Our 2008 Grant Guidelines are available for download as a PDF file. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.0 or greater installed on your computer to open this format. The Grant Guidelines have more complete information about the GHC Community Grant Program and the application process. Please read this document carefully before completing the Grant Application.

For questions regarding the guidelines and application procedures, please email dominica_ghc@teleguam.net, or call 671.472-4460/1.

Some general guidelines for consideration regarding the GHC grant are provided below:

GHC General Guidelines for Community Grants

GHC community grants are competitive awards for community-initiated projects and programs focused on the humanities and aimed at a public audience. Projects that promote the understanding and appreciation of the humanities among Guam’s diverse population are welcome.

The Humanities

The humanities include but are not limited to the study of history, modern and classical language, literature, law, philosophy, comparative religion, ethics, and the history, criticism and theory of the arts. Social sciences that use qualitative approaches to understand culture and society, such as anthropology, archeology and political science are also considered part of the humanities. The humanities also include interdisciplinary areas, such as women and gender studies, American studies, ethnic studies, and the study of folklore and folk life. Humanities projects may also apply humanities perspectives to current political, social or economic concerns and issues.

Criteria:

• Humanities Content: The humanities must be central, not just slightly relevant, to the project. Proposals must demonstrate that ethical, historical, literary, cultural or other humanistic perspectives will be brought to bear on the topic. Therefore, concepts such as "explain," "analyze," and "interpret" (which are the goals of the humanities) should be primary goals of the project.
• Balance: Projects must be balanced presentations, conducted in a spirit of open and informed inquiry, and providing for a diversity of views. They should also avoid advocacy of a particular social, ideological or political point of view.
• Scholars: Humanities scholars must be included in project planning and implementation. Scholars should have an advanced degree in the humanities discipline addressed by the project.
• Accessibility: Most of the resulting public programs should be free or of nominal cost, and accessible to the general public.
• Public Audiences: Projects must be directed primarily to the adult, out-of-school general public. Other target audiences include professional, ethnic and community groups, as well as public school teachers and students. Projects cannot exclude any member of the general public. Representatives of the target audience should be involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project whenever feasible. Project formats should encourage critical thinking about the topic through the use of discussions, question-and-answer sessions or other exchanges of views between presenters and audience participants.

Eligibility

Any nonprofit group or organization operating in Guam is eligible to apply for a grant. An organization need not be incorporated or tax-exempt. Examples of eligible organizations include libraries, museums, civic groups, local government, adult centers, schools and universities, historical societies, educational broadcasting stations, and ad hoc groups assembled for the sole purpose of sponsoring a humanities activity. The Council especially encourages proposals from the villages and from those groups aiming to gain experience in planning humanities programs. Joint sponsorship of projects by academic and community groups is encouraged. Co-sponsors must also be nonprofit groups.

Grant Formats

The Guam Humanities Council offers three grant formats: mini grants, regular grants, and media projects.

• Mini grants: Mini grants allow applicants to submit proposals for low-cost, short-range public programs. In general, they must meet all the requirements of the Regular Grants, yet request no more than $2,500 from the Council.
• Regular Grants: This category includes grants, other than media grants, that are over $2,500 and not more than $10,000. Proposals addressing areas of public interest will be considered.
• Media Projects: A media project is one that has an electronic or film component. The maximum grant for a media project is $10,000. Given this award ceiling, the Council prefers to fund planning and pre-production (research and development of the script or transcription). Proposals for small media projects, such as slide programs and radio programs, are also encouraged.

Application Deadlines

Preliminary proposals or draft proposals are required for Regular and Media Grants over $2,500. Upon review by the Council or its designated committee, the draft is returned to the applicant with suggestions for revisions that would make it a more competitive proposal.

For the preliminary proposals, submit the original and five (5) copies; for the Final application, the original and ten (10) copies are required. Please check with the Council for the preliminary and final application deadlines. Proposals must be POSTMARKED no later than midnight of the application deadline.

Project/Program Formats:

All projects must have a public presentation component of some kind. Formats vary but may include:

• Lectures and discussions
• Exhibits
• Publications
• Interpretations of performances
• Conference presentations that are open and accessible to public audiences
• Oral histories
• Media—including radio, CD, video, film documentary, content-based interactive websites
• Cultural presentation or preservation projects
• Teacher seminars or in-service programs
• Project planning for future GHC-eligible projects

Ineligible Programs: The Guam Humanities Council cannot support:

• Projects not grounded in the humanities
• Projects proposed by individuals rather than non-profit organizations
• Partisan objectives or advocacy
• Operating or construction costs
• Purchase of permanent equipment, except when such equipment reverts to the Council at the end of the project
• Institutional development or course work for academic credit, except Council-funded teacher workshops
• Travel to professional meetings
• Scholarships and fellowships
• Museum or library acquisitions
• Publications and scholarly research unless accompanied by a public program
• Creative arts (including works of fiction), performances or ceremonies unless accompanied by a significant degree of interpretation, or unless their primary purpose is to provide a focus for humanistic inquiry
• Projects that are not open to the general public
• Fundraisers and profit-making projects
• Alcoholic beverages, food or entertainment

Budget:

At least one-half of the total project costs must be provided by the applicant in local cost share. This can be provided either in cash (from the applicant or another funding source) or through in-kind services. The Council staff is available to guide applicants in developing their share.

• Request for GHC Funds: In general, Council funds may be requested to cover most project-related activities held within the specified and approved grant period. Examples of eligible expenditures include honoraria for project planners and participants, travel and per diem, printing and publicity, telephone, equipment and facilities rental and supplies. No costs incurred prior to funding may be paid with GHC grant funds.
• Cost-Sharing: Cost-sharing is a portion of the project's budget that reflects contributions of at least 50% of the total costs requested from the Council. This cost-share can be made by the applicant, applicant organization, and other supporters and donors who give cash or in-kind services to the project.
  • Cash cost-share are cash contributions made by third parties in addition to those contributions made by the applicant's organization to carry out the purposes of their project. This includes salaries to support people working on the project, purchase of supplies, space to carry out project activities and services related to the projected. These costs may be estimated and discussed as such in the budget narrative if exact costs are not available. For those projects that request more than $5,000 from the Council, the cash cost share must include Challenge Funding.
  • Challenge Funding: Cash cost-share includes funds raised from third parties, and must represent 10% of the total project costs. This particular type of cash donation may come from almost any source except federal funds or an individual or organization involved with the applicant project. All Challenge Funding donors must provide GHC with a letter certifying that the donated funds are from non-federal sources. Sample letters are available from the GHC offices.
  • In-kind cost-share: In-Kind cost-share is the dollar value of contributions by third parties to the project such as services, goods and space. Examples are persons who waive their fees or costs for services or products contributed to the project. The exact dollar figure should be well-documented and included in the budget as in-kind cost-sharing.
• Limitations
  • The Council views its role as providing support for projects that would not normally occur without its help. It will not fund staff or programs already in place (operational support). It does not look favorably on budgets top heavy with staff and administrative costs. Strong justification must be provided for large sums budgeted in these ways. The Council may provide funds for well-known, off-island speakers if their participation will improve the program substantially. However, applicants are encouraged to utilize local scholars and traditional teachers in their projects.
  • Council funds cannot be used to support profit-making or fund-raising activities. Although the Council discourages groups from charging registration or admission fees to GHC-funded events, fees may be charged if necessary to offset incurred project expenses that were not covered by GHC funds. Such fees cannot result in a profit for the sponsor. It should be noted that the grant is an offer to pay for actual costs up to the amount of the grant figure. Unused funds must be returned to the Council.

How to apply

Grant applications and guidelines may be obtained from the Guam Humanities Council office in Hagåtña, or from the GHC website at www.guamhumanitiescouncil.org. Please read the guidelines before attempting to complete the application. All applications must be typed. Specific instructions are provided with the application.

GHC also welcomes inquiries by telephone or email to determine eligibility and provide guidance. A grant workshop will be held on January 5, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the GHC office in Hagåtña. There is a $25 fee to attend the workshop. Registration for the workshops ends on Dec. 29, 2007.

For questions regarding the application, please email dominica_ghc@teleguam.net, or call 671.472-4460/1.