Promotion of the Humanities-Federal/State Partnership (45.129)

Program

45.129 Promotion of the Humanities-Federal/State Partnership

Federal Agency

Agency: National Endowment For The Humanities

Authorization

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, Public Law 89-209, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq. , Public Law 89-209, 20 U.S.C 951.

Program Number

45.129

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To promote local, statewide, and regional humanities programming through annual grants to humanities councils in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. The 56 councils conduct humanities projects and grant programs for local nonprofit organizations, institutions, and groups, and occasionally for individuals. Under the provisions of 20 U.S.C. 956(f)(8), only one entity in each State may receive assistance from NEH as the State humanities council.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants may be used to fund local, statewide, and regional humanities projects, subject to guidelines determined by each State humanities council.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Nonprofit citizen councils in the several States and territories which conform to the requirements of 20 U.S.C. 956(f). If the State matches a certain percentage of the Federal grant and meets other legislated requirements, the Governor may designate the existing Council as a State agency. The resulting agency becomes an eligible applicant.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State and local governments; sponsored organizations; public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations; other public institutions/organizations; Federally recognized Indian tribal governments; Native American organizations; U.S. Territories; non-government general; minority organizations; other specialized groups; and quasi-public nonprofit institutions which apply directly to the State Humanities Council.

Credentials/Documentation

Submission of an annual compliance plan and a self-assessment every five years from the council. Compliance requirements are outlined in 20 U.S.C. 956(f). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-122 as amended for nonprofit organizations. Currently, the 56 councils are excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Filing of a compliance plan is required from all councils annually and a self-assessment every five years. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure

Compliance plans are reviewed by Federal/State Partnership staff. Self-assessments are reviewed by teams of visiting scholars and other professionals. Awards are made by the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities after recommendation by the National Council on the Humanities.

Deadlines

Jun 01, 2010 June 1 for annual compliance plans. Timetable for submission of self-assessment material is flexible.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

> 180 Days. Variable: Six months.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: As established by the Congressional funding formula, each State council receives $200,000 of the definite funds appropriated to Federal/State Partnership. Of the remaining funds, 44 percent is divided equally among the States which have a population of 200,000 or more, 22 percent is allocated to each council on the basis of population, and 34 percent is awarded at the discretion of the Chairman of the agency. Total matching of the grant on a one-to-one basis is required. Source: 20 U.S.C. 956 (f)(4).

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Thirty-six months. Funds must be expended during the grant period. Funds are released as required. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Compliance plans are required annually. Cash report and an expenditure report are required quarterly. Final expenditure reports are due within 90 days after completion or termination of project support by NEH. Compliance plans are required annually. Cash report and an expenditure report are required quarterly. Final expenditure reports are due within 90 days after completion or termination of project support by NEH. Compliance plans are required annually. Cash report and an expenditure report are required quarterly. Final expenditure reports are due within 90 days after completion or termination of project support by NEH. Compliance plans are required annually. Cash report and an expenditure report are required quarterly. Final expenditure reports are due within 90 days after completion or termination of project support by NEH. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. For nongovernmental recipients, audits are to be carried out in accordance with the provisions set forth in OMB Circular No. A-110, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations Uniform Administrative Requirements" and with OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations." In addition, grants are subject to inspection and audits by NEH and other Federal officials.

Records

Documentation of expenditures and other fiscal records must be retained for three years following the submission of the final expenditure report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: A singular achievement of Federal/State Partnership has been the establishment, in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, and Guam of 56 continuing nonprofit organizations which have succeeded at serving as the link between the humanities and the interests and concerns of the States' citizens. In the last year, councils supported thousands of programs that reached millions of Americans. Councils are continuing to design and sponsor programs and produce materials that reach new audiences. In 2007 reports indicate that 50 councils sponsored K-12 teacher projects for a total of 1,302,697 participants; 36 councils sponsored literacy programs that drew 2,225,069 participants; 10,538,027 participated in reading and discussion programs; 31,906,841 participated in local history projects; 10,956,476 attended scholar-led seminars, conferences, and lectures; and 614,944 people attended Chautauqua type performances. Council-funded exhibitions attracted close to eleven million visitors, while council-funded media projects attracted 500 million viewers. Finally, 1.7 million K-12 students participated in council-funded projects. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

59-0200-0-1-503.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $39,455,531; FY 09 est $35,000,000; FY 10 est $38,515,000 - (Grants) FY 08 $39,455,531*; FY 09 est $35,000,000; and FY 10 est not reported $38,515,000 * Includes additional funding provided by NEH Treasury matching grants and by We the People. See 45.168 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES-WE THE PEOPLE.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range of assistance was $238,600 to $1,644,700; average $686,270.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

45 CFR 1100 and 1105. Information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and program guidelines are available online at http://www.neh.gov/ or upon request from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, DC 20506. Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, is the Endowment's official publication, "Humanities" by subscription (6 issues annually, $24.00 domestic, $30.00 foreign). Addresses and phone numbers for the 56 State humanities councils are available from Federal/State Partnership, NEH, Room 603, Washington, DC 20506, and from the NEH web site, http://www.neh.gov.

Related Programs

45.164 Promotion of the Humanities_Public Programs; 45.168 Promotion of the Humanities_We the People

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Located in each State. Addresses available from National Endowment for the Humanities.

Headquarters Office

Federal/State Partnership Federal/State Partnership, National Endowment for the Humanities
Room 603, Washington, DC 20506
, Washington, District of Columbia 20506 Email: fedstate@neh.gov Phone: 202-606-8252

Web Site Address

http://www.neh.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Humanities Washington has developed an expanded grantmaking program that, in remote and rural areas especially, may support the only humanities programs that take place in a town or county. The Idaho Humanities Council sponsored an interdisciplinary teacher development institute that explored environmental literature. The North Carolina Humanities Council expanded the reach and content of its publications and website as well as supported the Museum on Main Street exhibition, �New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.� The �We Are California: Stories of Immigration and Change� website of the California Council for the Humanities is the first to be devoted to the history of California immigration and migration as well as the first where Californians can tell their own coming-to-California stories. The Ohio Humanities Council is planning for the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War as well as public television programs on Ohio's historic places. Thirty-eight councils support literacy programming and all sponsor discussion programs, many of which are based on the common reading of texts. To ensure depth and seriousness of reflection, some councils have selected topics of specific concern to citizens of their states and shaped year-long events to explore each topic. The Illinois Humanities Council conducted such an initiative on the meaning of the genetics revolution, involving 34 partner organizations. The council is following up this year with a one-year series of programs entitled �All Consuming: Conversations on Oil and Water,� which invites citizens of the state to join the council in using the humanities �to ask how access to, control and consumption of oil and water play out in the past, current, and future geopolitical environment.� The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities uses electronic media to initiate discussions through their �Backstory� radio call-in show, which features three prominent historians to provide perspective on �events happening around us every day.� Recent programs have featured discussions of the history of presidential transitions and the history of financial crisis. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Each State council sets its own guidelines and criteria for assessing proposals, which are widely disseminated within the State. The criteria for State council funding from NEH are established in the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. Section 950, 956, and by the NEH Federal/State Partnership.