Museum & Library Style Exhibit Grants

Grant Overview

The SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) offers Competitive Grants in the following funding opportunity levels Monthly Grants (up to $15,000), Major Grants ($15,001 to $125,000), and Premier Project Grants ($125,001+).

 

Monthly Grants are reviewed monthly with a deadline on the first business day of each month at 3:00 P.M. Major Grants are reviewed quarterly. Premier Grants’ deadlines are also quarterly and will go through two rounds of review including a presentation to the full Commission or Executive Committee.

 

One of the grant types available is the Museum & Library Style Exhibit Grant. To aid in connecting each community to their local SC American Revolution history, SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) will be issuing grants for the creation of museum and library style exhibit displays, with the hope of customizing the panels to the local American Revolution history. Please keep in mind that these exhibits can be “digital” and/or not located inside a museum. A great way to get outside our history tent and take the story to where the foot traffic is located!

Application/Project Planning Tips
Soldier in front of a map of South Carolina.

Grant Details

  • The new American Revolution interpretative exhibits must be easily visible and accessible to the public. This could be inside a public or NGO (a nonprofit organization that operates independently of any government) owned building or in a space where there is free or reduced cost access to the exhibit.
  • The interpretation should feature significant local Revolutionary Era people, places, events, or ideas.
  • In addition to standard local histories, applicants are encouraged to also tell their Revolutionary Era stories from non-traditional points of view, such as Loyalist – Women – Children – enslaved and free African Americans – Native Americans, etc.
  • Project Sponsor must agree to display the interpretation through 2033; however, the panels may be relocated by mutual consent.
  • The interpretation’s message must be accurate – sources fully documented, or called “tradition” or “legend”.
  • All panels/materials must be approved by SC250 prior to production.
  • The Project Sponsor will supply its proposed Budget and Timeline for completion.
  • The interpretation must display SC250th Commission’s and SC Liberty Trail’s logos.
  • The interpretation should be engaging and graphically rich.
  • Grant recipients must obtain a permanent and transferable right for themselves and SC250 and its succession designee to use any images, wording, design, and layout. Recipients will make sure that the images can be used by recipient and/or SC250 in promotional materials in addition to the panel. Exceptions to this must be preapproved by SC250.
  • The interpretation should encourage visitation of the local “visitable” Revolutionary War sites.
  • When the interpretation is retired for any reason, the materials become the sole property of the SC250th Commission or its succession designee, which may use it or parts thereof in any manner it sees fit.
  • The interpretation must be of sufficient size to convey messages and draw attention.
  • The interpretation may be updated, amended, video or other media added, or repaired by agreement of the parties.
  • The project can be a strictly a traditional interpretive panel or it can include interactive manipulables such as flip charts and/or media such as audio and video tablets, etc.
  • Project Sponsor shall provide all project management and select all artists, vendors, and consultants.

Official County 250 Committees, Local Governments, Tribes, Museums, Historical Societies, Visitor Centers, Chambers of Commerce, Universities/Colleges, Non-Profit Organizations, SC Council of Governments, Regional Tourism Commissions, Other SC Organizations or Businesses with Public/Private Partnerships. Please note that County and Municipal Governments may designate third-party recipients (for example non-profit organizations) to receive grants provided that the local government applies on their behalf and the Chief Elected Official of the local government signs the application. All applicants must be located in SC.

Apply through the Discover SC Web Grant program making sure to include the following checklist:

  • Register with the Discover SC Web Grant program – Please note this program manages all SCPRT and SC250 Grants. Pro Tip: When completing registration make sure to select SC250 – SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission under Program Area of Interest.
  • Under Funding Opportunities make sure to select the correct grant – Agency: SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission Title: SC American Revolution Monthly Grant (or Major or Premier)
  • General Information Form
  • Cover Sheet Form
    • Make sure to select Museum & Library Style Exhibit Grant for the Grant Type.
  • Grant Narrative including Estimated Timeline & Anticipated Outcomes / Deliverables
  • Assurances & Certifications
  • Support Materials (*Required)
    • Contact SpreadsheetClick Here for a Sample Spreadsheet
      • Project Sponsor staff/members who would like to be added to SC250 enewsletter, etc. and VIPs to keep in the loop (Local Media, Elected Officials, Volunteers, Donors, etc.)
    • Fiscal Agent Documentation*
      • Fiscal Agent’s W-9 (make sure it is signed)
      • Fiscal Agent’s adopted budget for the current year
      • Fiscal Agent’s operating financial statement for last fiscal year
        • If the Fiscal Agent has just been established, some documentation to that fact.
      • If the applicant or fiscal agent is a Non-Profit, we also need the following documentation:
        • IRS 501c3 letter or 501c6 letter (not an EIN letter, but non-profit designation letter)
        • Secretary of State Annual Charity Registration letter (make sure it has not expired)
        • List of Board members
        • Mission of Non-Profit
    • Letter of Support from your local SC County 250 Committee.
      • SC250 would like to ensure that your County 250 group is in the loop when you are applying. We get more done together! Click Here for a list of contacts for the local county committees. Don’t see your county contact? Reach out to hhawkins@southcarolina250.com.
      • If the fiscal agent or project director is the official County 250 Committee, you can skip this attachment.
      • If you are not located in SC but are working on American Revolution in SC material, upload a document that states such.
    • Memorandum of Understanding with proposed location host if not in a facility owned by the grant applicant*
    • Based on how far the planning process has progressed, if available please include description or diagram of wall or other space in the facility dedicated to the exhibit with measurements. Concept sketch-design-drawing and content of proposed exhibit or a narrative of the exhibit’s concept idea.
    • Any other documents that support your request. For example: if planning on using grant funds to pay a consultant, you can submit resume and/or sample works of consultant if already selected / REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) if not.
    • Applicants are encouraged to submit early and/or contact SC250 to discuss.
  • Grant Application Budget
    • Budget Best Practices: 
      • Not all budget categories may be compatible with your grant type. Feel free to skip a section.
      • If the grant request amount is part of a larger budget, please only include SC250 funding requests in each breakdown section.
      • Make sure to not exceed the total amount available for this grant type in the breakdown SC250 request sections. This up to amount is listed on the Funding Opportunity main page or just below in the Amount section.
      • The total budget could be larger if you have additional funding from other sources. If there are any additional funds in your total budget, document them in the Cost Share / Matching Funds section.
      • Personnel refers to staffing, while contractual refer to any person you are hiring for a specific task.
      • Administrative staffing should represent no more than 20% of the budget request.
  • Applicants are encouraged to submit early and/or contact SC250 to discuss.

Based on grant level.

Monthly Grant FY25 Anticipated Deadlines: The first business day of each month at 3:00 P.M. Eastern
8/1/24, 9/2/24, 10/1/24, 11/4/24, 12/2/24, 1/3/25, 2/3/25, 3/3/25, 4/1/25, 5/1/25, 6/2/25
Major & Premier Grant FY25 Anticipated Deadlines: Quarterly at 3:00 P.M. Eastern
9/26/24, 12/13/24, 3/26/25, 6/26/25
All deadlines are not postmarked dates as all applications must be submitted in the Discover SC Web Grants program. Dates subject to change.

Monthly Grant FY25 Anticipated Award Dates: The first business day of the following month
Major & Premier Grant FY25 Anticipated Award Dates: 11/18/24, 3/17/25, 5/19/25, 9/16/25
Application responses can be award/fund, award/partially fund, not award, and requiring more due diligence for a final decision. More due diligence would, of course, delay a final award date if eventually approved. This is especially true with expensive site grants. Pro Tip: plan ahead and leave plenty of time between your application and the project start date.

Based on grant level. Monthly Grants do not require a match. However, match and partnerships are highly encouraged. Major Grants require a 20% match. Premier Grants require a 25% match. This is a % of the total budget (not a % of the ask).
Tip for figuring 20% match: Divide the grant request amount by .80 then multiple that number by .20.
Match can exceed match requirement amount.

Make sure to include details about those matching funds in your grant application budget. It is great to document on grant budgets in-kind match such as volunteer hours, food donated by the local merchants association, etc. This shows great local buy in! However, please keep in mind that in-kind donations cannot be used for required matching percentage. 

Remember that final reports will require documentation that any required matching funds have been expended (invoices and proof of payment).

Competitive Grants will be distributed with 80% upfront and 20% reimbursed upon approval of completed final report including documentation of deliverables, measurement of success, and receipts/proof of payment showing the full grant amount plus any required match has been spent on the project.

Application/Project Planning Tips

*Grant funding is dependent on allocations from the State Legislature each year. SC250 may choose to fund, not fund, or partially fund applications. The Commission retains the right to make exceptions or alter the up to amount that may be approved for each grant. All information is intended to be a summary and subject to change. Contact info@SouthCarolina250.com or 803-898-3392 for more information.

We Are Here To Help

SC250 Commission would like to allocate to as many communities around the state as possible so please call or email us to discuss your project before you apply to make sure you have everything you need for your application. You can also sign up for a one-on-one virtual consultation.

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SC250 Webinars

The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) each year hold a series of webinars to help counties get organized, groups apply for grants and opportunities to learn more about the amazing role South Carolina played in the founding of our nation.

Upcoming Webinar

Meet the Funders

Friday, October 11, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern

View Webinars

Grant Recipient Guidance

Through the award, the Commission hopes to form a partnership wherein we provide support to your project and in turn we learn more about and contribute to further telling the story of the Revolutionary Era (1770-1783) in South Carolina. We share your goal to tell a more inclusive story and capture history for the future.

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