The Wisconsin Humanities Council will be providing rapid-response funding to non-profit humanities and cultural organizations that are facing financial hardship resulting from COVID-19. These grants are funded by the federal CARES Act via the National Endowment for the Humanities.
#69982e;">Deadlines and application process The application will be available next week. We will share information on the #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">Wisconsin Humanities Council website, on #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">Facebook, and in this newsletter.
- The first deadline is 4:30pm on May 15 with additional deadlines to follow.
- Applications will be reviewed and decisions announced via email within 15 days of the application deadline.
- In the interest of speed, WHC staff are not able to review drafts of Wisconsin Humanities CARES applications. Questions about the application may be #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">directed to Meg Turville-Heitz.
#69982e;">Things to know NOW about CARES Act Relief Grants in Wisconsin • Grants of up to $10,000 will be available to non-profit organizations across Wisconsin that provide humanities programming as a significant part of their mission and that are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. • Grants are available for general operating expenses only. These include expenses such as salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment. (Organizations seeking humanities program support should apply for a #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">WHC Mini or Major grant. • No matching funds are required.
#69982e;">Eligibility: To be eligible for Wisconsin Humanities CARES Relief Grants, an organization must:
- Provide humanities programming to the general public as a significant part of its mission (see humanities defined here)
- Have been in continuous operation for at least two years as a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization as certified by the Internal Revenue Service. #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">Check IRS status here.
- Be physically located in Wisconsin and have Wisconsin residents as its primary audience
- Have at least one staff member (full or part-time) who is a paid employee of the organization
- Have total annual expenses of not more than $500,000 in the most recent fiscal year OR have no more than $500,000 as the average of the past three completed fiscal years. (Expenses include all operating, overhead and programmatic expenses for the organization.)
- Be experiencing financial hardship due to the effects of COVID-19. (Hardship includes, but is not limited to reduction, loss or furlough of paid staff or significant loss of revenue.)
#69982e;">Not eligible for funding:
- Individuals
- For-profit organizations
- Organizations with annual budgets of more than $500,000 (organizations with larger budgets may be eligible for #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">funding directly from the National Endowment for the Humanities)
- Organizations solely focused on the arts (check #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">Wisconsin Arts Board grants)
- Political or advocacy organizations
- Government agencies (libraries ARE eligible for funding)
- Universities, colleges, or academic departments
- K-12 institutions
#69982e;">Funding priorities:
- Support cultural organizations that provide humanities programming and that are facing hardship due to closures and economic impacts related to COVID-19
- Assist organizations in all regions of Wisconsin
#69982e;">Other requirements to be aware of as you prepare to apply:
- 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. For instructions on acquiring a DUNS number immediately via telephone please see #007c89; text-decoration-line: underline;">information here. You may also acquire a DUNS number from #007c89;">the DUNS Request Service website.
- Applicants must upload a SIGNED W-9 form at the time that your application is submitted.