Nevada Humanities American Rescue Plan

Recovery Program Grants

Recovery Program Grants are intended to provide capacity building and programmatic support to public humanities organizations and cultural institutions, including Nevada 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and and government entities such as local and tribal governments, museums, libraries, historical societies and organizations, educational institutions, and other nonprofit or governmental humanities organizations that conduct significant humanities-focused programming. 

This funding will enable organizations that enhance and undertake public humanities programming to respond to the current and longer-term challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As Nevada’s humanities and cultural organizations plan and implement strategies to recover from the pandemic, this funding may be used to strategize, plan, evaluate, communicate, and implement public humanities programs. This funding should be considered in the context of helping Nevada’s humanities-focused cultural organizations prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Recovery Program Grants
Purpose: Capacity building and programmatic support
Application Deadline: October 21, 2021
Award Date: Mid-December 2021
Period of Performance: January 1 - October 31, 2022
Final Report Due: January 31, 2023

Fully review these guidelines and the Nevada Humanities American Rescue Plan Relief Operating Grant and Recovery Program Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before starting and submitting your application.

What Recovery Program Grant funds may support: 

Projects may include: 

  • Humanities-based projects, programs, and programmatic needs related to preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Salaries, taxes, and benefits for permanent employees as allocated for their work directly on the humanities-based project supported by this grant

  • Contractor and consultant needs that will directly enhance humanities programming

  • Marketing, public relations, or other communications needs related to to humanities programming and responding to or recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Technical/consultant needs related to a digital transition or in support of preservation and access programs 

  • Expansion, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, of outdoor, virtual, or alternative humanities programming and activities

  • Strategic planning and capacity building efforts related to preventing, preparing for, responding to, and/or recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) assessments and planning related to COVID-19 and the economic crisis

  • P.P.E., supplies, technical support, and software related to implementing humanities programs

  • Professional development opportunities for permanent staff that will directly relate to the applicant’s ability to successfully undertake and implement public humanities programming and to better recover from the COVID-19 pandemic

All projects must be humanities-focused. All projects must also align with the purpose of American Rescue Plan Act funding, which is to help organizations prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition: 

  • The humanities must be central in all funded projects. 

  • We recommend that you utilize humanities scholars and experts when planning and implementing the project. 

  • Applicants must comply with state and federal nondiscriminatory statutes. 

  • Grantees must retain auditable records of grant funds and cash and in-kind matching contributions and services for three years following the end of the grant period. 

  • Grantees must comply with federal regulations outlined with Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR Chapter I, and Chapter II, Parts 200, 215, 220, and 230, as set forth in the administrative requirement that apply to re-grantees in NEH’s General Terms and Conditions for General Support Grants to State Humanities Councils. 

  • The grantee may copyright any books, publications, films, or other copyrightable materials developed with Nevada Humanities grant funds. However, the United States government, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and Nevada Humanities retain royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use and authorize others to use such materials for nonprofit, educational purposes.

What Recovery Program Grant funds will not support:

  • Projects and expenses that fall outside of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences (including  the creation or performance of art; creative writing, autobiographies, memoirs, and  creative nonfiction; and quantitative social science research or policy studies) 

  • Activities that do not respond to the intent of the American Rescue Plan Act appropriation, which is to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Costs incurred prior to the start of the grant’s Period of Performance

  • Organizations without a DUNS number 

  • Unallowable expenses as defined in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles 

  • Events closed to the public (except K-12 school and correctional facility programs)

  • The preservation, organization, or description of materials that are not regularly accessible for research, education, or public programming

  • An institution’s general operating costs

  • Indirect costs

  • Overlapping project costs with any other pending or approved application(s) for federal funding and/or approved federal awards 

  • Funds for activities supported by other non-NEH federal funds 

  • Purchase of land or facilities, construction, renovation, or capital improvements 

  • The preservation, organization, or description of materials that are not regularly accessible for research, education, or public programming 

  • Promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view 

  • Advocacy or promotion of a particular program of social or political action 

  • Support of specific public policies or legislation 

  • Lobbying 

  • Purchase of food or beverages, archival and library acquisitions, academic fees or other degree-related expenses, courses, travel, book publication costs, cancelation costs, for-profit activities, capital expenses, environmental sustainability, eliminating or reducing existent debt or endowment contributions, prizes and awards, the regranting of funds, private and non-ADA accessible events/programs 

If you include unallowable expenses as part of your grant request, Nevada Humanities may reject your application or reduce the amount of your grant request accordingly. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office for guidance.

Recovery Program Grants Funding Level

Applicants may apply for grants ranging between $1,000 - $10,000. There is no match or cost share required.

How to Apply for a Recovery Program Grant

To apply for a Recovery Program Grant, register through the Nevada Humanities online grant system here, where you can also resume an application, view your awards, and submit your final report. The online grant system will open on August 21, 2021. You must apply for a Recovery Grant using Nevada Humanities online grant system. No hand-delivered, faxed, or email applications will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by the October 21, 2021, deadline. 

Fully review these guidelines and the Nevada Humanities American Rescue Plan Relief Operating Grant and Recovery Program Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before starting and submitting your application. You are responsible for providing all of the required documents and information. Each organization will create an organizational account via Nevada Humanities Fondant grant management program, then you may input the narrative answers for each question, complete and upload your project budget in the form provided, submit the required financial documents and support materials, and certify federal compliance. Additional supplemental materials, such as letters of support, are not required. A sample of the online application can be viewed here. 

Documents and Information Required

  • EIN Tax ID number 

  • DUNS number 

  • SAM registration (optional but encouraged to provide) 

  • Date of 501(c)(3) nonprofit determination 

  • Federal IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit determination letter 

  • Most recent audited financial statements - or, if your organization does not have an audit, your most recently filed Form 990 or 990-EZ or 990-N e-Postcard 

  • Annual operating revenue of at least $10,000 as reflected in your most recent audited financial statements or Form 990 

  • Annual audience served by your organization 

  • Narrative questions to be answered and an itemized project budget to be provided

Questions and Assistance

To request assistance with your application, contact Nevada Humanities’ grant coordinator Bobbie Ann Howell at bahowell@nevadahumanities.org or Aliza Berlin at apantoja@nevadahumanities.org. We regret that we will be unable to provide feedback on draft applications or grant decisions.

Nevada Humanities American Rescue Plan Relief and Recovery Grants are provided by Nevada Humanities and funded by Congress and the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 through the National Endowment for the Humanities.