Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area
Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

2024–2025 SCVNHA Grant Guidelines & Eligibility

This grant program is intended to further the mission and management plan activities of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA) through conservation, preservation, and interpretation projects and programming that enhance the natural, cultural, and historic assets of the region within our defined interpretive themes. Regardless of the project’s main category, we encourage all projects to include a public education element to increase heritage awareness and inspire long-term stewardship. Applicants must align project with at least one action within the management plan. Please access our management plan using the above link and use the find function to search for key words relevant to your project. The Implementation Summary (page 387 of the accessible PDF) is a good place to start.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organizations

Entities must have operated within the boundaries of the SCVNHA for a minimum of two years AND must qualify as one of the following OR secure a fiscal sponsor* that meets these eligibility requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofits (IRS tax determination letter required).
  • City, county, state, or tribal governments.
  • Accredited educational institutions.

Recipients must have/obtain an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number from SAM.gov to be awarded federal funding and must not be debarred, suspended or ineligible from receiving federal funds. PLEASE NOTE: Obtaining and renewing a UEI is FREE.

*In this instance, your fiscal sponsor must meet the above eligibility requirements and must agree to provide fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to support the activities of the sponsored entity.

Eligible Projects

SCVNHA seeks to fund projects or programming that educate, celebrate, and/or preserve the area’s natural, cultural, and historic assets. Projects and programming must:

Examples include:

  • Conservation projects and partner initiatives in defined landscape areas or ecosystems (e.g. sky islands, desert streams, watersheds, Sonoran desert, bird habitats) that restore, preserve, or protect biotic communities, including those that involve adaptive management (see Management Plan 2.2.2).
  • Using interpretation and recreation as means to inform the public about ecosystems and biotic communities and to build awareness and support for conservation action (MP 2.2.5).
  • Projects that identify properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and assist entities/organizations to list these properties in the National Register of Historic Places (MP 3.3.3).
  • Identification, restoration, planning, and feasibility of historic preservation sites, and actively support and assist historic preservation initiatives of communities and partners (MP 3.6).
  • Projects that consider the opportunities, needs, perspectives, and expectations of different types of audiences in the development of interpretive exhibits and programs (MP 4.2.1).
  • Wayfinding projects that increase and facilitate tours of self-guided interpretive sites (see MP 4.3.5).
  • Public art and creative outdoor landscape installations to interpret publicly accessible parks, trails, and community places (MP 4.3.6).
  • Development of new or enhanced visitor programming (MP 4.3.7).
  • Development of workshops or educational curriculum focused on the area’s history, ethnic heritage, food heritage, or natural conservation (MP 4.5.4; 5.4.1).
  • Community events that celebrate our culture, history, or natural environment.
  • We encourage projects that emphasize the use of sustainable materials.

The following are INELIGIBLE Activities and Expenses:

  • Political lobbying
  • Fundraising
  • Acquisition or any interest of real property
  • General operating expenses, including staff salaries outside of project scope
  • Catering, food and beverage, entertainment costs
  • Expenses incurred prior to the award date or Grant Agreement date
  • Gifts, memorabilia, or promotional items
  • Donations to organizations or individuals
  • Any expenses outside the project’s approved Scope of Work
  • Purchase of equipment

If you are unsure of your eligibility, please email us at grants@santacruzheritage.org.

Funding Provisions & Types of Grants

  • Grant funds are disbursed as reimbursements of approved, eligible, paid expenses with supporting documentation required. Funds may be withheld if the match amount is not adequate to meet expenses. Match MUST be from non-federal sources through cash, in-kind products and services, or volunteer services.
  • Awarded funds will be reimbursed based on actual expenses NOT budgeted rates.
  • All grants are federally funded and, therefore, require adherence to federal guidelines and regulations such as the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act, and other Office of Management and Budget Circulars such as 2 CFR 200. Compliance with these standards is a criterion for funding.
  • Applicant must itemize anticipated matching funds and their sources in the Project Application Budget.

Types of Grants:

  • Competitive Heritage Grants award up to 50% of your total project budget with a funding cap of $50,000. This competitive grant cycle opens once per year and projects are evaluated on a competitive basis. Projects demonstrating an ability to exceed 1:1 match requirement are preferred and will receive bonus points. It is preferred that projects be completed by August 2025. Four (4) Quarterly Reports and one cumulative Final Report are required.
  • Rolling Grants award up to 50% of your total project budget with a funding cap of $5,000. Rolling grants will remain open with no deadline until all funds are fully awarded. Proposals will be reviewed monthly on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limitation to how many times an organization is allowed to apply, but we will award only one rolling grant per organization per cycle. Projects demonstrating an ability to exceed the 1:1 match requirement are preferred. Organizations selected for this grant will submit one reimbursement request after the project has been fully expensed, and one final report due within one month of the project’s completion date.

Grantee Requirements

Grantees must agree to the following:

  • Provide a minimum 1:1 match of SCVNHA award. Match MUST be from non-federal sources through cash, in-kind products and services, or volunteer services. All match sources must be fully disclosed as federal sources are not allowed. Grantee matches exceeding a 1:1 ratio are highly encouraged, and proof of such will result in additional points in the application scoring rubric. Volunteer hours and in-kind services or materials must reflect substantiated rate values and hours. Entire match does not have to be secured/in-hand at the time of the grant application, but applicant must illustrate plan to achieve match.
  • Sign a grant agreement outlining the funding terms and conditions.
  • Attend a grantee orientation meeting. Failure to attend will result in loss of funding.
  • Comply with expenditure reimbursement requirements.
  • Submit progress and expense reports as outlined in the Grant Cycle Schedule.
  • Facilitate any audits requested by the grantor.
  • Finish the project within the Grant Cycle Schedule, or if no less than 30 days prior to grant expiration date, submit in writing to the SCVNHA Board of Directors a request for extension outlining legitimate, verifiable reason for extension.
  • Acknowledge in press releases and promotional platforms the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area for its funding support and provide collateral proof demonstrating such. (SCVNHA official logo will be provided).
  • Abide by all federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and executive orders of the governor of the State of Arizona. Failure to do so will put the grantee at risk of losing grant funds.
  • Secure the following minimum insurance requirements, provide SCVHA with signed ACORD certificates, and notify SCVHA within two (2) business days of any cancellation:
  1. Business Automobile Liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage on any owned, leased, hired, and/or non-owned autos assigned to or used in the performance of project not less than $300,000 each accident.
  2. Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability coverage with limits of $1,000,000 each accident and an aggregate limitation of $3,000,000 for any number of claims arising from any one incident.
  3. Grantee must either include all subcontractors as additional insured under its Required Insurance policies, or require each subcontractor to separately meet all Insurance Requirements and verify that each subcontractor has done so.
  4. Name the SCVHA as additional insured within recipient’s liability policy.

Selection Criteria

The SCVNHA Grant Evaluation Committee will select grant recipients by considering, among other points, the following (listed in no particular order):

  • The project’s ability to advance the SCVNHA’s mission and management plan activities.
  • The expressed significance, need for funding, and urgency of the project.
  • The project’s budget, with supporting estimates, documentation of secured or solicited non-federal matching funds, in-kind/volunteer match and resources (additional points for exceeding 1:1 match).
  1. Equal match = 1 point
  2. Up to 1.5 x match = 2 points
  3. Up to 2 x match = 3 points
  4. Up to 2.5 x match = 4 points
  5. Above 2.5 x match = 5 points
  • Evidence of community support for the project.
  • The project’s timeline, preferably with scheduled completion within one year of award.
  • The project’s long-term objectives or impact.
  • The qualifications of key personnel, including consultants.
  • The applicant’s demonstrated ability to complete projects.
  • Applicant’s prior performance with SCVNHA-related programs and projects.

2024-2025 Grant Cycle Schedule

Competitive Heritage Grants:

  • JUNE 2, 2024 @ midnight: Submission Deadline.
  • AUGUST 1, 2024: Awards announced.
  • AUGUST 29, 2024: Orientation.
  • SEPTEMBER 1, 2024: Project work may begin.
  • OCTOBER 1, 2024: Funds available for reimbursement.
  • DECEMBER 30, 2024: 1st Quarterly Progress Report Due.
  • MARCH 31, 2025: 2nd Quarterly Progress Report Due.
  • JUNE 30, 2025: 3rd Quarterly Progress Report Due.
  • AUGUST 31, 2025: Grant Expires.
  • OCTOBER 31, 2025: Final Project Report Due.

Rolling Grants:

Submissions accepted, reviewed and approved monthly on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications received by the 15th of each month will be evaluated and notified by the 15th of the following month. Applications will be accepted until the budgeted funds are fully allocated. There is no limitation to how many times an organization is allowed to apply, but the SCVNHA will only award one rolling grant per organization per cycle.

If you have any questions, please email grants@santacruzheritage.org.

How to Apply for All Grants

  • Click the sumbit button below to begin your application. All submission must include a signed Conflict of Interest form.

If you have any questions, please email grants@santacruzheritage.org.

Instructions for Completing Your Application

In the Budget Section:

Personnel Definitions

  1. Personnel are staff employed by the applicant organization, and costs may only include time spent working directly on the project. Please do not include costs for Consultants, Contractors, and Vendors in this section.
  2. Identify personnel by position. Include estimated hours, hourly wage, and hourly fringe rate under Basis for Estimate (e.g., 20 hrs at $25/hr).
  3. If project hours are attributed to multiple employees with the same position (e.g. Technicians working 80 hours) the number of employees for the group must be identified.

Travel

  1. All travel must be necessary and directly related to the project.
  2. Budgeted amounts should remain consistent with travel costs incurred by an organization during normal business operations and based on the organization’s written travel policy. In the absence of a written travel policy, organizations must follow the regulations prescribed by the General Services Administration (GSA): www.gsa.gov.

Supplies/Materials/Rentals

  1. Supplies are generally defined as items with an acquisition cost of $5,000 or less and a useful life expectancy of less than one year. Supply items must be direct costs to the project and largely, if not fully, consumed during the project.
     2. List all supplies noting their purpose in the project and the basis of cost (e.g., vendor quotes, catalog prices, prior invoices, etc.).

Contractual Services

  1. A contractor is a legal entity contracted to provide goods or services within normal business operations, provides similar goods or services to many different purchasers, operates in a competitive environment, provides goods or services that are ancillary to the operation of the grant project, and is not subject to compliance requirements of the Federal program. All characteristics above may not be present.
     2. List all vendors supplying commercial supplies or services used to support the project. All vendor work must be competitively selected.

Other Direct Costs

  1. Other direct costs are items required for the project which do not fit clearly into other categories. Indirect Costs should not be included in this section.
     2. Basis of cost should be based vendor quotes, prior purchases of similar or like items, published price list, established organizational rates, etc.

Tips & Items Needed to Complete the Application:

  1. Read the application form carefully and follow instructions. Contact the SCVNHA for clarification.
  2. Be clear and concise in your narratives, avoiding repetition or superfluous explanations.
  3. Do not leave items blank. Enter requested information or “Not Applicable” in the space provided.
  4. Incomplete, faxed, or handwritten applications will not be considered.
  5. Submissions of videos and oversized documents are discouraged.
  6. Keep attachments to a minimum.
  7. Final submission must be “electronically signed” (with all sections completed adequately).
  8. For nonprofit organizations, Articles of Incorporation.
  9. For nonprofit organizations, list current board of directors.
  10. For nonprofit organizations, Internal Revenue Service determination letter of tax-exempt status. If tax-exempt status has not been fully approved by the IRS, please provide evidence of filing for certification and letter of opinion from an attorney concerning the applicant’s tax status.
  11. For government agencies, documentation identifying department within tribal, state, county, or local government (public agencies).
  12. Evidence of secured or pending non-federal matching funds.
  13. A minimum of two letters of endorsement from pertinent, verifiable, interested stakeholders.
  14. ACORD insurance certificates.
  15. Unique Entity Identifier (FREE and available via Sam.gov).
  16. Employer Identification Number.
  17. Current FY operating budget.

For Historic Site-Related Projects Only

  1. Four different digital images, submitted electronically, identified by project name, location, and date. Photos must include at least one overall view of the property. Please include photo credit information.
  2. If the applicant does not own the property, a fully executed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of consent between property owner and applicant stating who will own and maintain property after completion of project.
  3. If project includes construction, contractor must provide proof of insurance, license, bond, and AZ ROC number

Our 2023 Grantees!

We are pleased to present the 2023 Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area recipients for our inaugural Heritage Grants program. Eleven organizations were chosen to receive a mix of large and small grants totaling $194,000.

As a small nonprofit, it is critical that we inspire other organizations within the NHA to integrate our Management Plan activities into their own projects. This funding program is a natural way to do this, and we look forward to seeing the results of the awarded projects that span the wide horizons of both our landscape and our vision. We’re especially thrilled that many students, from elementary through high school, will be directly engaged because they are the future stewards of the area.

We fielded a wide variety of proposals that celebrate, educate, and preserve the nationally significant contributors to the identity of our National Heritage Area. The list of grant recipients and their projects include: