WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 1 00:00:03.840 --> 00:00:07.137 Welcome to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 2 00:00:07.137 --> 00:00:10.550 Office of Museum Services, Native American/Native Hawaiian 3 00:00:10.550 --> 00:00:14.079 Museum Services Grant Program applicant information session. 4 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:20.666 The goal of this video is to provide an overview of our 5 00:00:20.666 --> 00:00:24.610 Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grant Program, 6 00:00:24.610 --> 00:00:28.617 which we call "NANH" for short, and the process of preparing an 7 00:00:28.617 --> 00:00:30.120 application for funding. 8 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.200 This video is organized into six chapters. 9 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:38.498 What is the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum 10 00:00:38.498 --> 00:00:39.680 Services Grant Program? 11 00:00:40.120 --> 00:00:43.562 This section explains the purpose and eligibility criteria 12 00:00:43.562 --> 00:00:45.080 of the NANH grant program. 13 00:00:46.440 --> 00:00:48.200 What do NANH grants fund? 14 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.443 This section explains the types of projects that can be funded 15 00:00:52.443 --> 00:00:55.240 in NANH and the amount of funds that can be requested. 16 00:00:56.760 --> 00:01:00.469 Application Components - this section describes the types of 17 00:01:00.469 --> 00:01:03.510 documents that are needed to create an NANH grant 18 00:01:03.510 --> 00:01:04.240 application. 19 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.229 Application Components - Narrative provides guidance on 20 00:01:08.229 --> 00:01:10.880 composing the narrative part of the application. 21 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.002 Application Components - Budget. This section provides details on 22 00:01:15.002 --> 00:01:17.600 the information to include in your project budget. 23 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:22.080 Application Tips and Next Steps. The concluding section provides 24 00:01:22.080 --> 00:01:23.600 a few tips and next steps. 25 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:27.760 The complete set of instructions for how to prepare and submit an 26 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.889 NANH grant application are found in the Notice of Funding 27 00:01:30.889 --> 00:01:34.018 Opportunity, published on Grants.gov and available on the 28 00:01:34.018 --> 00:01:34.719 IMLS website. 29 00:01:35.240 --> 00:01:38.250 Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the most 30 00:01:38.250 --> 00:01:40.640 detailed information to prepare your application. 31 00:01:51.430 --> 00:01:53.988 To get the most out of this video, we recommend that you 32 00:01:53.988 --> 00:01:55.110 watch it in its entirety. 33 00:01:55.430 --> 00:01:57.942 This will give you an understanding of the NANH grant 34 00:01:57.942 --> 00:02:00.687 program, the types of projects that can be funded, and the 35 00:02:00.687 --> 00:02:02.270 necessary application components. 36 00:02:02.880 --> 00:02:06.170 You may also want to review the NANH Notice of Funding 37 00:02:06.170 --> 00:02:09.640 Opportunity before, during, or after you watch the video. 38 00:02:10.480 --> 00:02:13.315 Notices of Funding Opportunities, also known as 39 00:02:13.315 --> 00:02:16.860 "NOFOs," are documents that detail the requirements of each 40 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:18.160 of our grant programs. 41 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:23.320 All of our NOFOs can be found via imls.gov/Grants. 42 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:28.102 As you navigate the application process, you can use this video 43 00:02:28.102 --> 00:02:29.360 as a reference tool. 44 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:33.468 If you'd like to skip to a specific section, please use the 45 00:02:33.468 --> 00:02:37.025 time bar below or the links in the description box to navigate 46 00:02:37.025 --> 00:02:37.760 the chapters. 47 00:02:42.600 --> 00:02:45.883 In this section we will answer the question "What is NANH?" 48 00:02:45.883 --> 00:02:49.276 providing information on the purpose and intent of this grant 49 00:02:49.276 --> 00:02:51.520 program and who it is designed to serve. 50 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:58.684 The overall goal of the NANH program is to build the capacity 51 00:02:58.684 --> 00:03:02.346 of Native American Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to 52 00:03:02.346 --> 00:03:05.776 provide "museum services" to their communities in order to 53 00:03:05.776 --> 00:03:08.800 help their heritage, culture, and knowledge thrive. 54 00:03:09.320 --> 00:03:12.608 Some, but not all, of the ways Tribes and Native Hawaiian 55 00:03:12.608 --> 00:03:16.293 organizations might do this are through educational services and 56 00:03:16.293 --> 00:03:19.184 programs, professional development, organizational 57 00:03:19.184 --> 00:03:22.359 capacity building, community engagement, and collection 58 00:03:22.359 --> 00:03:23.040 stewardship. 59 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.368 It's important to note, however, that applicants do not have to 60 00:03:27.368 --> 00:03:30.652 have a physical museum or cultural center constructed in 61 00:03:30.652 --> 00:03:33.880 order to provide "museum services" to your communities. 62 00:03:33.880 --> 00:03:39.261 The NANH program has unique eligibility criteria from other 63 00:03:39.261 --> 00:03:42.760 museum grant programs offered at IMLS. 64 00:03:43.160 --> 00:03:47.253 Specifically, in order to be eligible for an award under this 65 00:03:47.253 --> 00:03:50.818 program, the lead or legal applicant must be either a 66 00:03:50.818 --> 00:03:54.581 Federally recognized Indian Tribe, which includes Alaska 67 00:03:54.581 --> 00:03:57.816 Native Villages and Corporations, or a nonprofit 68 00:03:57.816 --> 00:04:01.579 organization that primarily serves and represents Native 69 00:04:01.579 --> 00:04:02.240 Hawaiians. 70 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:06.266 Our definitions of eligible Tribal organizations can be 71 00:04:06.266 --> 00:04:10.042 found on our IMLS eligibility criteria web page linked here, 72 00:04:10.042 --> 00:04:13.880 or within the Notice of Funding Opportunity for this program. 73 00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:18.343 Other entities, such as museums, libraries, cultural centers, 74 00:04:18.343 --> 00:04:21.465 schools, Tribal colleges, or other nonprofits are not 75 00:04:21.465 --> 00:04:24.239 eligible to apply on their own to this program. 76 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.126 The eligible applicants listed here are welcome to collaborate 77 00:04:28.126 --> 00:04:31.640 with or apply on behalf of those other entities, but as the lead 78 00:04:31.640 --> 00:04:34.667 applicant for the grant, they must meet the eligibility 79 00:04:34.667 --> 00:04:36.560 criteria and administer the award. 80 00:04:39.520 --> 00:04:42.931 So while the lead applicant must be the Tribe, Alaska Native 81 00:04:42.931 --> 00:04:45.784 Village or Corporation, or Native Hawaiian-serving 82 00:04:45.784 --> 00:04:49.083 organization, we understand that when it comes to actually 83 00:04:49.083 --> 00:04:52.104 carrying out a project, that work is often done at an 84 00:04:52.104 --> 00:04:54.956 org-unit level or by a partnering or collaborating 85 00:04:54.956 --> 00:04:57.864 organization such as a Tribal museum or a nonprofit 86 00:04:57.864 --> 00:04:58.480 foundation. 87 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.022 Although they may not serve as lead applicants, partner 88 00:05:02.022 --> 00:05:05.132 organizations may be heavily involved in the administration 89 00:05:05.132 --> 00:05:07.880 of a project and may serve as the key project staff. 90 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:12.129 It is important that the partner organization have an established 91 00:05:12.129 --> 00:05:15.447 relationship with the Tribal administration before applying 92 00:05:15.447 --> 00:05:18.709 for the grant because the Tribe is ultimately fiscally and 93 00:05:18.709 --> 00:05:21.640 legally responsible for the management of the grant. 94 00:05:22.200 --> 00:05:25.166 The assumption in such a partnership is that the Native 95 00:05:25.166 --> 00:05:28.345 community that applies for the grant is directly served and 96 00:05:28.345 --> 00:05:31.312 benefits from the grant activities that are carried out 97 00:05:31.312 --> 00:05:32.160 by any partners. 98 00:05:35.080 --> 00:05:38.843 In this section we will answer the question "What does the NANH 99 00:05:38.843 --> 00:05:42.490 Program Fund?" providing details on the types of projects and 100 00:05:42.490 --> 00:05:44.960 objectives within the NANH grant program. 101 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:51.394 NANH grants are designed to support project-based 102 00:05:51.394 --> 00:05:52.080 activities. 103 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.461 The Project Management Institute defines "Project" as "a 104 00:05:56.461 --> 00:06:00.431 temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, 105 00:06:00.431 --> 00:06:01.800 service, or result." 106 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:06.342 A project is temporary because it has a defined beginning and 107 00:06:06.342 --> 00:06:09.840 end in time and therefore defines scope and resources. 108 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.913 And a project is unique in that it is not a routine operation, 109 00:06:13.913 --> 00:06:16.945 but rather a specific set of activities designed to 110 00:06:16.945 --> 00:06:18.520 accomplish a singular goal. 111 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:22.562 We recommend that you keep this definition in mind as you 112 00:06:22.562 --> 00:06:24.440 conceptualize your NANH project. 113 00:06:24.840 --> 00:06:28.400 Think of it as a temporary, non-routine set of activities 114 00:06:28.400 --> 00:06:31.961 which collectively have a beginning and an end, a defined 115 00:06:31.961 --> 00:06:35.031 scope requiring specific resources, and which are 116 00:06:35.031 --> 00:06:38.039 designed to accomplish a specific singular goal. 117 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:42.278 So while we can find programs, activities and positions that 118 00:06:42.278 --> 00:06:45.715 are already established or ongoing, applicants should be 119 00:06:45.715 --> 00:06:49.454 careful to frame their projects so they do not crossover into 120 00:06:49.454 --> 00:06:50.600 general operations. 121 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.560 NANH projects must be at least one year, but no more than three 122 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:56.640 years in length. 123 00:07:00.080 --> 00:07:03.366 Let's look further at what characteristics are most often 124 00:07:03.366 --> 00:07:05.520 seen in successful NANH applications. 125 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.080 First, Institutional Impact. 126 00:07:08.440 --> 00:07:11.492 Your project should address a key need or challenge that faces 127 00:07:11.492 --> 00:07:12.800 your Tribe or organization. 128 00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:15.400 Second, In-depth Knowledge. 129 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.120 Your proposal should reflect a thorough understanding of 130 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:20.560 current practice and knowledge about the subject matter. 131 00:07:21.200 --> 00:07:25.099 Third, Project-based Design. Your Project Work Plan should 132 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:28.932 consist of a set of logical, interrelated activities tied 133 00:07:28.932 --> 00:07:32.633 directly to addressing the key need or challenge you've 134 00:07:32.633 --> 00:07:33.360 identified. 135 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:35.960 And 4th, Demonstrable Results. 136 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.381 Your project should generate measurable results that tie 137 00:07:39.381 --> 00:07:42.004 directly to the need or challenge it was designed to 138 00:07:42.004 --> 00:07:42.399 address. 139 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.346 Usually, unfunded applications fail to deliver convincingly on 140 00:07:46.346 --> 00:07:49.600 one or more of these areas, so it is a good idea to make sure 141 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.960 your application shows how your project will be strong in each. 142 00:07:56.520 --> 00:08:00.370 Again, the overarching goal of the NANH program is to build the 143 00:08:00.370 --> 00:08:03.980 capacity of Native American Tribes, including Alaska Native 144 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:07.229 Villages and Corporations, as well as Native Hawaiian 145 00:08:07.229 --> 00:08:11.080 organizations, to provide museum services to their communities. 146 00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:14.160 Under this main goal are three objectives. 147 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.691 Support the preservation and perpetuation of Indigenous 148 00:08:17.691 --> 00:08:19.520 languages and cultural practices. 149 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.335 Support the professional development of the workforce of 150 00:08:23.335 --> 00:08:26.787 Indigenous museums. And support the management and care of 151 00:08:26.787 --> 00:08:30.240 Indigenous collections and their associated documentation. 152 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:34.802 You should align your proposed project, with the one objective 153 00:08:34.802 --> 00:08:37.947 that best fits and clearly identify which one you have 154 00:08:37.947 --> 00:08:40.120 chosen in your application narrative. 155 00:08:40.640 --> 00:08:44.600 This goal and these objectives may seem broad, and that's on 156 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:45.120 purpose. 157 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:48.770 You should choose the one that is most closely aligned with the 158 00:08:48.770 --> 00:08:51.840 key need or challenge you plan to address in your project. 159 00:08:55.280 --> 00:08:58.712 Many projects have components that touch on two or even all 160 00:08:58.712 --> 00:09:00.200 three of these objectives. 161 00:09:00.640 --> 00:09:03.130 For example, you might be planning to digitize a 162 00:09:03.130 --> 00:09:06.230 collection because you want to share the valuable historical 163 00:09:06.230 --> 00:09:09.126 and cultural information it contains with your community 164 00:09:09.126 --> 00:09:12.175 members, and you're going to train your tribal museum staff 165 00:09:12.175 --> 00:09:14.920 on the latest digitization techniques in the process. 166 00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:19.040 This project could fit under any one of these three objectives. 167 00:09:19.520 --> 00:09:22.135 Since you must pick one, you should think about which 168 00:09:22.135 --> 00:09:24.800 objective is the most central to your project overall. 169 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:28.632 Ask yourself what activities do you plan to carry out, what 170 00:09:28.632 --> 00:09:32.720 outcomes do you want to achieve, and who will benefit from your 171 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.039 work? 172 00:09:33.760 --> 00:09:36.478 For projects focused on preserving and perpetuating 173 00:09:36.478 --> 00:09:39.773 language or cultural practices, think through who your primary 174 00:09:39.773 --> 00:09:41.759 audience is and what their needs are. 175 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:44.980 What do you want them to learn or accomplish, and what's the 176 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:46.200 best way to go about that? 177 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.423 For professional development and capacity building, what does a 178 00:09:50.423 --> 00:09:53.520 successful outcome look like for your Tribe or institution? 179 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.880 Is it recruiting and training more staff? 180 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.040 Paid interns? 181 00:09:57.280 --> 00:10:00.375 Enhancing technology such as your website or upgrading your 182 00:10:00.375 --> 00:10:00.840 software? 183 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:04.317 Or perhaps strategic planning? For projects focused on 184 00:10:04.317 --> 00:10:07.339 collections stewardship or conservation, what are the 185 00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:10.752 collections you'll be working with and what is their current 186 00:10:10.752 --> 00:10:12.040 situation or condition? 187 00:10:12.520 --> 00:10:14.880 How will that be addressed or improved? 188 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:22.099 This is a list of some of the types of project activities we 189 00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:25.600 can fund under the NANH program, but it is not exhaustive. 190 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.353 We invite you to develop and apply for projects that best 191 00:10:29.353 --> 00:10:31.840 meet your Tribe's or organization's needs. 192 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.057 Again, you're not required to have a physical museum or 193 00:10:35.057 --> 00:10:38.227 cultural center established in order to provide these types of 194 00:10:38.227 --> 00:10:38.680 services. 195 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.642 Whatever activities you have in mind, you should be sure to 196 00:10:42.642 --> 00:10:45.931 describe them thoroughly and show how they will logically 197 00:10:45.931 --> 00:10:48.199 progress to meet your chosen objective. 198 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.437 You should be cautious about trying to cram too many 199 00:10:51.437 --> 00:10:53.920 different types of activities into the same proposal. 200 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.793 Just because they all might fit under the overarching goal of 201 00:10:57.793 --> 00:11:01.283 the NANH program doesn't mean you should try to do them all at 202 00:11:01.283 --> 00:11:01.560 once. 203 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:05.052 You can certainly have a project that is multi-faceted or that 204 00:11:05.052 --> 00:11:08.060 has multiple complementary components if that's what makes 205 00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:11.170 the most sense for you, and they all tie back to your chosen 206 00:11:11.170 --> 00:11:11.680 objective. 207 00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:15.880 However, the strongest proposals are clearly defined projects 208 00:11:15.880 --> 00:11:19.420 with logical, interrelated activities that have manageable 209 00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:21.280 scopes, budgets, and timelines. 210 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:25.493 It's okay to be ambitious, but remember we want to set our 211 00:11:25.493 --> 00:11:29.458 grantees up for success, so we would rather you under-promise 212 00:11:29.458 --> 00:11:33.360 and over-deliver rather than over-promise and under-deliver. 213 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:39.552 There's no limit to the number of applications you could submit 214 00:11:39.552 --> 00:11:42.130 in response to the funding announcement for the NANH 215 00:11:42.130 --> 00:11:42.520 program. 216 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.413 However, if you do submit multiple applications, they must 217 00:11:46.413 --> 00:11:49.943 be for separate and discrete projects, meaning they must not 218 00:11:49.943 --> 00:11:52.200 overlap in terms of staffing or costs. 219 00:11:52.520 --> 00:11:55.786 For example, you could submit a proposal to support your 220 00:11:55.786 --> 00:11:59.454 language revitalization program, as well as a separate proposal 221 00:11:59.454 --> 00:12:02.320 to inventory and re-house your basket collection. 222 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:06.869 Likewise, if you have an existing, open NANH award, that 223 00:12:06.869 --> 00:12:10.238 does not prevent you from applying for a new award this 224 00:12:10.238 --> 00:12:10.600 round, 225 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:14.457 again, as long as the projects do not overlap. You'll want to 226 00:12:14.457 --> 00:12:17.879 consider your Tribe's or organization's capacity not just 227 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:21.360 to write and submit multiple strong proposals, but then to 228 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.720 manage multiple federal awards at once. 229 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:28.536 Demonstrating that you have the internal administrative and 230 00:12:28.536 --> 00:12:32.633 financial controls necessary to track and maintain multiple 231 00:12:32.633 --> 00:12:36.935 federal awards simultaneously will be important. NANH supports 232 00:12:36.935 --> 00:12:40.690 projects of all sizes, but there's a specific range of 233 00:12:40.690 --> 00:12:41.920 funding available. 234 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:47.262 You can request a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $250,000 235 00:12:47.262 --> 00:12:48.640 in federal funds. 236 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:53.467 If you ask for less than $5,000 or more than $250,000 in federal 237 00:12:53.467 --> 00:12:57.112 grant funds, your application may be rejected and not 238 00:12:57.112 --> 00:12:57.720 reviewed. 239 00:12:58.160 --> 00:13:02.032 Your budget should be aligned to the scope and scale of your 240 00:13:02.032 --> 00:13:06.032 project and should include all costs necessary to complete the 241 00:13:06.032 --> 00:13:09.080 proposed activities. In the NANH grant program, 242 00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:13.097 project budgets are not required to have any non-federal cost 243 00:13:13.097 --> 00:13:15.840 share, though you may include it if you want. 244 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.840 Cost share is not considered in the review of NANH applications. 245 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.813 It's important to note that if you decide to include cost share 246 00:13:24.813 --> 00:13:28.081 in your budget and you receive an award, you will be required 247 00:13:28.081 --> 00:13:30.874 to meet your cost share commitment by the end of the 248 00:13:30.874 --> 00:13:31.560 award period. 249 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:36.209 Cost share is any portion of project costs not paid by IMLS 250 00:13:36.209 --> 00:13:40.378 funds and may be in the form of cash, staff or volunteer time, 251 00:13:40.378 --> 00:13:42.760 or other third-party contributions. 252 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:50.239 Cost share may not include funds from another federal source. On 253 00:13:50.239 --> 00:13:52.080 the IMLS website, 254 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.752 you can use the Search Awarded Grants function to explore our 255 00:13:54.752 --> 00:13:57.080 archive of grants that we have awarded in past years. 256 00:13:57.560 --> 00:14:00.658 You can search this database using a variety of criteria, 257 00:14:00.658 --> 00:14:03.703 such as institution name, location, and keyword, and you 258 00:14:03.703 --> 00:14:05.360 can filter it by grant program. 259 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:08.966 Your search will retrieve basic information about each award, 260 00:14:08.966 --> 00:14:11.816 including the amount of federal funds awarded and a brief 261 00:14:11.816 --> 00:14:14.764 description of the proposed activities and expected results 262 00:14:14.764 --> 00:14:15.600 for each project. 263 00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:21.005 We've also posted some examples of successful application 264 00:14:21.005 --> 00:14:23.400 narratives from recent years on our website. 265 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.661 To find these, go to the Sample Applications page on the IMLS 266 00:14:27.661 --> 00:14:31.360 website and scroll down the page to find the NANH examples. 267 00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:35.088 Looking at these proposals will show you what a strong proposal 268 00:14:35.088 --> 00:14:38.326 might look like and might help you clarify your thinking about 269 00:14:38.326 --> 00:14:39.200 your own project. 270 00:14:42.160 --> 00:14:45.846 In this section, we will introduce the components of an 271 00:14:45.846 --> 00:14:47.360 NANH grant application. 272 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:53.616 The NANH Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes a 273 00:14:53.616 --> 00:14:56.952 complete list of all the application components and 274 00:14:56.952 --> 00:15:00.417 indicates which documents are required, conditionally 275 00:15:00.417 --> 00:15:03.239 required, or optional supporting documents. 276 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:08.240 These are the required documents. 277 00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:12.878 All applications must include all of the documents listed 278 00:15:12.878 --> 00:15:13.240 here. 279 00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:17.082 Omission of even just one might result in your application's 280 00:15:17.082 --> 00:15:17.640 rejection. 281 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.470 The SF-424S application form and the IMLS Museum Program 282 00:15:22.470 --> 00:15:26.984 Information Form, both starred on this list, are completed as 283 00:15:26.984 --> 00:15:30.480 fillable forms within the Grants.gov Workspace. 284 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.581 The rest of the application components must be created by 285 00:15:34.581 --> 00:15:38.266 you and saved as PDFs to be uploaded with your application 286 00:15:38.266 --> 00:15:39.639 package in Grants.gov. 287 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:44.280 Please note there is a 7-page limit for the narrative. 288 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:48.196 If you exceed that page limit, we must remove the extra pages 289 00:15:48.196 --> 00:15:50.720 before your application goes out for review. 290 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:54.641 That means your reviewers may see a paragraph or sentence 291 00:15:54.641 --> 00:15:58.647 cut-off in mid-air and won't see any information contained within 292 00:15:58.647 --> 00:15:59.680 the excess pages. 293 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:03.456 So make sure your content fits into the page limit specified 294 00:16:03.456 --> 00:16:07.083 and double check the number of pages is still correct after you 295 00:16:07.083 --> 00:16:08.840 convert your documents to PDFs. 296 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:15.316 The second category of application components is that 297 00:16:15.316 --> 00:16:17.480 of conditionally required documents. 298 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:21.603 Some applicants must include one. two, or all of these, and 299 00:16:21.603 --> 00:16:25.103 it's important that you know which are required for your 300 00:16:25.103 --> 00:16:25.840 application. 301 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:29.683 If you are a nonprofit organization that primarily 302 00:16:29.683 --> 00:16:33.479 serves and represents Native Hawaiians, then you must include 303 00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:37.153 your proof of nonprofit status letter issued by the IRS, as 304 00:16:37.153 --> 00:16:40.521 well as appropriate proof of eligibility documentation 305 00:16:40.521 --> 00:16:43.399 outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 306 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:47.148 If you're using a federally negotiated indirect cost rate in 307 00:16:47.148 --> 00:16:50.077 your budget, then you must include a copy of your current, 308 00:16:50.077 --> 00:16:51.120 final rate agreement. 309 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:54.760 If you create any digital products during the course of 310 00:16:54.760 --> 00:16:57.950 your project, then you must complete and submit a Digital 311 00:16:57.950 --> 00:16:58.720 Products Plan. 312 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:03.445 The term "digital product" includes any digitized and 313 00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:08.320 born-digital content, resources or assets, software, or data. 314 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.383 If you are creating any of these types of materials, basically 315 00:17:12.383 --> 00:17:15.498 anything digital, you must include the Digital Products 316 00:17:15.498 --> 00:17:16.999 Plan with your application. 317 00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:21.303 If you are requesting support for conservation treatments for 318 00:17:21.303 --> 00:17:24.767 collections objects, then you must include detailed condition 319 00:17:24.767 --> 00:17:27.281 reports and or formal conservation treatment 320 00:17:27.281 --> 00:17:27.840 proposals. 321 00:17:28.600 --> 00:17:30.480 Just like the required documents, 322 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:34.086 omission of even one of these can result in the exclusion of 323 00:17:34.086 --> 00:17:36.600 your application from further consideration. 324 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:43.082 The third group of application components is Supporting 325 00:17:43.082 --> 00:17:45.920 Documents and here's a partial list of examples. 326 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:49.273 Supporting documents are optional, although some are 327 00:17:49.273 --> 00:17:51.840 strongly recommended depending on your project. 328 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:54.888 We urge you to make good decisions and include things 329 00:17:54.888 --> 00:17:56.680 that will supplement your proposal. 330 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:00.680 Supporting documents should not introduce new information. 331 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.210 Rather, as their name suggests, they should support your project 332 00:18:04.210 --> 00:18:07.348 justification, work plan, and intended results that you spell 333 00:18:07.348 --> 00:18:09.120 out in your application narrative. 334 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.486 For example, have you identified a partner whose involvement is 335 00:18:13.486 --> 00:18:15.120 key to the project's success? 336 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:19.101 If so, a letter of support or commitment is a crucial element 337 00:18:19.101 --> 00:18:22.674 to reassure reviewers that they are "on-board," and the project 338 00:18:22.674 --> 00:18:23.400 will succeed. 339 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:27.673 Similarly, documentation showing the buy-in of your leadership, 340 00:18:27.673 --> 00:18:31.323 such as a Tribal resolution, can be a great way to show support, 341 00:18:31.323 --> 00:18:33.120 though again, it's not required. 342 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.251 Pictures can help give reviewers who may not be familiar with 343 00:18:37.251 --> 00:18:40.297 your institution, programs, collections, or community a 344 00:18:40.297 --> 00:18:43.016 better idea of what you're describing within your 345 00:18:43.016 --> 00:18:43.560 narrative. 346 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:47.316 Vendor quotes or equipment specifications show that you've 347 00:18:47.316 --> 00:18:50.341 done some of the legwork in getting appropriate estimates 348 00:18:50.341 --> 00:18:51.280 for project costs. 349 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:55.057 We recommend that you be respectful of your reviewers' 350 00:18:55.057 --> 00:18:58.102 time and avoid including hundreds of pages of extraneous 351 00:18:58.102 --> 00:19:01.200 materials that are not directly relevant to your project. 352 00:19:01.760 --> 00:19:05.600 Being judicious really does work to your benefit, as supporting 353 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:08.240 documents can make or break an application. 354 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:12.200 Please include what is important and helpful and stop there. 355 00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:18.766 In the following sections of this presentation, we will focus 356 00:19:18.766 --> 00:19:21.575 on two of the key required application components, the 357 00:19:21.575 --> 00:19:23.720 Project Narrative and the Project Budget. 358 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:27.376 Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for complete 359 00:19:27.376 --> 00:19:30.617 instructions on how to prepare and complete all of the other 360 00:19:30.617 --> 00:19:31.840 application components. 361 00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:39.123 So in this section, we will go over the questions you will need 362 00:19:39.123 --> 00:19:42.083 to answer in your Project Narrative and offer details on 363 00:19:42.083 --> 00:19:44.680 the review criteria associated with each section. 364 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:52.702 The sections of the narrative are the Project Justification, 365 00:19:52.702 --> 00:19:54.920 Project Work Plan, and Project Results. 366 00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:58.349 The narrative is the heart of your proposal and the NOFO 367 00:19:58.349 --> 00:20:01.292 provides lengthy guidance on what it should cover and how it 368 00:20:01.292 --> 00:20:03.560 should be formatted with these three sections. 369 00:20:07.840 --> 00:20:10.280 The first section is your Project Justification. 370 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:14.212 This section should clearly identify which program objective 371 00:20:14.212 --> 00:20:17.381 your project supports, as well as how it will support the 372 00:20:17.381 --> 00:20:20.604 overall NANH program goal of strengthening your Tribe's or 373 00:20:20.604 --> 00:20:23.773 organization's ability to provide museum services to your 374 00:20:23.773 --> 00:20:24.320 community. 375 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:28.744 What need, problem or challenge will your project address, and 376 00:20:28.744 --> 00:20:30.080 how was it identified? 377 00:20:30.520 --> 00:20:33.430 Describe how you've used demographic information, 378 00:20:33.430 --> 00:20:36.691 economic circumstances, condition assessments, or other 379 00:20:36.691 --> 00:20:40.242 relevant data to define your need, problem, or challenge and 380 00:20:40.242 --> 00:20:42.280 develop the scope for the project. 381 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:45.815 Who's the primary audience for your project and how have they 382 00:20:45.815 --> 00:20:47.120 been involved in the planning? 383 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:51.205 "Primary Audience," sometimes also called "Target Group," 384 00:20:51.205 --> 00:20:54.646 refers to those who will be most immediately and positively 385 00:20:54.646 --> 00:20:56.079 affected by your project. 386 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:59.375 Identify the number of individuals in your primary 387 00:20:59.375 --> 00:21:02.440 audience, or in each group if you identify more than one. 388 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:06.320 Who are the ultimate beneficiaries for this project? 389 00:21:06.760 --> 00:21:09.913 "Beneficiaries" refers to those who are likely to be aided in 390 00:21:09.913 --> 00:21:11.440 the long-term by your project. 391 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:15.200 They may or may not be the same people as your primary audience. 392 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:18.656 Identify the number of individuals who will benefit 393 00:21:18.656 --> 00:21:21.440 from your project in the long-term, if you can. 394 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:24.347 Otherwise, describe the characteristics of the 395 00:21:24.347 --> 00:21:27.340 beneficiaries you expect to be served eventually by your 396 00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:27.760 project. 397 00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:34.329 And finally, if your project involves collections, be sure to 398 00:21:34.329 --> 00:21:39.951 describe and quantify them. In Section 6 of the Notice of 399 00:21:39.951 --> 00:21:41.889 Funding Opportunity, 400 00:21:41.930 --> 00:21:44.738 under "Peer Review Criteria," you will find a list of 401 00:21:44.738 --> 00:21:47.962 questions that reviewers are asked to answer when they review 402 00:21:47.962 --> 00:21:48.690 your proposal. 403 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:51.972 It's a good idea to refer to these as you write your 404 00:21:51.972 --> 00:21:55.372 narrative to be certain you are providing reviewers clear, solid 405 00:21:55.372 --> 00:21:56.000 information. 406 00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:59.769 You will see that their criteria correspond directly to the 407 00:21:59.769 --> 00:22:02.440 prompts you are given to write your narrative. 408 00:22:06.760 --> 00:22:09.380 One of the prompts in the Project Justification section of 409 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:11.556 the narrative is the identification of the need, 410 00:22:11.556 --> 00:22:13.600 problem, or challenge your project addresses. 411 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.848 It is foundational in your application, so keep these 412 00:22:16.848 --> 00:22:17.640 points in mind. 413 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.225 The federal government wants its investment to result in 414 00:22:21.225 --> 00:22:22.360 something getting better. 415 00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:25.915 So as you define your need, problem, or challenge, 416 00:22:25.915 --> 00:22:29.417 articulate what will get better as a result of your project as 417 00:22:29.417 --> 00:22:30.640 precisely as possible. 418 00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:34.356 Will someone learn something, develop a skill, change an 419 00:22:34.356 --> 00:22:34.880 attitude? 420 00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:38.484 Will members of your community be better able to work together 421 00:22:38.484 --> 00:22:39.400 to solve problems? 422 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:43.120 Will collections be better cared for and their lifespan extended? 423 00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:46.743 Will access to your collections and the information surrounding 424 00:22:46.743 --> 00:22:47.600 them be expanded? 425 00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:51.652 Identify why is it important that this particular change 426 00:22:51.652 --> 00:22:52.120 happens. 427 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:54.280 In other words, why should people care? 428 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:58.953 Hone your problem definition carefully in clear, succinct 429 00:22:58.953 --> 00:23:03.195 terms, and gather and present data that support your problem 430 00:23:03.195 --> 00:23:03.960 definition. 431 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:11.091 If the Project Justification section was the "why," the 432 00:23:11.091 --> 00:23:15.246 Project Work Plan section is where you identify the "who, 433 00:23:15.246 --> 00:23:19.615 what, when, and how." Who will do what activities, when, and 434 00:23:19.615 --> 00:23:21.120 using what resources? 435 00:23:21.560 --> 00:23:24.762 You should explain how you will track your progress toward 436 00:23:24.762 --> 00:23:28.182 achieving your intended results and what you'll do if you need 437 00:23:28.182 --> 00:23:29.160 to correct course. 438 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:33.000 You should also think about risks that are inherent in your 439 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:36.376 particular project and to tell us how you've taken that into 440 00:23:36.376 --> 00:23:37.759 account in your planning. 441 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:41.200 I'll say a little more about risks in a few minutes. 442 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:45.794 Remember, your project must be at least one year (12 months) 443 00:23:45.794 --> 00:23:48.800 and up to three years (36 months) in length. 444 00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:56.082 Again, this is the list of questions that reviewers are 445 00:23:56.082 --> 00:24:00.449 asked to answer for this section when they review your proposal, 446 00:24:00.449 --> 00:24:04.479 so make sure your narrative is answering these effectively. 447 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:08.368 Remember, the people reading and scoring your application may not 448 00:24:08.368 --> 00:24:11.137 be familiar with your specific history, institution, 449 00:24:11.137 --> 00:24:13.280 collection, etcetera, so don't be vague. 450 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:16.487 You want to provide enough detail to reassure them that 451 00:24:16.487 --> 00:24:19.495 your project is manageable and can be accomplished with the 452 00:24:19.495 --> 00:24:21.400 staff, time, and resources allocated. 453 00:24:24.280 --> 00:24:28.244 Your work plan will be built on activities, so it's important to 454 00:24:28.244 --> 00:24:30.440 be clear about what an activity is. 455 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:34.240 An activity is something that someone does. 456 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:38.013 It has a beginning and an end, just like projects, and you know 457 00:24:38.013 --> 00:24:41.480 when you finished it because it doesn't need to be done anymore. 458 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:43.640 It's no longer on your To-Do List. 459 00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:48.200 An activity is not a goal, a result, or an outcome. 460 00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:52.269 Rather it's something you do as part of striving to achieve 461 00:24:52.269 --> 00:24:52.640 those. 462 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:56.804 So aim for a reasonable level of detail in identifying your 463 00:24:56.804 --> 00:24:57.480 activities. 464 00:24:57.840 --> 00:25:00.892 Too many and your work plan becomes bogged down and 465 00:25:00.892 --> 00:25:01.480 confusing. 466 00:25:01.760 --> 00:25:05.311 But too few and someone who is reading your application won't 467 00:25:05.311 --> 00:25:08.520 understand the who, when, what and how of your project. 468 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.440 You should aim for a balance. 469 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:17.170 We also ask you to think about the risks that are inherent in 470 00:25:17.170 --> 00:25:21.286 your particular project and tell us how you've taken that into 471 00:25:21.286 --> 00:25:22.920 account in your planning. 472 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:26.915 Think of it as answering the question, "What if X doesn't go 473 00:25:26.915 --> 00:25:27.960 according to plan?" 474 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:32.881 There's no checklist of set risks, but every project has 475 00:25:32.881 --> 00:25:33.240 them. 476 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:36.378 The best proposals will show you that you are aware of them and 477 00:25:36.378 --> 00:25:38.560 have thought through a plan for dealing with them. 478 00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:42.000 Look at your activities and think about what could go wrong. 479 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:45.140 Focus on the ones where your experience tells you "Yes, that 480 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:47.840 could happen" and identify steps you would take in response. 481 00:25:48.560 --> 00:25:51.080 We know that things often go differently than expected. 482 00:25:51.280 --> 00:25:54.752 We just want you to prepare by identifying implementable 483 00:25:54.752 --> 00:25:55.240 options. 484 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.920 Here are some examples of risks. 485 00:25:58.520 --> 00:26:01.746 If you intend to hire someone into a grant funded position to 486 00:26:01.746 --> 00:26:03.360 work on the project activities, 487 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:06.456 what will you do if it takes longer than expected to find the 488 00:26:06.456 --> 00:26:09.000 right candidate, bring them on board and train them? 489 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:13.600 Or, a project depends on your community partners to achieve 490 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.080 success, 491 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:16.480 but what if one partner becomes unavailable? 492 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.720 What do you do now? 493 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:22.078 A project involving rehousing collections into new museum 494 00:26:22.078 --> 00:26:25.931 quality collection storage might run into delays in the delivery 495 00:26:25.931 --> 00:26:26.880 of the cabinets. 496 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:29.240 What happens to the collection items then? 497 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:32.480 How will you ensure that they remain safe and secure? 498 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:38.451 The third section of your narrative should be devoted to 499 00:26:38.451 --> 00:26:40.560 articulating your intended Project Results. 500 00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:43.833 This is your chance to convince the reviewers that the 501 00:26:43.833 --> 00:26:46.931 activities you've spelled out in your Project Work Plan will 502 00:26:46.931 --> 00:26:48.760 result in something getting better. 503 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.389 The need or problem you identified in your Project 504 00:26:52.389 --> 00:26:56.080 Justification will be diminished or eliminated altogether. 505 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:00.005 This section should logically tie the narrative together by 506 00:27:00.005 --> 00:27:03.146 explaining how you will know that your project has been 507 00:27:03.146 --> 00:27:06.120 successful and how you will measure project success. 508 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:10.551 If your project will generate tangible products, and most do, 509 00:27:10.551 --> 00:27:14.023 here's the opportunity to describe them and make the case 510 00:27:14.023 --> 00:27:15.520 that they will be useful. 511 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:19.489 Remember that Digital Products Plan I mentioned as a supporting 512 00:27:19.489 --> 00:27:22.633 document can be useful to expand on this section if it's 513 00:27:22.633 --> 00:27:23.240 applicable. 514 00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:27.471 Last but not least, we ask that you tell us how you will sustain 515 00:27:27.471 --> 00:27:28.880 the benefit of the project. 516 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:32.929 How will this improvement that you propose to make once your 517 00:27:32.929 --> 00:27:34.320 grant is over continue? 518 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.800 What will a longer-term impact be? 519 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:44.795 And again, here's the list of questions that reviewers are 520 00:27:44.795 --> 00:27:47.858 asked to answer when they read the Project Results section of 521 00:27:47.858 --> 00:27:48.600 your narrative. 522 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:56.095 We often hear that defining intended results and success 523 00:27:56.095 --> 00:27:58.520 measures is challenging for applicants. 524 00:27:59.040 --> 00:28:02.316 Essentially, we're asking you to explain what will be better as a 525 00:28:02.316 --> 00:28:04.600 result of this project and how will you know? 526 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:08.004 Think back to the questions we referenced in the Project 527 00:28:08.004 --> 00:28:10.837 Justification section when we talked about defining the need, 528 00:28:10.837 --> 00:28:13.761 problem, or challenge that your project's addressing and how it 529 00:28:13.761 --> 00:28:15.999 fits into one or more of the program objectives. 530 00:28:16.520 --> 00:28:19.448 Your results should tie back directly and logically to those 531 00:28:19.448 --> 00:28:19.880 elements. 532 00:28:20.280 --> 00:28:23.040 If you said someone will learn something, 533 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.520 how will you show that? 534 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:28.196 If your problem is related to the preservation of traditional 535 00:28:28.196 --> 00:28:31.171 cultural practices, how will you know when that has been 536 00:28:31.171 --> 00:28:32.320 successfully achieved? 537 00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:36.106 If you're saying collections will be better cared for, how 538 00:28:36.106 --> 00:28:39.040 will you be sure, and how will you measure "better"? 539 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:43.166 If you're digitizing to expand accessibility, how will you know 540 00:28:43.166 --> 00:28:45.040 when you've successfully done it? 541 00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:49.723 You may think of tangential benefits or general positive 542 00:28:49.723 --> 00:28:53.716 outcomes, but make sure you identify them as "in addition 543 00:28:53.716 --> 00:28:57.639 to" and not "instead of" your original intended results. 544 00:28:58.120 --> 00:29:01.080 Reviewers are likely to catch that as a disconnect. 545 00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:05.310 You should be specific and refrain from broad, vague, or 546 00:29:05.310 --> 00:29:06.560 unrealistic claims. 547 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:10.860 This focus on project results and measuring success in 548 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:14.340 meaningful ways is not new, but it's not necessarily easy 549 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:14.760 either. 550 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:18.358 There are many ways to measure success, and each situation is 551 00:29:18.358 --> 00:29:18.720 unique. 552 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:22.659 To aid you in visualizing what success could look like for your 553 00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:25.995 project, we encourage you to consider using a logic model or 554 00:29:25.995 --> 00:29:29.440 evaluation tool to explain your intended results and your plan 555 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.480 for achieving them. 556 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:34.367 There are numerous examples and downloadable worksheets that you 557 00:29:34.367 --> 00:29:36.440 can find with a simple Internet search. 558 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:42.613 Peer reviewers who are professionals with experience 559 00:29:42.613 --> 00:29:45.864 working in or with Native American, Alaska Native, and 560 00:29:45.864 --> 00:29:49.766 Native Hawaiian communities will be selected by IMLS to read each 561 00:29:49.766 --> 00:29:52.722 application and provide constructive and critical 562 00:29:52.722 --> 00:29:56.387 comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed NANH 563 00:29:56.387 --> 00:29:56.919 projects. 564 00:29:57.520 --> 00:30:00.744 They are instructed to base their reviews only on the 565 00:30:00.744 --> 00:30:04.445 information contained within the application, so don't assume 566 00:30:04.445 --> 00:30:08.147 that a reviewer or IMLS will know something about your museum 567 00:30:08.147 --> 00:30:09.640 or your proposed project. 568 00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:15.041 To help make sure your narrative is as clear and complete as 569 00:30:15.041 --> 00:30:19.196 possible, follow the narrative outline in the NANH NOFO, making 570 00:30:19.196 --> 00:30:21.080 sure you address each prompt. 571 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:24.704 Be sure to consider the review criteria associated with each 572 00:30:24.704 --> 00:30:25.960 section of the Narrative. 573 00:30:26.560 --> 00:30:29.653 Use headings, subheadings, or numbered sections in your 574 00:30:29.653 --> 00:30:32.360 Narrative to make it easy for reviewers to read. 575 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:35.840 Avoid generalities, acronyms, and jargon. 576 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:39.420 The people who will review your application are Native museum 577 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:42.839 professionals, but they may not be familiar with your particular 578 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.679 Tribe or organization's specifics. 579 00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:47.480 Make it easy for them to understand what you mean. 580 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:52.018 Similarly, provide concrete details, or if details are TBD, 581 00:30:52.018 --> 00:30:55.964 state as much as you can in your narrative so reviewers don't 582 00:30:55.964 --> 00:30:59.274 have to guess or make assumptions about things left 583 00:30:59.274 --> 00:30:59.720 unsaid. 584 00:31:00.520 --> 00:31:03.400 An advantage to starting your application early is that you 585 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:06.136 can ask a colleague to review everything with fresh eyes 586 00:31:06.136 --> 00:31:07.000 before you submit. 587 00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:10.642 Ask them to act like a reviewer who's seeing this for the first 588 00:31:10.642 --> 00:31:13.291 time and doesn't know any background information about 589 00:31:13.291 --> 00:31:14.640 your project or institution. 590 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:18.160 And remember to limit that narrative to 7 pages. 591 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:21.390 And please try to stick to the recommended page limits for 592 00:31:21.390 --> 00:31:22.840 other application components. 593 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:28.944 So to recap, your Narrative has three sections, Project 594 00:31:28.944 --> 00:31:32.426 Justification, Project Work Plan, and Project Results, and 595 00:31:32.426 --> 00:31:35.200 you have 7 pages to answer all of the prompts. 596 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:38.589 The sections are all equally important and should all 597 00:31:38.589 --> 00:31:39.880 logically tie together. 598 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:44.110 Write clearly, address what we ask you to address, and keep an 599 00:31:44.110 --> 00:31:45.800 eye on those review criteria. 600 00:31:46.280 --> 00:31:49.220 We're telling you here exactly what the reviewers will look 601 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:52.160 for, so make it easy for them to find it and understand it. 602 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:58.430 In this section, we will provide information on what to include 603 00:31:58.430 --> 00:32:01.533 in your project budget and budget justification and provide 604 00:32:01.533 --> 00:32:04.120 some examples of allowable and unallowable costs. 605 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:09.134 Your budget is a critically important component of your 606 00:32:09.134 --> 00:32:09.720 application. 607 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:13.394 This is where you specify all of the costs associated with your 608 00:32:13.394 --> 00:32:14.200 proposed project. 609 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:18.142 The budget consists of two required components, the IMLS 610 00:32:18.142 --> 00:32:20.690 Budget Form and the corresponding Budget 611 00:32:20.690 --> 00:32:21.560 Justification. 612 00:32:22.280 --> 00:32:25.751 The IMLS Budget Form is a fillable PDF that accommodates 613 00:32:25.751 --> 00:32:29.040 up to three years of project activities and expenses. 614 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:32.518 The budget should include the project costs that will be 615 00:32:32.518 --> 00:32:35.795 charged to grant funds, as well as those that will be supported 616 00:32:35.795 --> 00:32:37.280 by cost share, if applicable. 617 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:42.364 All the items listed, whether supported by grant funds or cost 618 00:32:42.364 --> 00:32:46.014 share, must be necessary to accomplish project objectives 619 00:32:46.014 --> 00:32:49.223 allowable according to the applicable federal cost 620 00:32:49.223 --> 00:32:52.936 principles, auditable and incurred during the award period 621 00:32:52.936 --> 00:32:53.879 of performance. 622 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:57.335 The IMLS Budget Form can be downloaded directly from the 623 00:32:57.335 --> 00:33:01.032 IMLS website and is also linked within the Notice of Funding 624 00:33:01.032 --> 00:33:01.760 Opportunity. 625 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:07.454 As you develop your budget, keep in mind that there are certain 626 00:33:07.454 --> 00:33:10.749 costs that are either allowable or unallowable according to the 627 00:33:10.749 --> 00:33:13.889 Uniform Federal grant-making regulations, which are referred 628 00:33:13.889 --> 00:33:15.640 to as "2 CFR Part 200" for short. 629 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:19.000 The NOFO contains links to these regulations. 630 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:22.740 These provide important guidance on uniform administrative 631 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:25.788 requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for 632 00:33:25.788 --> 00:33:29.098 Federal awards, so all Federal grant applicants and recipients 633 00:33:29.098 --> 00:33:30.360 should be aware of them. 634 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:34.741 Using 2 CFR 200 as a basis, we've developed a short list of 635 00:33:34.741 --> 00:33:38.382 some of the types of allowable costs that are common in IMLS 636 00:33:38.382 --> 00:33:38.920 projects. 637 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.920 This list is not exhaustive. 638 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:44.840 These costs may be part of what you ask IMLS to pay for with 639 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:48.121 federal funds, or what you will pay for as part of your cost 640 00:33:48.121 --> 00:33:49.520 share, if you include any. 641 00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:53.422 The rules about allowability apply equally to both, so when 642 00:33:53.422 --> 00:33:56.876 completing your project budget, be sure to check that all the 643 00:33:56.876 --> 00:34:00.162 costs you include, whether grant funds or cross share, are 644 00:34:00.162 --> 00:34:00.720 allowable. 645 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:07.379 There are also some costs which are unallowable according to the 646 00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:09.440 federal regulations in 2 CFR 200. 647 00:34:10.200 --> 00:34:13.725 Unallowable costs may not be part of what you ask IMLS to pay 648 00:34:13.725 --> 00:34:17.250 for, nor can they be part of what you will pay for as part of 649 00:34:17.250 --> 00:34:18.160 your cost share. 650 00:34:18.680 --> 00:34:22.200 Unallowable expenses can't show up anywhere in your proposal. 651 00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:26.731 As you prepare your application, it's a good idea to compare your 652 00:34:26.731 --> 00:34:29.924 list of proposed expenses against these lists of allowable 653 00:34:29.924 --> 00:34:32.684 and unallowable costs and against the Federal cost 654 00:34:32.684 --> 00:34:33.280 principles. 655 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:36.865 If after that you have specific questions about allowability, 656 00:34:36.865 --> 00:34:39.200 please contact us and we'll be happy to help. 657 00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:46.200 In addition to the IMLS Budget Form, you must also prepare a 658 00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:47.440 Budget Justification. 659 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:50.814 This is an opportunity to provide an explanation and 660 00:34:50.814 --> 00:34:53.858 justification for the project costs in a more detailed 661 00:34:53.858 --> 00:34:54.800 narrative format. 662 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:58.480 The Budget Justification should correspond with the cost 663 00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:00.400 categories on the IMLS Budget Form. 664 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:04.232 In the justification, you will identify each expense and show 665 00:35:04.232 --> 00:35:07.531 the method of cost computation used to determine each dollar 666 00:35:07.531 --> 00:35:10.613 amount, including any that you may have consolidated and 667 00:35:10.613 --> 00:35:12.560 summarized on the IMLS Budget Form. 668 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:16.960 In other words, please show and double check your math. 669 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:20.649 The NOFO contains detailed guidance on how to complete your 670 00:35:20.649 --> 00:35:22.720 Budget Form and your Budget Justification. 671 00:35:23.120 --> 00:35:26.314 You should also remember to attach any quotes or estimates 672 00:35:26.314 --> 00:35:28.480 as supporting documents, if applicable. 673 00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:34.136 In this final section of our presentation, we offer some 674 00:35:34.136 --> 00:35:37.288 application tips and next steps based on our experiences with 675 00:35:37.288 --> 00:35:39.880 the NANH application submission process each year. 676 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:44.762 We can only make grants to eligible applicants that submit 677 00:35:44.762 --> 00:35:49.975 complete applications, including attachments, on or before the 678 00:35:49.975 --> 00:35:50.720 deadline. 679 00:35:51.120 --> 00:35:53.400 So here are some tips to help you do just that. 680 00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:55.960 Start your application now. 681 00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:59.754 Don't try to pull together an entire application in three 682 00:35:59.754 --> 00:36:00.040 days. 683 00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:03.640 Become familiar with Grants.gov's Workspace. 684 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:07.200 It has many useful features, including upfront validation, 685 00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:10.618 which allows you to correct errors prior to submission, and 686 00:36:10.618 --> 00:36:14.036 the opportunity to collaborate with others in creating your 687 00:36:14.036 --> 00:36:14.719 application. 688 00:36:15.160 --> 00:36:17.901 If you're not used to working with Grants.gov, consider 689 00:36:17.901 --> 00:36:20.790 starting with their Workspace Overview and check out their 690 00:36:20.790 --> 00:36:21.280 tutorials. 691 00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:24.278 Make sure you're looking at and applying to the correct grant 692 00:36:24.278 --> 00:36:25.200 program within Grants.gov. 693 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:31.538 You can do a keyword search for the IMLS Native American/Native 694 00:36:31.538 --> 00:36:35.472 Hawaiian Museum Services program, or you can enter the 695 00:36:35.472 --> 00:36:39.764 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, which 696 00:36:39.764 --> 00:36:40.480 is 45.308. 697 00:36:41.680 --> 00:36:43.680 Make sure your application is complete. 698 00:36:44.080 --> 00:36:46.798 Double check it against the Table of Application Components 699 00:36:46.798 --> 00:36:48.520 in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 700 00:36:49.080 --> 00:36:52.677 Make sure all application components are in the proper PDF 701 00:36:52.677 --> 00:36:56.396 format and follow the correct naming conventions. And submit 702 00:36:56.396 --> 00:37:00.298 to Grants.gov early so you can correct any errors and avoid any 703 00:37:00.298 --> 00:37:04.200 issues created by slow Internet or other technology challenges. 704 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:12.076 It's important to get your application submitted online 705 00:37:12.076 --> 00:37:14.160 through Grants.gov before the deadline. 706 00:37:14.520 --> 00:37:17.902 IMLS does not accept applications by mail or e-mail, 707 00:37:17.902 --> 00:37:20.200 nor do we accept late applications. 708 00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:24.378 In order to register with grants.gov, you must have an 709 00:37:24.378 --> 00:37:28.701 active sam.gov registration and unique entity identifier number. 710 00:37:28.701 --> 00:37:32.692 So make sure your registrations for both of these sites are 711 00:37:32.692 --> 00:37:36.616 complete, your accounts are active, and that any necessary 712 00:37:36.616 --> 00:37:38.079 passwords are current. 713 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:41.913 These registrations expire periodically, so do not wait 714 00:37:41.913 --> 00:37:45.320 until it's time to hit the submit button to check on them. 715 00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:48.483 You should coordinate with any other staff members or 716 00:37:48.483 --> 00:37:51.116 departments, such as your Authorized Organization 717 00:37:51.116 --> 00:37:54.486 Representative or your financial or grants office, who may hold 718 00:37:54.486 --> 00:37:57.119 the accounts and passwords you'll need to submit. 719 00:37:57.880 --> 00:38:01.131 If you have had staff turnover in the past year, that might 720 00:38:01.131 --> 00:38:04.600 also be a flag to double-check who has access to your accounts. 721 00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:09.032 Both the SAM.gov and Grants.gov websites have robust help 722 00:38:09.032 --> 00:38:10.160 features and FAQs. 723 00:38:10.520 --> 00:38:13.937 If you run into technical issues with either of these sites, you 724 00:38:13.937 --> 00:38:17.144 should reach out to their help desks and request a tracking, 725 00:38:17.144 --> 00:38:20.245 case, or ticket number in order to document your issue and 726 00:38:20.245 --> 00:38:21.560 attempts at resolving it. 727 00:38:22.200 --> 00:38:25.835 IMLS does not accept failure to have active SAM.gov or 728 00:38:25.835 --> 00:38:29.670 Grants.gov registrations by the deadline as an excuse for 729 00:38:29.670 --> 00:38:33.240 submitting a late application. So again, start early. 730 00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:40.840 Here are the important dates relating to NANH applications 731 00:38:40.840 --> 00:38:43.160 for the FY 2025 funding cycle. 732 00:38:44.120 --> 00:38:47.705 We typically make the Notice of Funding Opportunity available 733 00:38:47.705 --> 00:38:51.349 and start accepting applications in mid-August, around 90 days 734 00:38:51.349 --> 00:38:53.200 before the application deadline. 735 00:38:55.080 --> 00:39:01.802 Applications must be received through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM 736 00:39:01.802 --> 00:39:05.880 Eastern Time on November 15th, 2024. 737 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:10.252 The date is non-negotiable. The time stamp is auto generated by 738 00:39:10.252 --> 00:39:14.000 the Grants.gov system and we have no ability to override it. 739 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:17.692 That is why we say repeatedly to start early and submit your 740 00:39:17.692 --> 00:39:18.640 application early. 741 00:39:19.040 --> 00:39:22.829 That way, if you encounter a difficulty of any kind when 742 00:39:22.829 --> 00:39:27.017 submitting your proposal, you'll have some time to resolve the 743 00:39:27.017 --> 00:39:28.480 problem and resubmit. 744 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:31.822 After the application deadline, IMLS staff will review your 745 00:39:31.822 --> 00:39:34.961 application for completeness and eligibility, and you will hear 746 00:39:34.961 --> 00:39:37.119 from us via e-mail if there are any issues. 747 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:41.358 Next, peer reviewers will read your applications and provide 748 00:39:41.358 --> 00:39:44.991 scores and comments based on the criteria outlined in the NANH 749 00:39:44.991 --> 00:39:45.280 NOFO. 750 00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:50.340 Then, IMLS staff will closely review your project budget and 751 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:54.906 your track record with past and current grants and prepare all 752 00:39:54.906 --> 00:39:59.400 of the application materials for review by the IMLS Director. 753 00:39:59.600 --> 00:40:02.780 In June 2025, we will notify you by e-mail of the award decisions 754 00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:05.238 and provide the scores and comments created by the 755 00:40:05.238 --> 00:40:05.720 reviewers. 756 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:11.229 NANH projects must be scheduled to start on July 1st, 2025 and 757 00:40:11.229 --> 00:40:14.320 again, may last from one to three years. 758 00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:18.966 Please make sure that everyone involved in preparing your grant 759 00:40:18.966 --> 00:40:21.840 application is aware of these dates and deadlines. 760 00:40:25.080 --> 00:40:28.575 As you read through the NOFO and prepare your application, you 761 00:40:28.575 --> 00:40:31.960 might have additional questions come up before the deadline. 762 00:40:32.520 --> 00:40:36.048 IMLS staff can help answer your questions about this or any of 763 00:40:36.048 --> 00:40:37.840 our other museum grant programs. 764 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:40.720 You may contact us by e-mail or phone. 765 00:40:41.120 --> 00:40:45.060 Contact information is listed on the NANH grant program landing 766 00:40:45.060 --> 00:40:46.600 page on the IMLS website. 767 00:40:47.040 --> 00:40:49.483 You can also schedule a counseling call to meet 768 00:40:49.483 --> 00:40:50.960 virtually with program staff. 769 00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:55.501 Use the scheduling link found on the NANH program landing page to 770 00:40:55.501 --> 00:40:58.920 find and book an available time slot on our calendars. 771 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:02.337 You will then receive an e-mail with a calendar invite and 772 00:41:02.337 --> 00:41:03.880 Microsoft Teams meeting link. 773 00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:10.257 Thank you very much for your interest in IMLS and in the 774 00:41:10.257 --> 00:41:13.537 Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services funding 775 00:41:13.537 --> 00:41:14.240 opportunity. 776 00:41:14.560 --> 00:41:17.080 I hope you found the information in this video helpful. 777 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:20.600 Good luck and we look forward to seeing your application in 778 00:41:20.600 --> 00:41:21.080 November.