Deadline: 12-Nov-21
Applications are now open for the Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr. History Fund to provide support for projects at historical organizations throughout the state of Maryland.
The goal is to build the long-term resiliency and efficacy of museums, historic sites, and other organizations that make up Maryland’s heritage community. The Miller History Fund is made possible by an annually recurring allocation from the state’s Preservation of Cultural Arts Fund. This fund was proposed by late Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. “Mike” Miller in the 2018 legislative session and enacted into law. The Maryland Center for History and Culture named the fund—formerly known as the Pathways Grant Program—in Senator Miller’s honor in 2021.
The Maryland Center for History and Culture administers this grant program as an extension of their mission to educate people of all ages about the rich history and culture of Maryland and the nation.
Funding Information
The Miller History Fund anticipates making 10-12 awards per year. The award maximum is $20,000 and the award minimum is $10,000.
Eligible Projects
Examples of Eligible Projects:
- New marketing initiatives;
- Strategic planning;
- Professional development for staff and volunteers;
- Collections stewardship or digitization projects;
- A campaign or fundraising feasibility study;
- Sustaining public programs or exhibitions that build new audiences;
- A new interpretive framework for a major site or permanent exhibition.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants will steward and interpret locally based, historically significant sites and landscapes; museum and library collections; and/or educational assets as a core part of their mission activities. Eligible applicants will be incorporated, non-profit organizations in good standing with the State of Maryland and in operation for a minimum of two years in the State of Maryland; have an annual operating budget below $2 million; and public funding will constitute less than 50% of their annual operating budget.
- Government agencies, individuals, businesses, organizations lacking non-profit status for a minimum of two years, any organization with an annual operating budget exceeding $2 million, or any organization that receives the majority of their support from government sources are ineligible for this grant opportunity. Applicants that are not primarily located in Maryland are ineligible. Organizations that have received a past Miller History Fund grant must wait a minimum of one grant cycle after the conclusion of their awarded grant period to reapply.
- Applicants are encouraged to partner with other organizations on project proposals. While typical fiscal sponsorships wherein a formal non-profit organization takes on grant receipt and administration obligations for non-eligible organizations are not permitted, established history non-profits may partner with and allocate grant funds to non-traditional partners such as faith-based groups or social service organizations. In this case, one applicant history or cultural organization will serve as the primary project lead and administrator, but all organizations included in the grant project’s proposed scope of work must submit letters of support that demonstrate legal authority and capacity to commit to the project.
For more information, visit https://www.mdhistory.org/about/miller-history-fund/
