Cultural and Ethnic Studies Grants

An individual or organization is eligible to receive grant funding if they are in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and MHC. An individual or organization is in good standing with the IRS when they have completed all IRS reporting requirements and can receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.

An individual or organization is in good standing with MHC unless they have a history of untimely or inaccurate financial or program reports or an open grant beyond its closure date. If you are unsure whether you are in good standing with MHC, please contact us at submissions@mnhum.org. MHC may grant an eligibility exemption to an organization if the applicant uses a fiscal agent.

Applications due no later than: April 7, 2025, 6:00 p.m. CDT

Applications under review: beginning April 8, 2025

Funding available following execution of the grant agreement.

Project End Date: May 31, 2026

All eligible applications will be evaluated on a 100–point scale using the following scoring factors and weight criteria:

(The term “community” in this section means a cultural community without a formal writing system that is primarily orally based including but not limited to the Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Oromo cultural communities)

Project Details (25)

• • Does the project concern a community identified in the enabling statute?

• • Is the primary purpose of the project to create cultural and ethnic study materials for an identified community?

• • What students are you attempting to reach with the project? Be specific with grade level, subject matter, educators, and number of schools.

• • Does the project identify how the applicant will work with Minnesota educators and/or Minnesota school officials?

• • Can you identify past success in creating cultural and ethnic study materials?

Community Involvement (25)

• • How were community members involved in developing this grant proposal?

• • How will the community be involved in implementing and evaluating the success of the project?

• • How were students from the community involved in the project?

• • Can you identify past success in collaborating with the community identified in the enabling statute?

School District Involvement (25)

• • How did you involve educators or school officials in the design and development of your grant proposal?

• • How will educators or school officials be involved in implementing and evaluating the success of the project?

• • If applicable, how will this project build stronger relationships between educators, school officials, and community identified in the enabling statute?

• • Can you identify past success in collaborating with educators and school officials?

Project Management (25)

• • Does the project identify which individual(s) are responsible for ensuring the proper implementation, evaluation, and financial oversight of the project?

• • Does the submitted budget align with the proposed project?

• • Are itemized expenses detailed, clear, and consistent with Legacy?

• • Is the evaluation process, including criteria and methodology, clear?

• • If applicable, how will you ensure compliance with Minnesota competitive bid laws?

Applicants are encouraged to apply online through MHC’s grants management system. Applicants may also download and review the full application—Cultural & Ethnic Studies Grant Application (PDF).

We recommend reviewing the full application prior to logging on and setting up an account. You may save your initial application entries and subsequently return to the document to finish your application.

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Access Saved Application

Budget Template

Applicants must submit complete applications to be considered eligible. Applications contain the following sections:

• Applicant Contact Information
• Project Overview
• Project Alignment
• Project Narrative
• Project Budget

Please do not submit any additional materials other than what is requested, such as binders or photos, in the application.

Unrequested material will not be reviewed.

Please make sure that your proposal only seeks funding for events and activities that are allowable. Minnesota law does not allow legacy funding to be used to:

Legacy Funding Limitations

Legacy prohibits funds from being used to:

• • Cover costs incurred before the grant agreement is fully signed,

• • Start, match, add, or complete any type of capital campaign,

• • Support capital costs (such as improvements, construction, property, or equipment),

• • Support benefits and fundraisers,

• • Purchase promotional giveaway items such as t-shirts, keychains,

• • Fund out-of-state expenses such as out-of-state travel and/or contractor expenses,

• • Pay for indirect costs or overhead charges not directly related to the activities outlined in the project proposal,

• • Food expenses when expenses are either (i) incurred during the planning phase of the project, or (ii) are not essential to the final program,

• • Wages, salary, and benefits of staff for the time that such individuals are not working on the project.

• MHC’s Grants Management Agreement with MN Department of Administration (OGM) (PDF)
• Legacy Amendment
• Budget Template (PDF)
• Budget Template (Excel)
• FAQs (PDF)
• Troubleshooting your application (PDF)

If you have any questions about this RFP, applying in English is a barrier, or you need a reasonable accommodation to submit your application, please contact:

Briza Maldonado
Minnesota Humanities Center
Grants Administrator
987 Ivy Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55016
briza@mnhum.org