PROJECT GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY

UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (UEI)

In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) nonprofit organizations and government entities – must provide a valid Unique Entity ID (UEI) actively registered with SAM.gov to receive a New Mexico Humanities grant award.

The UEI requirement will replace the DUNS number requirement, effective April 4, 2022. (Note: New NMHC applications will be updated to reflect a place to enter the UEI for the May 2022 grant deadline).

What is an UEI, and why do I need one?
SAM UEIs are federally issued UEIs obtained through SAM.gov, an Entity Validation Service, which independently verifies the uniqueness of an entity by confirming that there is no existing registration for that legal business name and address. This ensures that SAM UEIs are unique.

As a recipient of federal funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities, the New Mexico Humanities Council must require its grantees to provide a SAM UEI.

Is an UEI the same as a DUNS number, Tax ID, or FEIN?
No it is not. The FEIN or Tax ID number relates to federal tax-exempt status. The SAM UEI is for identification of unique entities.

Who needs an UEI?
If you are applying for an NMHC grant then your organization will need one. All organizations – including (but not limited to) nonprofit organizations and government entities – must have a UEI to receive a New Mexico Humanities Council grant award.

How does my organization get a UEI?
Request a UEI via SAM.gov.

What information will I need to provide?
(subject to change)

Legal name of organization
Physical address (and PO box if you have one)
Telephone number
Web address
Name of the authorizing official (e.g., president, director, etc.)
The purpose of your organization.

Can anyone register my organization?
Not just anyone. Must be an authorizing official (someone who can legally represent the organization) should request the SAM UEI.

How much does it cost?
There is no fee.

Please check out these guides for more guidance:
VIDEO (Youtube)

Get an UEI PDF help guide.

WHO CAN APPLY?

NOTE: Sub-awards are not issued to pass-through entities. Applicants must be directly involved in the management and execution of a project or program.

NMHC is authorized to award grants to private, nonprofit organizations in good standing including institutions of higher education and state, local, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Organizations or groups that apply for funding must be constituted for nonprofit purposes, but it is not necessary that they be incorporated or have tax-exempt status. NMHC does not award grants to individuals; they are required to partner with a private, nonprofit organization to serve as sponsor and applicant.

NMHC may award grants with conditions attached. For example, an organization may be required to revise the project budget or address stipulations set by the NMHC board. No disbursal of funds will be authorized until the organization meets these conditions.

Visit our grants management portal to create a profile and begin the screening and application process.

Daisy Patton, Untitled, Cross Pollination Exhibit, 516 ARTS, 2017

Consultation and Application Deadlines »

Project Guidelines & Eligibility »

How to Apply »

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Projects funded by NMHC must meet the following requirements:

NOTE: Sub-awards are not issued to pass-through entities. Applicants must be directly involved in the management and execution of a project or program.

1) Involvement of Humanities Scholars

Humanities scholars play a central role in all the phases of project-planning, presentation, and evaluation. Scholars supported by grant funds should present content to the general public with a question and answer session. The best public humanities programs involve participation by both academic and community, or organic scholars.

They participate as professional scholars drawing upon their academic expertise. Professional humanities scholars have higher-level training - usually advanced degrees - in a humanities discipline and are active professionally in the humanities as researchers, teachers, writers, or community scholars.

Community scholars include persons grounded (experienced) in the humanities, acknowledged/recognized by their peers and their communities, to include (but not limited to) community historians, cultural specialists, tradition bearers, and others working in a non-academic setting.

2) Humanities Content

The humanities are central to activities funded by NMHC. Projects focus on one or more of the humanities disciplines, or on applying the methods of the humanities, such as critical thinking, analysis, and interpretation to current social or public policy issues and concerns. Funded projects might include components that do not involve the humanities, provided they are subordinate to activities that do use the humanities.

3) Balance of Viewpoints

Projects provide a balanced treatment of different viewpoints, especially projects dealing with controversial contemporary issues. Projects are required to avoid advocacy and bias in their overall design.

4) Public Audiences

Projects involve and address out-of-school adults and families as their primary audience. These may include specific audiences such as professional, civic, ethnic, and community groups, but events must be open to the public. Planned events and activities offer opportunities for audience engagement. Publicity is targeted to the intended audience and may include community flyers or mailers, social media and press releases to diverse media.

5) Cost Sharing

Project budget must show a minimum 1:1 match of funds requested provided by the Sponsor Organization through matching cash, in-kind donations (services, goods or volunteers’ time), or project income.

FUNDING EXCLUSIONS

NMHC policies and guidelines exclude grant funding for the following types of projects, activities and costs:

• “brick and mortar” projects such as construction, renovation, or preservation

• museum or library acquisitions

• fundraising events or events intended to make a profit

• curriculum development

• classroom presentations or “how to” workshops without humanities discussions

• traditional courses for college credit

• fellowships or scholarships

• research, except as preparation for an NMHC public grant program

• broadcast quality film or video projects, unless an integral part of another project, e.g., a video as part of an exhibit or oral history project

• fine or performing arts programs, with the exception of programs in conjunction with humanities elements (such as history, theory, criticism that are paired with an educational talk that facilitates a Q&A session with the audience)

• publications, unless directly linked to NMHC's public grant programs, such as a gallery guide or interpretive program notes; NOTE: publications funded through NMHC awards may not contain solicitations of funds NOTE: funding is also not able to go towards the creation/development of websites, however we can support general updates to the organization's pre-existing website in the specific areas related to the project (example: the specific webpage in which an exhibits information is displayed.)

• advocacy, lobbying or direct action programs

• projects which promote only one point of view or one course of action

• the continuation of existing humanities programs that are a regular part of an organization’s activities

• professional conference events intended solely for those registered at the conference; conference events open and accessible to the general public may be considered for funding

• staff positions unrelated to directly executing a NMHC grant programs / project

NOTE: For funding limitations on supporting staff please visit the budget instructions page.

• payment for scholars that reaches beyond a $350 in honoraria per individual speaker, per a single public event

• professional development

• costs of meals and refreshments (or expenses related to food preparation), with the exception of per diem expenses for scholars or others who must travel from out of town to participate in the project and stay overnight (see current rate in online application)

• out of state advertising or marketing expenses

• international travel that does not comply with the Fly America Act

REQUIRED PROJECT PERSONNEL

KEY PROJECT PERSONNEL

Key project personnel are considered the individuals listed on the grant agreement / subaward agreement and are responsible for managing all components of the grant: project execution, deliverables stated in the application, following grant guidelines and submitting reports.

These individuals will be the primary point of contact providing event promotion content, requesting permission from NMHC to implement any changes to your grant funded program, and submitting all required reports etc.

NOTE: These two individuals are expected to attend grant consultations prior to submitting an application. They are both expected to attend a grant management orientation if the project is funded.

The Project Director co-signs the application with the Fiscal Agent. This person is also listed on the subaward agreement and considered key project personnel for the purpose of managing and coordinating all elements of this grant (including but not limited to fulfilling the deliverables listed in the application, submitting programmatic-related information, performance updates and required reports).

The Project Director is to actively work alongside the Fiscal Agent in the execution, oversight and reporting aspects of the grant funded project.

NOTE: NMHC reserves the right to require that the sponsoring organization identify a different primary Project Director if the individual listed in the application as the Project Director has previously received a risk assessment score that has raised concerns. If applicable, NMHC will reach out to you prior to drafting the subaward agreement.

The Fiscal Agent has the authority to represent the sponsor organization (the non-profit applying for the grant). This person co-signs the application with the understanding that he/she is certifying to NMHC that the sponsor organization is eligible to receive federal funds and will comply with applicable federal law if funds are awarded. The instructions for certification included on our website.

The Fiscal Agent is also listed on the subaward agreement and considered key project personnel for the purpose of managing this grant.

The Fiscal Agent is to actively work alongside the Project Director in the execution, oversight and reporting aspects of the grant funded project. Fiscal Agents who function on a passive level will have their personal and organizational risk assessment scores increased.

Fiscal Agents should track, evaluate and report on all financial components of the project. This includes but is not limited to itemized documentation of expenses applied to the grant and all forms of matching (purchases logged by cost per unit, tracking mileage, per-diem, volunteer time, project personnel’s timesheets, in-kind contributions, etc.)

Some forms of documentation will be required for final reports. However, for auditing purposes documentation should be retained in your organization’s records. Documentation should include but is not limited to: receipts, invoices, copies of checks, deposit slips, donor letters, and sponsorship letters etc.

NOTE: The fiscal sponsor (the organization applying for the grant) cannot serve only as a pass-through entity (PTE), but must maintain an active role in carrying out the grant funded project and the related reporting.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT PERSONNEL

Humanities Scholars are individuals with specialized competence or training in one or more of the humanities disciplines, usually reflected in advanced degrees. Alternatively Humanities Scholars may also include community and tribal elders, community historians, cultural specialists, tradition bearers, self-trained humanists, and other humanists working in a non-academic setting who can bring consideration of the humanities to bear on civic and community life.

NOTE: As part of the application, a concise statement will need to be provided for each Humanities Scholar which confirms they are an appropriate fit for the work they will be completing. Please provide a direct statement that ties the Scholar's background/experience to the subject they are presenting.

The Evaluator is independent and separate from the sponsor organization. The Evaluator cannot be tied to executing the project's goals and objectives and he/she cannot be a participant in the project. All NMHC grant funded projects are required to have an Evaluator that fits this criteria. Evaluators are required to attend programs and assess the program’s effectiveness related to the criteria outlined in the submitted application.

**Changes in any of the above personnel after submission of application requires written notification and approval**