Delaware 250: Grants for Museums, Heritage Groups, and Non-Profits

Delaware 250
Grants for Museums, Heritage Groups, and Non-Profits

Notice of Funding Opportunity

 

About Delaware 250

The year 2026 will see the United States Semiquincentennial, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s (and Delaware’s) independence. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on Delaware’s unique history and its contributions over the course of the nation’s history. This is a story that begins millennia before 1776 and continues to the present day. Although this anniversary is rooted in early American military history, this moment in time allows us to reflect upon and celebrate the plurality of histories within the Nation and State. Delaware 250 is an undertaking of the Delaware Heritage Commission, which is housed within the Delaware Public Archives and is part of the Delaware Department of State.

 

Purpose

The purpose of Delaware 250 grants is to support museums, libraries, non-profit organizations, historic sites, heritage groups, and other such groups in developing programs or other public-facing ventures that help to commemorate the 250th anniversary for Delawareans and Delaware’s visitors. Funding may also be used to conduct research into archival collections, in order to tell a fuller, better researched, or more inclusive story of the past. Grant funding may also support on-site improvements and other efforts to get sites “visitor-ready” for the Semiquincentennial. A potential project or undertaking need not be tied specifically to the history of the Revolutionary War, but it should contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Delaware’s rich history and heritage.

 

Applicants are encouraged to consider a full and inclusive interpretation of this anniversary, in keeping with Delaware 250 Overarching Themes:

  • Tell the full and honest story of Delaware’s past, which allows more people to see themselves reflected in our State’s history.
  • Frame 1776 as a beginning, not the end, of our American story, as we continually strive toward creating “a more perfect union.”
  • Cultivate a deeper appreciation for Delaware’s history among state residents and visitors, so that we may celebrate our history and inspire the next generation of caretakers of the rich and diverse histories of our State.

All undertakings must include a public-facing element, which should be clearly articulated in the grant narrative.

Potential applicants with questions about their projects are encouraged to contact Margaret Hughes, Delaware 250 Coordinator, at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov or (302) 744-5067.

 

Eligibility

Eligible entities must be registered non-profit organizations with a board of trustees and must be open to the public on a regular basis or must regularly offer programs or provide a service to the public. Entities must be based in the State of Delaware, and proposed undertakings must benefit or be in service of Delawareans. Individuals are not eligible to apply for grants on their own, although organizations may include individuals as researchers, speakers, artists, creators, etc. within a grant application.

Eligible expenses include (but are not limited to):

  • The development or implementation of programs or resources for the public related to the Semiquincentennial
  • The research, development, or mounting of special exhibits or cultural or artistic undertakings related to the Semiquincentennial
  • Honoraria for speakers, performers, or other outside experts
  • Purchasing of materials related to such undertakings
  • Hiring of temporary workers or wages for part-time staff, specifically for a program, project, or research directly tied to the Semiquincentennial
  • Physical or infrastructure improvements to get sites “visitor ready” for the public
  • Taking steps necessary to make collections accessible to the public, whether through digital means, allowing for on-site access, or other means of access
  • Archival or archaeological research, for purposes of telling a fuller, better-researched, or more inclusive story of the past
  • Materials, supplies, or part-time wages incurred for training of part-time staff and/or volunteers on new interpretive plans, relevant to the 250th anniversary

Ineligible expenses include (but are not limited to):

  • Salaries for full-time staff or for regularly-scheduled part-time staff as part of their ongoing work (i.e., staffing for regularly scheduled tours)
  • Ongoing operational expenses
  • Programs that advance a political agenda or advocate for a public policy

Organizations may be eligible for more than one Delaware 250 grant between January 2024 and December 2026, although they may submit only one application at a time and must finish one grant and submit a final report before applying for another.

 

Funding Amounts

We encourage applicants to consider the ranges of:

  • Up to $5,000
  • $5,001 to $10,000
  • $10,000 and above

There is no match required, and Delaware 250 grants may be eligible to be used as matching funds for grants that require a match (for example, federal grants).

 

Timeframe

Applications will be considered in quarterly cycles, beginning in Spring 2024 and continuing through 2026.

For Funding In Application Deadline Grant Review Grant Notification Grant Report
Spring 2024 April 1, 2024 April/May 2024 By May 30, 2024 No later than August 31, 2025
Summer 2024 July 15th, 2024 July/August 2024 By August 31, 2024 No later than November 30, 2025
Fall 2024 October 15, 2024 October/ November 2024 By November 30, 2024 No later than February 28, 2025
Winter 2025 January 15, 2025 January/February 2025 By February 28, 2025 No later than May 31, 2026

Subsequent years will follow a similar schedule.

All funds must be spent within twelve months of receiving funds and a final report submitted within three months of the program’s conclusion or of funds being spent. Failure to file a final report may result in ineligibility for subsequent funding. Unspent funds must be returned to Delaware 250.

 

To Apply

Applications must include:

  • Grant narrative explaining the purpose of the proposed program or undertaking, the need or interest it fills, anticipates the audience, and how it relates to the 250th anniversary and to the Delaware 250 themes, as outlined above. Please be sure to include a description of the public-facing elements of this undertaking. The narrative should be in the range of three (3) to five (5) pages, although applicants requesting larger funding amounts should take care to explain their projects in full detail and may use additional pages as necessary to do so.
  • Description of the group or organization’s work, including its mission and vision statements, as relevant, and the services, opportunities, or programming that the group or organization typically offers to the public.
  • Itemized budget, explaining all expenses for which funding is requested. For budgets that include wages of part-time staff or contracted work, please identify the rate of pay and the hours of work the grant will cover. For proposals that include collaboration between two or more entities, the budget should clearly identify how funds will be allocated among the collaborators.
  • Two (2) letters of support from community members knowledgeable about the organization and endorsing the proposed project or program. Letters of support may not come from board members, staff/volunteers, or their immediate family.
  • In the event that an application includes a collaboration between two or more entities, each partner must submit a letter testifying to their participation and to the financial allocations as presented in the itemized budget.

 

In addition, applicants may include any supplemental materials that they feel helps to support their application. Please include descriptions of these materials in narrative or as a separate document.

Applications should be emailed as a Word document or PDF to Margaret Hughes at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov.

Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Delaware 250 Steering Committee. The Executive Committee will make recommendations to the full committee in the quarterly committee meetings (held in February, May, August, and November).

Successful applicants will be required to enroll in the State of Delaware’s vendor system in order to receive grant monies. Details about this process will be provided upon notification of grant funding approval. All Delaware 250 grant funding will go through this system.

Potential applicants with questions about their projects are encouraged to contact Margaret Hughes, Delaware 250 Coordinator, at margaret.hughes@delaware.gov or (302) 744-5067.

You can download these guidelines here.

 


The State of Delaware hires 250th Anniversary Coordinator

GEARING UP FOR THE CELEBRATIONS The State of Delaware hires 250th Anniversary Coordinator

The Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives are pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Margaret Hughes for the position of The State of Delaware’s 250th Anniversary Coordinator. Ms. Hughes will be responsible for communicating, coordinating, and collaborating with individuals, organizations, and entities to advance and implement both public and private activities that celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. She will work closely with and actively support an array of historical, educational, and tourism organizations state-wide to maximize opportunities related to the commemorative period.

Ms. Hughes brings with her almost twenty years of experience as a museum educator consultant, having worked at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and Historic Hudson Valley in New York. Ms. Hughes has also served as a reviewer for grants to the National Endowment for the Humanities and is a current member of the University of Delaware Anti-racism Initiative Project. Ms. Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, a master’s degree in museum education, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the History of American Civilization at the University of Delaware.

Interview requests may be directed to Margaret.Hughes@Delaware.gov or by calling 302-744-5067.

 

Pictured in Photo:
Stephen M. Marz, CA, Director & State Archivist, Delaware Public Archives; Margaret Hughes, The State of Delaware 250th Anniversary Coordinator and Richard “Dick” Carter, Chairperson, Delaware Heritage Commission


Heritage Commission Book of the Week: The Adams Home Farm of Northwest Fork Hundred

In this monograph, Catherine Adams Masek examines the life and times of the Adams family and the farm they’ve lived on for seven generations. In fact, the farm has been continuously operated by the same family since 1862! Including original family photographs, this is an incredible story of family and tradition, through the lens of rural Delaware.
 
The Adams Home Farm of Northwest Fork Hundred
– by Catherine A. Masek

 

You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.

 

 

Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

Delaware Heritage Commission Logo

 


Heritage Commission’s Book of the Week: The Perennial Apprentice

Delaware’s history can be found all around us, not only in textbooks, but in the buildings and homes that we live and work in. Our state’s architecture has been influenced by several hundred years of growth, development, and cultural exchange, and many of these historic buildings are still standing in our towns and communities. George F. Bennett’s “The Perennial Apprentice” discusses Delaware’s architecture, from early settlement to the 20th century. Featuring photographs and illustrations of buildings from all over the state, this book is sure to be a hit with historians and craftsmen alike.
 
The Perennial Apprentice: 60 Year Scrapbook of Architecture, 1916 to 1976
– by George Fletcher Bennett

 

You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.

 

 

Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

Delaware Heritage Commission Logo

 


Heritage Commission Book of the Week: Gov. Charles L. Terry – Oral History Series

Our Oral History continues this week with its fourth installment: Governor Charles Terry. This volume was written by Ned Davis, Governor Terry’s Press Secretary, and contains a study of Governor Terry and his administration, using oral histories, interviews with members of the administration, and Davis’ personal recollections.
– by Ned Davis

 

You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.

 

 

Find out more about the Delaware Heritage Commission here.

Delaware Heritage Commission Logo