MHAA Offers COVID-19 Emergency Operating Grant Opportunity
We are pleased to share that the MHAA COVID-19 Emergency Operating Grants for Nonprofits are now open. The guidelines are below for your reference.
Nonprofit heritage tourism organizations located within the boundaries of Four Rivers Heritage Area (or the boundaries of any of Maryland’s Certified Heritage Areas) that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis are eligible to apply for Emergency Grants of up to $20,000.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with all applications received by the first of each month considered as a group. The first deadline is May 1. Download the Grant Guidelines here: COVID19Emergency Grant Guidelines FINAL
Eligibility
Nonprofit heritage tourism organizations located within the boundaries of a Certified Heritage Area that are experiencing disruption of operations due directly to the economic implications and ramifications of the State of Emergency declared on March 5, 2020. (See a map of the Four Rivers boundaries here: Four Rivers map produced by Medusa.)
Eligible Expenditures
Operating costs associated with the COVID-19 State of Emergency, beginning March 5, 2020 and extending until 90 days after the end of the State of Emergency. Operating costs include any expenses that allow an organization to continue operations and to safeguard heritage resources during and after the pandemic, including, but not limited to, staff salaries, utilities, insurance, contractor services, rent and mortgage payments.
Additional Eligibility Criteria
- Grantees may receive a maximum of $20,000 in aggregate emergency operating awards per fiscal year.
- Grantees who chose to convert an existing grant to cover emergency operating expenditures are not eligible to apply for an emergency grant until the following fiscal year.
Maximum Award Amount
$20,000, which must be matched 1-to-1 with any combination of cash and in-kind non-state support; there is no minimum award amount.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted online here: https://bit.ly/MHAACOVIDGrant
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and all applications received by the first of the month will be reviewed as a group. The first deadline for applications is May 1, 2020.
Grants will be reviewed by a review committee and awarded by the Administrator of the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. Award decisions will be made by the 15th of each month until funds are exhausted.
Award of Grants
Applications received by the first of each month will be reviewed by a grants review panel made up of MHAA members, and decisions will be made by the 15th of each month until funds are exhausted. Grant agreement and payment processing will be expedited as quickly as possible, but probably would take at least 45 days after the grant agreement is signed.
If funds available for Emergency Grants in a fiscal year are exhausted, any eligible, unawarded applications will be rolled into the next fiscal year’s round, if applicable, for consideration Disbursement of Funds and Reporting Funds, if awarded, will be disbursed in a single lump sum upon execution of a simplified grant agreement. A final report will be submitted at the end of the grant period, including a certification of expenditures. Grantees will be subject to random spot-checking of financial documentation.
Review Criteria
- Alignment with program and heritage area goals and objectives
- Do your organization’s mission and activities align with MHAA and local Heritage Area goals (MHAA goals include developing heritage tourism product, building partnerships, and sustaining regional identity)? Read more here: https://mht.maryland.gov/documents/PDF/MHAA/MHAA_StrategicPlan.pdf)
- Heritage Tourism and/or Historic Preservation Significance and Value
- How significant is the heritage tourism value and historic preservation value of your site or organization?
- Level of Reduced Operations and Anticipated Lost Revenue/Increased Costs
- What is the degree of your reduced operations and anticipated lost revenue and/or increased costs due to the crisis?
- Examples:
- Cancelled Fundraisers
- Cancelled School Trips and Tour Groups
- Lost Rental Revenue
- Lost Visitor Income
- Decreased Donations and Memberships
- Decreased Funding from Local Municipalities
- Extra Cleaning Costs
- Extra Staffing Costs
- Costs for setting up telework and remote meetings
- Costs for virtual experiences and learning opportunities
- Marketing expenses to maintain awareness and target audiences
- Severity and Urgency of Need
- What actions will your organization be forced to take due to the impacts detailed above if you are not able to secure alternative sources of funding? How quickly will your organization hit a point when the organization leadership needs to take these actions?
- Examples:
- Reduction of staff
- Unable to pay rent/utilities
- Potential closure of organization
- Have spent all reserves and will need to take action in the next month
- Examples:
- What actions will your organization be forced to take due to the impacts detailed above if you are not able to secure alternative sources of funding? How quickly will your organization hit a point when the organization leadership needs to take these actions?
- Intended Use of Emergency Funds
- How will the funds be used and how will they help your organization?
- Examples:
- Allow organization to keep staff on payroll for an additional period of time
- Cover utility bills for X months
- Other Considerations – These will not be scored, but will be part of the committee discussion
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- Availability of other emergency funds awarded to the organization – has your organization applied for other emergency operating assistance? If known, have these applications been successful or unsuccessful in securing funds?
- Geographic Diversity
- Organizations that represent Maryland’s cultural and human diversity
Questions?
Contact Jennifer Ruffner ([email protected]) or Ennis Barbery Smith ([email protected])
Existing MHAA Grantees
If you are a Four Rivers Heritage Area partner with an existing MHAA grant, it may be eligible to be converted to help cover emergency COVID-19 operating costs. This is only for organizations with unspent portions of existing grant awards. If you have questions and are interested in doing this, you are invited to contact us at [email protected]. Or, complete this short online form and MHAA staff will follow up with you.
We look forward to helping our partners with successful strategies for the future; let us know how we can all work better together, thanks!