How much funding does MS Delta Cultural Heritage Grants provide?

MS Delta Cultural Heritage Grants provides Up to $25,000 in funding.

When is the deadline for MS Delta Cultural Heritage Grants?

This grant has a rolling deadline or the deadline has not been announced.

MS Delta Cultural Heritage Grants

MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE

Foundation Annual Grants for Nonprofits History Grants Humanities Grants Community Development Grants

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Funding Amount

Up to $25,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

MS Delta Cultural Heritage Grants

Funder: Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA)

Award Amount: Up to $25,000 per project

Geographic Scope: Projects must be located in or directly serve at least one of the 18 counties within the MDNHA service area: Bolivar, Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo counties in Mississippi.

Program Overview:
The MDNHA grants program issues grants to organizations that fund projects preserving, perpetuating, and celebrating the Mississippi Delta's rich and complex heritage. Projects must address at least one of MDNHA's five cultural heritage themes:

The River and The Land

The Blues

Freedom

Creativity Beyond Cotton

Diverse Communities

Goals:
Successful projects address one or more of four main goals:
1. Perpetuate the unique culture of the Mississippi Delta through engagement of people who live here to preserve, celebrate, and share the places and stories of the region
2. Save historic and natural resources by raising awareness of threats to their loss, providing recognition for saving places, and directing resources to training, education, and preservation
3. Build a heritage area-wide network of partners by providing opportunities for engagement in a variety of roles
4. Contribute to sustainable economic development through activities that strengthen local and regional economies

Match Requirement: Grantee organizations must match proposed projects at least 1:1 with non-federal in-kind or cash resources. Demonstrating match exceeding 1:1 may make projects more competitive.

Eligible Applicants:

Units of local government (including schools and quasi-governmental entities)

Public or private institutions of higher learning

Institutes or research centers at such institutions

Nonprofit organizations (must have current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and be in compliance with MS Secretary of State registration and reporting requirements)

Federally-recognized Native American tribes

Organizations may partner with private entities, but only eligible organizations may be listed as the fiscal agent

What MDNHA Does NOT Fund:

Projects requesting more than $25,000

Projects unable to demonstrate 1:1 matching funds

Grant funds to acquire any interest in real property

Grant funds for food, beverages, meals, or entertainment costs

Grant funds for annual campaigns, capital campaigns, endowment funds, or scholarship funds

General operating support (overhead, administrative expenses) or general sponsorship of events

General support for existing annual or regular community festivals or events

Personal money for reimbursement

Project Timeline: Proposed activities should take place between July 1 of the year the grant is awarded and June 30 of the following year (12-month fiscal year period).

Contact Information:

Email: grants@msdeltaheritage.com

Phone: 662-846-4311

Will Jacks, MDNHA Project Manager: wjacks@deltastate.edu

Shelia Winters, Program Associate for Projects: For assistance with financial and budgetary issues

Background:
The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area is a cultural heritage partnership between the people of the Mississippi Delta and the National Park Service. It was designated by U.S. Congress in 2009 and includes 18 counties containing land in the alluvial floodplain of the Mississippi Delta. The MDNHA is governed by a board of directors and is managed by The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.

How to Apply

Application Process

Application Method:
Applications are submitted through an online portal. Organizations may prepare answers in a word processing application and then copy and paste answers into the online portal for final submission.

Key Application Requirements:

1. Digital Signature: Your proposal must be digitally signed and submitted by an individual with authority to do so in your organization.

2. Content Requirements:
- Your proposal must address at least one of MDNHA's five cultural heritage themes
- Your proposal must address at least one of MDNHA's four main goals
- All funded project activities must take place within or directly serve at least one of the 18 MDNHA counties

3. Match Documentation:
- Minimum 1:1 cash or in-kind match of requested funds is required
- Match must be verifiable by letters of commitment, proof of cash in hand, or other supporting documentation
- Federal funds cannot be matched with federal funds

4. Organization Eligibility:
- If nonprofit: Provide current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code
- Provide EIN, letter of good standing from your state, and W-9 with application
- Status and compliance will be verified

5. Financial Information:
- Complete budget narrative with all costs itemized
- Financial history or projections (for startups, estimate in-kind support and volunteer hours)
- Identification of in-kind support (items or services provided at no cost)

Required Application Materials:

Cover Sheet

Budget Narrative with Instructions

Narrative Statement with specific instructions

Budget Forms (PDF worksheet package available)

Required Attachments as specified

Application Restrictions:

Do not request more than $25,000 in grant funds

Do not request grant funds in any amount that cannot be matched 1:1

Do not spend personal money for reimbursement

Do not request funds to acquire any interest in real property

Do not request funds for food, beverages, meals, or entertainment

Do not request funds for annual campaigns, capital campaigns, endowment funds, or scholarships

Do not request general operating support or general sponsorship

Do not request general support for existing annual festivals or events

Important Notes:

Organizations may submit more than one application during a grant cycle, provided separate and independent matching funds are committed and documented for each application

The MDNHA will not read draft proposals or provide subject feedback on specific proposals prior to submission (to ensure equitability)

The MDNHA will answer specific budget questions (e.g., "Can I include food?" or "Is travel allowable?") but will not review entire budgets

Online submission is preferred; contact the MDNHA Project Manager if unable to submit online

Review and Award Process:

External review panel reviews all proposals

MDNHA Grants Committee reviews rankings and makes recommendations to the MDNHA Board of Directors

MDNHA Board of Directors makes all final funding decisions

Board may approve grants in amounts less than requested

Board has discretion to make grants based on geographic diversity, applicant diversity, and strategic goals/themes

Contact for Questions:

Will Jacks, MDNHA Project Manager: wjacks@deltastate.edu (proposal qualifications and implementation)

Shelia Winters, Program Associate: (financial and budgetary questions)