THE ALASKA HUMANITIES FORUM
Mission: to use the wisdom and methods of the humanities to promote the civic, intellectual and cultural life of all Alaskans.
WHO ARE WE?
The Alaska Humanities Forum is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Congress established the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1965. Our purpose is to promote the exploration of ideas, human values, and public issues that concern Alaskans today. The Forum believes that projects rooted in history, philosophy, literature, traditional wisdom, and other studies in the humanities contribute to our quality of life in meaningful ways.
A statewide Board of Directors establishes the programs and policies of the Forum. Nominations for election to the Alaska Humanities Forum board take place periodically by public solicitation. Five members of the board are appointed by the Governor.
WHAT ARE THE HUMANITIES?
The humanities are the study of human values, traditions, ideals, thoughts, and actions. The humanities seek answers to questions about who we are, what we believe, where we have been, what we value, and why. By connecting us with other people through the examination and discussion of ideas, the humanities point the way to answers about what is right or wrong, or what is true to our history and our heritage. The humanities emphasize analysis, interpretation, and exchange of ideas rather than the creative expression of the arts or the quantitative explanation of the sciences. The humanities should not be confused with “humanitarianism,” the concern for charitable works and social reform or with “humanism,” a specific philosophical belief.
Disciplines relating to the humanities include but are not limited to: Archaeology, History, Geography, Ethics, Linguistics, Ethnic studies, Philosophy, Folklore studies, Political science, Cultural anthropology, Languages, Non-western philosophy, Linguistics, Literature, Film criticism, Comparative religions, Women’s studies,Jurisprudence, History, theory and criticism of the arts (not performances of the arts), Those aspects of the social sciences which employ a philosophical or historical approach (i.e. sociology, economics, psychology)
WHAT THE GRANT PROGRAM DOES:
The grant program funds humanities-based projects. In carrying out the Forum’s mission, we support grant projects that:
Cultivate appreciation and enjoyment of the humanities.
Create dialogue among peoples holding divergent points of view.
Apply traditional bodies of wisdom to present concerns.
Search for a sense of personal identity and a sense of place through history, traditions, and new ideas.
Pass on the values, methods, and wisdom of the humanities to future generations of Alaskans.
GENERAL GRANTS
General grant awards are made one time per fiscal year with the following deadline for proposals:
October 1 at 10p.m. Alaska Time
All applications must be completed through the online system and submitted by 10:00p.m. Alaska Time on October 1st. If this date falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the following Monday. Grant requests are not to exceed $10,000. Applicants may also choose to submit a proposal as a draft for review by the grants officer. Drafts are due September 15 @ 10:00p.m. Alaska Time. See “Preparing your Proposal” for more information on draft submission. We invite you to visit our website at www.akhf.org to review the most recent list of grants awarded and to request a copy of our biannual newsletter The Forum, which lists a more extensive description of grant projects.
Who is eligible to apply?
Non-profit organization or institutions, individual scholars, and ad-hoc groups may apply for grants
Who cannot apply?
For-profit groups and organizations
Previous grant recipients who have not fulfilled the terms and conditions of their Grant Agreement
The following projects and project costs are not eligible for grant award funding:
projects that are not open to the public, or will not benefit the Alaskan public;
those that influence an audience toward a single position or present a one-sided, uncritical treatment of an issue (i.e., if public policy issues are involved, the discussion must be balanced);
work for academic credit or toward the completion of a formal degree, including travel to professional meetings and academic conferences;
performances in the arts, unless their primary role is to foster analysis or interpretation using history, literature, philosophy or other humanities disciplines;
library or museum acquisitions and capital equipment, endowments, or loans;
acquisition of equipment;
building construction, acquisition, or restoration costs (including historic preservation);
profit-making projects;
lobbying or partisan political activity;
food, alcoholic beverages, refreshments, or entertainment for project-related activities;
social service programs;
projects not centrally concerned with the humanities; and
indirect costs
PROJECT PERSONNEL
What is a sponsor? What is a project director?
If the project includes a sponsoring organization, that organization becomes the fiscal agent for the project and the stated Grantee. They are responsible for requesting grant fund disbursements during the project and are responsible for providing the final financial reports at the completion of the project. If a sponsoring organization is present, all grant fund disbursements are issued to the sponsor.
The project director is the individual who is in charge of carrying out and/or coordinating the project. The project director is our “point of contact” and provides the final narrative report at the project’s completion. Correspondence and communication with the Forum normally coordinates through the project director. If the project director is an independent scholar with no sponsoring organization, all sponsor responsibilities fall to the project director.
Who are Humanities Scholars/Tradition Bearers?
Every grant project must include at least one humanities scholar or tradition bearer.
Humanities scholars ordinarily hold an M.A., Ph.D. or other graduate degree in a humanities discipline. The project director may be identified as the humanities scholar if he/she meets the criteria.
Tradition Bearers are elders and/or leaders who are respected by their community for their traditional knowledge.
GRANT BUDGET
Grant Request Funds and Cost Share for General Grants
Grant Request Funds. This is the funding request that you are asking for from the Forum. Forum funds cannot be used for expenses incurred prior to the grant award. In the Grant Request Budget section of the application please indicate how potential funds from the Forum would be spent on the project.
Cost Share. The Forum requires a 1 to 1 cost share. This is the shared support for your project and does not include your request for Forum grant funds. Cost share cannot be retroactive before the grant award. It includes:
1. In-kind support: i.e. staff/volunteer unpaid time; donated materials used to plan, promote, or carry out the project; donated office space and equipment; travel; donated services and materials and other non-cash donations;
2. Cash support: cash contribution specifically designated for the project from funding sources other than the Forum. Funding from other federal sources cannot be included.
The requested grant funds from the Forum must be matched or exceeded by the cost share to the project. Institutions that have a federally established rate may include indirect costs as matching funds. No indirect or overhead costs will be paid with Forum funds.
The Forum strongly encourages grant applicants to seek broad community support with a substantial investment in the project in both cash and in-kind donations. Proposals that successfully demonstrate shared support and community interest are generally stronger than those proposals that do not.
Long-term, Multiple Cycle Projects
In order to encourage applicants and a diversity of projects, the Forum may decide not to fund long-term projects. If the Forum decides to fund such projects, funding is often limited to no more than three consecutive grant awards for the same project. Applicants of long-term projects must submit new applications for each phase of the project for which they seek Forum support and each phase must involve a different component.
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Applicants need to select ONE of the following five categories for the proposal. If your project falls into multiple categories, please select one that best fits your project:
Media: projects involving non-profit radio, television, film, print, and other media
Treatment: Provide a summary treatment of the proposed program and a timeline for completion. Make clear which phases of the project are being proposed for funding and what other funding is anticipated.
Audience: Describe the audience and how the production is designed for it. Also, please address secondary audiences, such as future researchers, and describe how raw materials and final products will be archived for their use.
Distribution: Outline a plan for public distribution of the final product(s). Explain where the product(s) will be broadcast, shown, published, or distributed. Describe what contacts and commitments have been made and what others are anticipated.
Special Assistance: Media projects that employ professional performers and related or supporting professional personnel must provide written assurance that: 1) these employees will be paid not less than the prevailing minimum compensation for persons employed on similar activities; and 2) no part of any project or production will be performed or engaged in under working conditions that are unsanitary or hazardous to the health and safety of the employee(s) involved.
Cataloging/Archiving: Explain how materials, tapes, transcriptions, or other final products developed in the project will be indexed, catalogued, and stored. Describe how and where these products will be archived and who will have access to these materials. Explain how information about this resource will be made public.
Oral History: projects that identify persons who possess a living memory of history and traditions that may be unique to an area or culture
Identification: Explain who will be interviewed and why.
Methods of Production: Describe what equipment and formats will be used.
Cataloging/Archiving: Explain how materials, tapes, transcriptions, or other final products developed in the project will be indexed, catalogued, and stored. Describe how and where these products will be archived and who will have access to these materials. Explain how information about this resource will be made public.
Public Meetings and Exhibits: projects including public meetings, seminars, discussion groups, workshops, symposia, exhibits, and conferences which address issues from the perspective of the humanities
Audience: Identify the prospective participants in the event.
Publicity: Describe how both specific audiences and the general public will be informed of the event and encouraged to participate. In addition, explain a broad-based plan for publicity.
Exhibits: If an exhibit is involved, describe what makes it appropriate to the event. Describe the exhibit and its history, source, permission for use, physical accommodation, and format.
Cataloging/Archiving: Explain how materials, tapes, transcriptions, or other final products developed in the project will be indexed, catalogued, and stored. Describe how and where these products will be archived and who will have access to these materials. Explain how information about this resource will be made public will total never more than the amount of the grant. The publisher must report annually to the Forum total receipts from sales and the amount of royalties due. The publisher should include a check for royalties with the annual report.
Research: The National Endowment for the Humanities defines research in the traditional sense as “careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles.”
Resources: Explain what sources and/or individuals will be consulted. Explain these resources (texts, cultural customs or practices, people, etc.) and their significance to the research project.
Methodology: Explain how the research will be conducted. If a dictionary is proposed, for example, explain the compilation and design process. If documentation of cultural practices is the focus, explain how information relating to those practices will be gathered and used. Provide a detailed timeline for conducting the project.
Outcome and Audience: Describe what form the research product will take, identify the intended audience, and show how the research product is designed to meet the needs of that audience. Explain where the product(s) will be housed and who will have access.
Overall Significance: Describe what contribution the research will make to the humanities and how it is different from other research in its area. Summarize the importance of the research.
Cataloging/Archiving: Explain how materials, tapes, transcriptions, or other final products developed in the project will be indexed, catalogued, and stored. Describe how and where these products will be archived and who will have access to these materials. Explain how information about this resource will be made public.
Planning: projects to help humanities scholars or experts meet with organizations interested in developing a proposal in the future for submission to the Forum and/or other funding sources. These grants are appropriate in cases where preparing a proposal involves complexities requiring special expertise. All cost-sharing and other standards of the Forum must be met.
Concept: Describe your preliminary conceptual vision of the project.
Planning Need: Explain why a planning grant is appropriate to the project.
Expertise: Specify whose expertise is needed and why.
PROJECT DATES
A project may begin as early as 60 days following a posted application deadline. Applicants will select a project start date that corresponds to the beginning of project activity, as grant funding may not be requested until the project start date has occurred. Applicants will note that oftentimes project start dates do not correspond to project event dates, as funding is often needed prior to the event.
Projects funded through the Alaska Humanities Forum grant programs may occur over a three year period. National Endowment for the Humanities also allows for project extensions to be requested. Grantees will be notified of this extension policy upon grant award notice.
Project end dates should be in accordance with the end of project activity and with the knowledge that final reports are due three months after the project end date listed in the application.
PROJECT EVALUATION
Project evaluations should inform both the Grantee and the Forum and should match the nature of the project. The Independent Evaluation will provide thoughtful comments on the purpose, direction, and success of the project. The evaluation may be completed by an Independent Evaluator, who has a level of expertise in the subject of the project, but who has not been directly involved in the project planning or in the execution of the project. This person does not need to be identified for the project evaluation plan on the application, but will need to be selected for the final report. For example, a peer review may be the most appropriate evaluation for a book project. In this case, the reviewer would be the Independent Evaluator.
The Independent Evaluation may also be completed through survey or other form of audience review. For example, a survey completed by attendees may be an appropriate means to evaluate a discussion series, exhibit, or website. In these cases, the compilation of survey results will serve as the independent evaluation.
A project director may also request the evaluator follow the Evaluation Guidelines available for download on the Forum’s website or available by contacting the Grants Officer (see contact info in footer). This document is meant to be a guideline and not a requirement for the evaluation.
PREPARING YOUR PROPOSAL
All applications must be completed through this web-based application system.
Completing a User Profile:For applicants using the web-based system for the first time, a user profile will need to be completed. The User Profile should be completed by the person writing the grant application and completing any grant reports (usually the project director). Please remember your username and password as it will be used for all current and future Alaska Humanities Forum applications. The User Profile will only need to be completed the first time entering the system.
After logging into the system:The User Profile should be completed by the person writing the grant application and completing any grant reports (usually the project director). The established username and password will need to be used every time access to current or future applications is desired. The User Profile will only need to be completed the first time entering the system.
Submission of applications and drafts:Applications must be completed and submitted through this online site by 10:00p.m. Alaska Time Oct. 1. If this date falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the following Monday. Please note that increased activity on the site as the deadline approaches may cause delays. Alaska Humanities Forum strongly suggests applicants complete and submit proposals as early as possible so that delays do not make submission impossible. Please contact the grants officer if you experience difficulty with the application site.
To submit a draft for review go to the submit page and select the “draft” button by Sept. 15 @ 10p.m.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Any supplemental materials can be uploaded to the application or sent to the Grants Officer via email (grants@akhf.org) or regular mail (see address page 1). Supplemental materials must arrive in the office by the grant deadline for inclusion with the grant application. Such materials include:
resume of project director (required) and resumes for significant project staff (recommended);
letters of support* from project partners in the community (recommended); and
any supplemental materials to support the application*, i.e. writing samples, or previous products that demonstrate the quality of work (recommended).
*Please note Alaska Humanities Forum does not retain supplemental materials for applications not accepted for grant funding. If you would like these items to be retained and returned, please make special arrangements with the grants officer prior to the grant deadline.
FORUM REVIEW AND ACTION
The Alaska Humanities Forum Board makes the final decision about grant awards selected from proposals submitted in open competition. Proposals are closely reviewed by the board grants committee, and with committee recommendations, considered by the full board.
The Board has limited resources, which means that worthy projects cannot always be funded or funded in the full amount requested. The Board may approve a grant to the project without changes, offer a grant with stipulated changes, offer a grant that is less money than requested, or decline funding altogether.
Every applicant is sent an email acknowledging the submission of their grant application by the Forum and will be sent an official notice of the Board’s decision. If a grant has been approved, a Letter of Agreement and associated materials are sent to the sponsoring organization. The Letter of Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the grant. A signature obligates the sponsor to conduct the project as described in the proposal and to accept the conditions outlined in the Letter and these Guidelines.
A response to a proposal for a general grant will be made within two months after the submission date.
Successful applicants have 60 days to accept and sign their grant award letters and return them to the Forum. With the receipt of the signed award letter, the grant is “activated.”
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
If changes need to be made to a project’s grant budget and/or program plans, the grantee shall make a written request to the program before any changes in expenditures occur.
Copyright policy: Grantee retains copyright; the Alaska Humanities Forum and National Endowment for the Humanities reserve a royalty-free nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work for organizational/educational purposes, and to authorize others to do so.
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