Revenue Service;Must have a permanent physical facility wherein books, documents, papers and other objects of historical interest are deposited and available to the public at least 100 days per year or by appointment;Must have at least one full-time paid or unpaid staff member or the equivalent who is responsible for the operations and programs of the society; andMust sponsor programs relevant to county history including educational and public programs and have an active research and publications program. Must be registered with the Pennsylvania Commission on Charitable Organizations, as required.Eligible ActivitiesOperating support activities cannot begin until the successful applicant has received a fully executed Grant Agreement. Cultural and Historical Support Grants may be used to fund the following general museum support expenses:Salaries and WagesBenefitsInsuranceMuseum Store/Gift ShopFood ServiceProfessional DevelopmentTravelPrinting and PublicationTelephone/Postage/All TelecommunicationsFundraising/DevelopmentMarketing SuppliesEquipment

Ineligibility

As a general rule, no county shall receive an allocation greater than 37.5% of the available funds. In counties that exceed this cap, individual grant awards may be reduced. Grant award amounts are based on a formula that uses the operating budget for the most recently completed fiscal year. Who May Not ApplyMuseums and others that are not eligible to apply include:Museums supported by other state agency operational funding programs unless the museum has a discreet and itemized operating budget for its historical aspects to be funded through the Cultural and Historical Support grants program. This applies to: art museumsaquariumsarboretumsbotanical gardensheritage areasnature centerszoological parksstate-related university institutionsothers.Museums and historic sites operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.Associate groups at museums and historic sites operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionManagement groups at museums and historic sites owned by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionMuseums and historic sites operated by state or federal government agenciesAssociate groups at museums and historic sites operated by state or federal government agenciesMuseums with annual operating budgets less than $100,000Consortiums of museumsIndividualsIneligible ActivitiesCultural and Historical Support Grants may not be used to fund the following:EndowmentsAcquisition of objects for the collectionsCapital improvement projectsProjects that serve a religious purpose or promote religious dogmaExhibitions or public programs not available to the public or taking place outside of PennsylvaniaPrizes and awardsExpenses for entertainmentLobbying-related expenses