FAQ |
Eligibility
Q: We don’t use the word “humanities” in our mission statement. Is that a problem?
A: No. To be eligible you must do a significant amount of humanities programming.
Q: How do I know if my organization is doing “significant” humanities programming?
A: Please describe your programming as requested in the application and make your case.
Q: My museum/library/historical society is attached to the city government, are we eligible?
A: Some museums and libraries are affiliated with units of local or Tribal government. These organizations are eligible for funding and are not required to have 501(c)(3) status, however all other eligibility criteria are required. If your museum or library has a foundation or friends group with 501(c)(3) status, they may apply on behalf of your library or museum. Eligibility is based on criteria for the museum or library, not the support organization.
Q: My organization is attached to a university but not technically a department. Are we eligible?
A: If your organization has its own 501(c)(3) that is not associated with a college or university it is eligible.
Q: If my organization receives a CARES grant from North Dakota Council on the Arts, are we also eligible to receive a Humanities ND CARES grant?
A: No. If your organization receives CARES funding from North Dakota Council on the Arts, you may not receive a Humanities North Dakota CARES Grant.
Q: Are matching funds required?
A: No. The emergency relief grants do not require matching funds.
Application
Q: Does my organization need a DUNS number in order to apply?
A: As required by federal guidelines, applicants must have a DUNS number in order to receive funds. A DUNS number can take up to two business days to receive. You may acquire a DUNS number from the DUNS Request Service website.
Q: Doesn’t it take a long time to get a DUNS? What if we don’t get it in time?
A: It ordinarily takes 2 business days to receive a DUNS number. Applicants must have a valid DUNS number at the time that they submit their application.
Q: When do I have to apply?
A: Applications must be submitted by 4:30pm on June 1.
Q: Do we need a fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent?
A: The organization that is applying for the grant must also receive the funds. There is no separate organization termed “fiscal sponsor.” You do need a person from your organization – a staff person or board member, for example — to act as the fiscal agent. This person cannot be same person as the project director.
Q: Can the Project Director and the Fiscal Agent be the same person?
A: No. The “Fiscal Agent” is the person responsible for maintaining financial records of grant expenditures and submitting financial reports to Humanities North Dakota. The “Project Director” is the person responsible for the submission of the grant application. The “Project Director” and the “Fiscal Agent” must be two different people.
Q: Can you send me the application?
A: Because of the volume of applications and because HND staff are working remotely from their homes, all CARES applications must be submitted electronically through the application portal on this website.
Grants
Q: Do we have to pay the money back?
A: No.
Q: How much are the grants?
A: The maximum grant award is $50,000.
Q: Do the grants need to be used for humanities projects?
A: YES. The CARES Relief Grants are intended to aid non-profit organizations that are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Grants are for general operating expenses, such as salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment, as well as, public humanities program costs. All of the funds requested may be used for general operating expenses as long as a public program or programs are being sustained as a result of CARES funding.
Q: Can previously incurred expenses be included in the budget?
A: Yes. Retroactive expenses are allowed as long as they were incurred from March 27, 2020 to the present time.
Q: When will we find out if we receive a grant?
A: Applications will be reviewed and decisions announced via email within 20 business days of the application deadline.
Q: We don’t use the word “humanities” in our mission statement. Is that a problem?
A: No. To be eligible you must do a significant amount of humanities programming.
Q: How do I know if my organization is doing “significant” humanities programming?
A: Please describe your programming as requested in the application and make your case.
Q: My museum/library/historical society is attached to the city government, are we eligible?
A: Some museums and libraries are affiliated with units of local or Tribal government. These organizations are eligible for funding and are not required to have 501(c)(3) status, however all other eligibility criteria are required. If your museum or library has a foundation or friends group with 501(c)(3) status, they may apply on behalf of your library or museum. Eligibility is based on criteria for the museum or library, not the support organization.
Q: My organization is attached to a university but not technically a department. Are we eligible?
A: If your organization has its own 501(c)(3) that is not associated with a college or university it is eligible.
Q: If my organization receives a CARES grant from North Dakota Council on the Arts, are we also eligible to receive a Humanities ND CARES grant?
A: No. If your organization receives CARES funding from North Dakota Council on the Arts, you may not receive a Humanities North Dakota CARES Grant.
Q: Are matching funds required?
A: No. The emergency relief grants do not require matching funds.
Application
Q: Does my organization need a DUNS number in order to apply?
A: As required by federal guidelines, applicants must have a DUNS number in order to receive funds. A DUNS number can take up to two business days to receive. You may acquire a DUNS number from the DUNS Request Service website.
Q: Doesn’t it take a long time to get a DUNS? What if we don’t get it in time?
A: It ordinarily takes 2 business days to receive a DUNS number. Applicants must have a valid DUNS number at the time that they submit their application.
Q: When do I have to apply?
A: Applications must be submitted by 4:30pm on June 1.
Q: Do we need a fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent?
A: The organization that is applying for the grant must also receive the funds. There is no separate organization termed “fiscal sponsor.” You do need a person from your organization – a staff person or board member, for example — to act as the fiscal agent. This person cannot be same person as the project director.
Q: Can the Project Director and the Fiscal Agent be the same person?
A: No. The “Fiscal Agent” is the person responsible for maintaining financial records of grant expenditures and submitting financial reports to Humanities North Dakota. The “Project Director” is the person responsible for the submission of the grant application. The “Project Director” and the “Fiscal Agent” must be two different people.
Q: Can you send me the application?
A: Because of the volume of applications and because HND staff are working remotely from their homes, all CARES applications must be submitted electronically through the application portal on this website.
Grants
Q: Do we have to pay the money back?
A: No.
Q: How much are the grants?
A: The maximum grant award is $50,000.
Q: Do the grants need to be used for humanities projects?
A: YES. The CARES Relief Grants are intended to aid non-profit organizations that are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Grants are for general operating expenses, such as salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment, as well as, public humanities program costs. All of the funds requested may be used for general operating expenses as long as a public program or programs are being sustained as a result of CARES funding.
Q: Can previously incurred expenses be included in the budget?
A: Yes. Retroactive expenses are allowed as long as they were incurred from March 27, 2020 to the present time.
Q: When will we find out if we receive a grant?
A: Applications will be reviewed and decisions announced via email within 20 business days of the application deadline.