GET STARTED: APPLY FOR A SUBAWARD GRANT
The New Mexico Humanities Council seeks to serve communities throughout the state. We work with organizations of all sizes to support humanities-based programming. Major grant awards do not typically exceed $15,000. Quick grants are limited to $2,000. (NOTE: These amounts are not applicable to wildfire recovery funds.) Below is a step-by-step guide to help you determine your organization’s eligibility, and to understand the project components that should be included in a proposal when applying for a grant. Within the materials below, you will also find some examples of the types of projects we fund, a sample application, an application evaluation reference guide and a bullet point list of the application process from beginning to end. We have also incorporated a bullet point list of things to expect after a grant award has been received. This information is meant to help organizations be aware of NMHC’s specific timelines which may affect the timelines connected to public events and expenses outlined in a budget.
WILDFIRE RECOVERY - MANITOS GRANTS
Because this grant line was created as a response to support cultural recovery and preservation after the 2022 wildfires, the requirements differ from our standard grant lines listed above. For this reason, the primary information for this specific grant line is provided below (rather than on our main “getting started aka how to apply page.”)
Grant funds are limited and are therefore being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis (assuming the requests are already in alignment with federal guidelines and the original budget allocated for the Manitos Community Memory project.NMHC staff is available to answer questions regarding line-item limitations related to the content listed below.
MARCH 14TH
Deadline to apply
Because funds are limited, we are taking applications through this date until funds run out. If all grant funds are expended prior to this date the application period will close early.
GRANT LINE 1: QUICK GRANT CONSULTATIONS AND APPLICATION DEADLINES
NMHC hosts grant consultations year-round. Before setting up a consultation please be sure both the Project Director and Fiscal Agent are able to attend. To receive reminders and updates please subscribe to our grant application announcements newsletter.
YEAR-ROUND
All consultations must be completed prior to submitting an application.
This is a requirement for all new and returning major grant applicants. Please schedule an appointment using our Calendly system.
3RD WEEK OF THE MONTH
Please submit the eligibility screening form as early as possible.
Please enable NMHC staff to have up two 5 business days to process your eligibility screening aka letter of intention form in Foundant. This step must be completed prior to obtaining access to the application form.
LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH
Quick grant applications are due.
All quick grant applications should be submitted during the last week of each month. NMHC staff will select up to 3 projects to fund based on compliance and competitiveness.
GRANT LINE 2: MAJOR GRANT DEADLINES, CONSULTATION AND DRAFT REQUIREMENTS
NMHC hosts grant consultations year-round. This approach allows us to assist organizations more effectively in their planning and enhances our collaborative efforts. As a small grant-making organization, our staff is only able to accommodate a limited number of consultations in the two months prior to the major grant application deadline. For this reason, we highly encourage interested organizations to review the grant guidelines on our website, flesh out a project concept with their team and schedule a consultation with NMHC as early in the year as possible. Before setting up a consultation please be sure both the Project Director and Fiscal Agent are able to attend.
To receive reminders and updates please subscribe to our grant application announcements newsletter.
AUGUST 1st
All consultations must be completed.
This is a requirement for all new and returning major grant applicants. Please schedule an appointment using our Calendly system.
SEPTEMBER 1st
Draft application review appointments end. Schedule an appointment using our Calendly system.
This is a requirement for all new and returning major grant applicants.
OCTOBER 1ST
Subaward grant applications are due.
This applies to all major grant applications which are due by 11:59pm on the date listed above.
MIDDLE DECEMBER
The NMHC board votes on which major grant projects to fund.
The project performance period begins for projects selected at NMHC’s December board meeting. NOTE: The exact date wavers but the board meets in the middle of December each year. For more information about operational timelines please visit our timeline page.
APRIL 1ST
Initial payments for major grants are anticipated to go out.
For more information about operational timelines please visit our timeline page.
DECEMBER 31st
All major grant projects should be concluded no later than this date.
Each project is unique, meaning some projects may end prior to this date. However, no project funded through the major grant line should extend past this date. For more information about operational timelines please visit our timeline page.
REQUIRED MAJOR GRANT DRAFT APPLICATIONS AND
FINAL APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS THROUGH FOUNDANT
Draft application reviews are only required for major grant applicants that have not recently received a major grant and maintained a low risk assessment score. Draft reviews are by appointment only and can be scheduled using our Calendly booking system. All draft application materials must be made available to NMHC staff a minimum of 2 days in advance. Quick grant applicants do not need to submit a draft prior to submission.
Draft applications submitted earlier in the year may be submitted via email using the sample application form provided below. All final grant applications and subaward grant reports are managed through the Foundant Grants Management Portal. Organizations are only asked to fill out a eligibility screening / letter of intention (LOI) form within this online portal once the online application period has been officially opened
To download these sample forms from Google Drive, click the “download form” link below. The document will open in your internet browser. Then go up to the main menu and click the word “file.” Next scroll down and click the word “download.” Once the forms are downloaded to your computer you will be able to fill them out..
If you have questions along the way please reach out to NMHC’s grants management team. Check out our staff directory for contact information. Below are more specifics about the types of projects that are funded, eligibility requirements, grant guidelines / project planning requirements, the pre-application process and more.
Download a major grant sample application ahead of time. Draft application forms are Word files to enable you to get a head start.
DOWNLOAD FILEAn updated budget form is now available. Adjustments have been made to mirror the Uniform Guidance. This standard budget form is used for all grant lines.
DOWNLOAD FILENMHC uses Foundant as our grants management portal to manage applications and reporting. All eligible organizations may create a profile.
LOG INRotate your phone to view the information below.
The major grant line is NMHC's more traditional grant which focuses on larger humanities projects that span a greater period of time. Separately, the quick grant line was developed in order to be more responsive to the needs of communities and to increase humanities programming throughout the state. The quick grant line seeks to shorten the time frame between when an application is submitted and when the initial payment is issued.
Subaward grants support statewide public programs that create meaning and foster dialogue, inquiry and connection. These sponsored projects and events help us reflect on the human condition, our lived experiences, and the ties that unite us through the lens of traditions, storytelling, culture, literature, language preservation, ethics and the environment.
Individuals and pass-through entities are not eligible for subaward grant funding.
Separately, for organizations that are actively leading and managing a project, please review the provided information to ensure you are currently eligible to apply.
Our staff is committed to working with you to ensure you are "application ready." As part of this process, we require that all new and returning applicants participate in a preliminary planning process with NMHC staff.
While each grant funded project is required to have specific key project personnel, we also look for projects that include key community collaborators.
We believe in order for transformative change to happen we must seek to understand who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be. For these reasons, we encourage organizations to design projects that include the voices of community elders, tribal leaders, tradition bearers and scholars that have a direct relationship to the project's content.
Our major grant program supports educational projects which seek to foster connection, understanding and demonstrate a tangible plan to create a positive community impact. For these reasons, it is important that audience engagement remains a key focal point in both the planning and execution phases of the project.
The New Mexico Humanities Council is a pass-through entity regranting federal funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Each state has a Council that receives a limited amount of funds. For these reasons, all funding requests must adhere to federal guidelines and stated funding caps. All sub-award grants must be met with a one-to-one cost-sharing match.
Make sure your organization is ready to apply and ensure your application is as competitive as it can be. Check out our reference guides to complete an assessment of your proposal.