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 types of grants available is the Education Grant. The primary goal of the SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) is to educate SC natives and visitors alike on the role SC played in the American Revolution.
Grant Requirements:
- Projects should feature significant American Revolution Era people, places, events, or ideas particularly in their connection to SC.
- Educational materials require the highest standards of scholarship, balance, and documentation.
- These works must be fully referenced and clearly delineate accepted facts from author’s interpretation and opinion.
- References shall be made in accord with Chicago Manual of Style conventions.
- All opinion pieces must be referred to as an opinion piece, clearly name the author, and include a statement that it does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission.
- All of the Commission’s endorsed materials will be peer reviewed by subject matter experts.
- None of these projects are works of any pre-determined length.
- Applicants are encouraged to also tell their Revolutionary Era stories from non-traditional points of view, such as (but not limited to) Loyalist – Women – Children – enslaved and free African Americans – Native Americans.
- Project Sponsor must agree to public access to the materials upon completion.
- The Project Sponsor will supply its proposed Budget and Timeline to completion
- The research must cite the SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission.
- Project Sponsor shall provide all project management.
- All materials should be age appropriate with preference given to materials that consider diverse learning skills.
- K-12 materials should relate to state standards.
- Projects can be for K-12, college level, or adult education activities.
Who Is Eligible:
Official County 250 Committees, County Governments, Municipal Governments, Tribes, Museums, Historical Societies, Visitor Centers, Chambers of Commerce, Universities/Colleges, Non-Profit Organizations, Other SC Organizations and Businesses with Public/Private Partnerships. Please note that County and Municipal Governments may designate third-party recipients (i.e. 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.
How To Apply:
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 Grants (or Major or Premier)
- General Information Form
- Cover Sheet Form
- Make sure to select Education Grant under Grant Type.
- Grant Narrative including Estimated Timeline & Anticipated Outcomes / Deliverables
- Assurances & Certifications
- Support Materials (*Required)
- Contact Spreadsheet Click Here for a Sample Spreadsheet
- Project Sponsor staff/members who would like to be added to SC250 enewsletter, etc.
- 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 fiscal 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 is 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 you are a County 250 Committee, just attach your official, signed county resolution.
- If you are not located in SC but are working on American Revolution in SC material, upload a document that states such.
- Any documents describing Deliverables (could be copy of play that the Project Sponsor is sponsoring, concept drawings, event publicity plan, etc.)
- Any other documents that support your request. For example: if planning on using grant funds to pay a consultant, submit resume and/or sample works of consultant if already selected / REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) if not.
- Note: If your project involves a public school proposals must document the support of all appropriate administrative persons and/or groups and the project must have a clear relationship to the American Revolution in SC, whether it is extracurricular or incorporated into the established curriculum. The project should have potential ramifications for more than one kind of audience, though the targeted audience may be students, teachers, parents, or any combination of these.
- Grant Application Budget
- Budget Best Practices:
- Not all budget categories may be compatible with your grant type. Feel free to skip a section. For example: we do not expect to see land acquisition in the County 250 Organizing Grants.
- 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 in the Amount section below.
- 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.
- Feel free to contact SC250 with questions at hhawkins@southcarolina250.com.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit early and/or contact SC250 to discuss.
Amount:
Based on grant level. However, most Education Grants are up to $10,000* / Project Sponsor
FY24 Anticipated Application Deadlines:
Monthly Grant FY24 Anticipated Deadlines: The first business day of each month at 3:00 P.M. Eastern (2/1/24, 3/4/24, 4/1/24, 5/1/24, 6/3/24)
Major & Premier Grant FY24 Anticipated Deadlines: Cycle 2: March 26, 2024, Cycle 3: June 14, 2024
All deadlines are not postmarked dates as all applications must be submitted in the Discover SC Web Grants program. Dates subject to change.
FY24 Anticipated Grant Award Dates:
Monthly Grant FY24 Anticipated Award Dates: The first business day of the following month
Major & Premier Grant FY24 Anticipated Award Dates: Cycle 2: May 10, 2024 Cycle 3: September 1, 2024
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.
Match or Cost Share Required:
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).
Grant Distribution:
Competitive Grants will be distributed with 80% upfront and 20% appropriated 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.
Helpful Links:
How to Register for the Discover SC Web Grants Program
How to Submit Your Application in the Discover SC Web Grants Program
SC250 Webinars
Sample Contact Excel Spreadsheet - Required Support Material for Most Grants
Word Document with Paper Version of Application for Reference and Preparation Only - Please note that all applicants must be completed in the Discover SC Web Grants Program.
*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.
