Mini Grant

Geographic Scope: Iowa

A mini grant is for organizations seeking funding for amounts up to $3,000. Applications are accepted year-round and evaluated upon receipt.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:

• Incorporated non-profit groups
• Institutions of higher education
• Units of Federal, State, and Local governments
• Native American tribal governments
• Groups of persons that form an association to carry out a project
• Organizations serving the out-of-school Iowan adult public and families

Requirements:

• Organization must have a UEI number (formerly DUNS number) or be in process of obtaining one
• Must be registered with the Federal System for Award Management (SAM.GOV) prior to receiving award
• 1:1 cash or in-kind match required
• Must involve a humanities scholar (with M.A. or Ph.D. in humanities field, or equivalent experience) in planning and execution
• Projects must be open to the public

Funding Focus

Humanities programming that engages communities, non-profit organizations, and humanities scholars in crucial stories. May include:

• Symposia
• Community storytelling events
• Cultural discussion series
• Exhibitions
• Post-performance/film conversations
• Rural archives preservation for public access
• Literary readings/discussions
• Lectures/discussions with experts
• Video documentaries
• Radio programs
• Museum exhibitions
• Oral history projects
• Living history programs
• Web design projects with scholarly input

Priority Areas:

• Projects that make new stories heard
• Support for rural communities underserved by public humanities programming
• Elements distinctive to Iowa
• New groups receiving HI funding for first time
• Intergenerational engagement
• Diverse audiences and under-represented perspectives

What Grants Do NOT Fund

• Salaries and fringe benefits for permanent or temporary employees (honoraria allowed under certain circumstances)
• International travel outside U.S., territories, possessions, or Canada
• Recreation and food costs
• Performances in creative/performing arts unless they provide humanities perspectives
• Commercial enterprises
• Individual or personal research (unless integral to public program)
• Creative writing, memoirs, autobiographies, or books (publications resulting from public programs allowed)
• Curriculum design or review
• Academic courses, scholarships, fellowships
• Endowments
• Capital projects ("bricks and mortar"), equipment purchase/restoration, land, buildings, museum/library acquisitions
• Political activities
• Fundraising activities
• Programs not open to the public (reasonable admission allowed)
• Programs primarily for children or student audiences (intergenerational programs may be considered)
• Projects by applicants with active HI grants with incomplete reports
• Pre-award expenses
• Indirect costs (overhead/administrative costs only as part of cost-sharing)

Timing

• Applications preferred at least four weeks before project start date, but shorter deadlines may be accommodated
• No grant funds can support activities before project start date
• Maximum grant-funded project length: one year from start date
• Applications open October 1 annually

Contact

Phone: (319) 335-4150

Humanities Iowa welcomes consultation on proposals by telephone or email. Organizations may submit draft proposals several weeks before deadline for critique and refinement.

Address: PO Box 881, Ames, IA 50010

Funding Source: National Endowment for the Humanities, Federation of State Humanities Councils, Mellon Foundation

How to Apply

Application Method: Online through Submittable (humanitiesiowa.submittable.com)

Application Timeline:

• Applications accepted year-round
• Evaluated upon receipt
• Preferred submission: at least 4 weeks before project start date

Required Materials:

• Complete online application form
• Project narrative
• Budget with detailed breakdown
• Evidence of 1:1 match (cash or in-kind)
• Information about humanities scholar involvement
• Marketing/publicity plans (for universities/colleges to demonstrate reach to general public)
• For media projects: abstract, script draft, or story treatment; work samples (optional but welcome); detailed production schedule with technical requirements
• For teacher seminars: agenda and list of texts to be used

Key Proposal Components:

1. Clear project focus and humanities content
2. Identification of humanities scholar(s) and their role
3. Target audience description
4. Detailed budget and feasibility
5. Evidence of matching funds (cash or in-kind)
6. Project timeline with start and end dates
7. Promotional/public engagement plan

Evaluation Criteria:

• Clarity of proposal
• Strength of humanities content
• Qualifications of project scholars and experts
• Involvement of target audience
• Budget feasibility and realism
• Project impact potential
• Service to rural communities
• Intergenerational engagement
• Geographic diversity
• Organizational performance history
• Inclusion of minorities, women, people with disabilities

Draft Review:

• Organizations may submit draft proposals several weeks before deadline
• HI staff will provide critique and help refine before final submission

Contact for Questions:
Heather Plucar, Executive Director
heather-plucar@uiowa.edu
(319) 335-4150