Grants

Just as an individual needs a clear destination and road map on a journey, an organization can best move forward and effectively meet its mission with a strategic plan that serves as a blueprint for the future.

GET READY! grants provide a way for organizations to learn about the planning process and help your organization begin creating a plan. A GET READY! grant provides your organization with a consultant experienced in museum planning who spends up to half a day with your organization and provides a follow-up report. This consultant will introduce strategic and long range planning concepts to your board and staff and help you initiate planning. The process will be interactive and the consultant will provide sample plans and help your organization establish a framework for planning.

If your organization does not have a current strategic or long range plan, you must complete a GET READY! grant before your institution can apply for the GET SET! grant. There is no deadline for a GET READY! grant. Applications may be submitted at any time and applicants will be notified within one month of submission. To apply, complete the GET READY! application available here.

To be eligible for a GET READY! grant, your organization must be chartered as a museum or historical organization with collections by the New York State Board of Regents or be a museum with a parent that is a non-profit organization or local governmental agency.

Before you begin writing your GET READY! grant application, please check our tips for a successful grant. It is also recommended that you contact UHA at 800.895.1648 with any questions or to discuss your grant application before submission.

General Information for Grants for Museum Advancement

1. We encourage you to contact the Upstate History Alliance to discuss your project before submitting an application. Please contact the UHA staff by e-mail at info@upstatehistory.org or by phone at 800.895.1648.

2. Organizations may receive one grant in each category in any calendar year.

3. Additional support will not be awarded until a final report for a previous project is submitted. The Museum Program at NYSCA is regularly updated on outstanding final reports.

4. Only organizations holding a charter from the New York State Board of Regents as a museum or historical society or institutions that are a unit of local government may apply.

5. Grants do not support out-of-state travel for staff or consultants.

6. From time to time the Grants for Museum Advancement Program may issue a special Requests for Proposals (RFP). Information on RFPs will be posted on this website and promoted through state and regional service organizations.

Applications are accepted by mail only and should be sent to: Upstate History Alliance, 11 Ford Avenue, Oneonta NY 13820