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America250KY Grant Program

The America250KY Grant Program

To help communities and history organizations commemorate and celebrate the 250th, the Kentucky Historical Society is proud to announce the America250KY grant program! The America250KY grants aim to improve the programming and sustainability of Kentucky’s museums and historic sites as they commemorate the 250 years of American history since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Funding up to $10,000, museums in Kentucky, local history organizations, public libraries, educational institutions, applicable government agencies, and 501(c)3 not-for-profit institutions are eligible for grant funds. Please see the attached Grants Fact Sheet for more information. 

Eligibility 

The following may apply: 

Museums in Kentucky, local history organizations, public libraries, educational institutions, applicable government agencies, and 501 (c)3 not-for-profit institutions are eligible for grant funds. 

Those who are NOT eligible include for-profit businesses or private individuals. 

Criteria 

Examples of eligible projects include: 

  • Research 
  • Publications 
  • Exhibition implementation 
  • Interpretive signs 
  • Events and public programs 
  • Educational programs 
  • Production and implementation of tours 
  • Planning, including research, collections assessments, exhibition planning, event/programming planning Collections management planning, materials, or software 
  • Collections preservation, stewardship, or storage supplies and materials 
  • Digital history projects 

Projects that are NOT eligible include:

  • Brick-and-mortar projects (i.e. window replacements, shingle repairs, etc.) 
  • Building maintenance, utilities, grounds keeping, insurance costs, interest or debt 
  • Payments, or other projects that KHS considers to fall under an organizations' day-to-day or administrative operations Personnel, payroll, or benefits 
  • Purchasing collections 
  • Public art 
  • State historical markers 
  • Fundraising events 
  • Oral history projects (the Kentucky Oral History Commission, administered by the Kentucky Historical Society, already offers a variety of grants for the preservation and creation of oral histories; visit here for more information) 

Application scoring is based on the following: 

  • Relevance of project to America250KY themes (30%)
  • Demonstrated ability to complete project (30%)
  • Outcomes and Impact (25%) 
  • Originality and quality (10%) 
  • Budget (5%) 

Application Deadline: October 25, 2024 

Award Notification: December 3, 2024 

Fiscal Year: 2025 

Maximum Amount: $10,000 

Cash Match or In-Kind Match Requirement: No 

Agency Name: Kentucky Historical Society 

Description: The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, has full accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and is a founding member of the History Relevance Campaign. The Kentucky Historical Society works to educate and engage the public through Kentucky history in order to meet the challenges of the future. 

To apply, please complete the attached America250KY Grant Application and email it to America250KY@ky.gov. 

Please direct all questions concerning grant funds to America250KY@ky.gov.