Only organizations with an accepted partnership pledge on file with FFNHA which are located within Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area’s designated 41 counties are eligible to be awarded grant funds.

A completed application must be approved by the end of the stated deadline for that cycle to be considered.

To find out how to become a partner, please find the Partner Pledge at the bottom of our Partners webpage or contact our office through Kate Sutter at [email protected]. Partnership is open to most visitable museums/archives, organizations, non-profit 501c3s, and historically significant sites which are communicating one or more of our assigned themes to the public and also located within the forty-one (41) counties of western Missouri and eastern Kansas which comprise the Congressionally authorized heritage area.

Your application will be completed online at the “Apply Now” button below.

Reach out to Kate Sutter, Director of Programming, at [email protected] if you have questions or technical difficulties.

• A federal UEI (Unique Entity ID) attributed to the partner is required before the application’s deadline to be considered. DUNS are no longer applicable. See here for information or www.sam.gov.
• Section 106 compliance: If a potential sub-grant recipient of federal funds intends to impact a historic property that is or could be on the National Historic Register, the partner must comply with a Section 106 Review from their state SHPO office. To receive an FFNHA grant, the Section 106 Review must be complete, and a copy of the Resolution provided before the application’s deadline date. Any granted funds must be used in compliance with their findings. The application may not be considered if a Section 106 Review seems to be necessary. To begin a review, please read more and/or contact your state’s SPHO office.
  • Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
  • Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
• The project being applied for should be centered around communicating or increasing the visibility of FFNHA theme(s) to the public.
• NO components in the specific application/proposal can begin until after the agreement is signed (excluding RFPs or obtaining quotes). This is a non-negotiable federal restriction. The entirety of the project applied for, and any receipts submitted, from beginning to end, must be post-award or the funds may be forfeited.
• Projects must be completed and Closed-Out prior to the last business day of the August following the award.
  • If your project is larger or part of a long-term campaign, you should apply for a specific component or a purchase that can be obtained or completed, and receipts provided, within that time frame.
• Any need for extensions (unforeseen delays, etc) must be approved in writing by FFNHA prior to the end-of-August deadline.
• If the project lasts longer than 6 months, a Progress Report must be submitted at every 6-month point after the initial announcement. Otherwise, Progress Reports are not required.
• Partners may have only one open grant from FFNHA of any type at any time. No further funding may be granted until the first project is completed as described in its application/award and Closed Out.

Examples may include:

• Interpretive projects such as indoor or outdoor exhibits; digital/video/audio/static media; brochures or signage; tour and tour media development; public programs or appropriate living history; creative or performing arts programs, etc.
• Publicity and promotional efforts related to the project or the supplies that will be consumed/distributed.
• Increasing accessibility to the partner’s content, event, or site.
• Purchase or rental of equipment necessary to complete the project.
• Exhibit or archival supplies.
• Repair of or towards the preservation or restoration of applicable buildings, documents, exhibits, or artifacts. A Section 106 review through your State Historic Preservation Office may be required before a grant is approved for work on buildings.
• Reasonable salary, stipends, honorariums and/or travel reimbursements directly related to the project for staff, consultants, or others hired to carry out project activities that would not otherwise possible, excluding prohibited expenditures such as food or per diems.
• Professional development that is not for academic credit.

• Individual scholarships, fellowships, or personal research costs, including courses for academic credit, etc.
• Food or per diems. These components should be shown as removed from the request if included in the bids.
• Lobbying, including but not limited to, political activism or persuasion.
• Projects, events, or supplies that are for-profit, to be used as a fundraiser, or primarily for raising funds.
• Any projects, components, or expenses started prior to the grant award. This may forfeit any awards.
• Projects that discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, or physical abilities.
• Projects or programs for which the members of organizations with private memberships, political objectives, or religious congregations are the primary beneficiary.
• Anything that might jeopardize FFNHA’s ability to obtain future funding or violate the federal guidelines and restrictions upon FFNHA.
• Partners who currently have any FFNHA grant funding which has not been fully Closed-Out.

NOTE: If you think that something deemed ineligible, including items listed above, is essential to your project, contact FFNHA staff. We may be able to assist you with ideas to increase your eligibility or with ideas for other sources of funding.

Applications will be reviewed, and any funding approved, based on the following criteria:

• Prior FFNHA funding rates how recently or significantly the partner has received aid from FFNHA. Priority will be given to partners that have not received FFNHA support in recent grant cycle(s) or fiscal year(s). This does necessarily not exclude any applications. Partners who have not fully Closed-Out any previous grant funding from FFNHA are not eligible until a grant cycle deadline after the Close-Out is finalized.
• Significance of project rates the project’s impact in the community, including the estimated number of visitors/tourists and visibility it may draw to the partner and heritage area, regarding the promotion of at least one of FFNHA’s 3 assigned themes. We exist to promote and improve the experience of heritage-based tourists so projects reaching larger audiences, particularly in-person, may have priority in this category.
• Level of Need rates the urgency of the project for the applying partner(s) at this particular time, and/or if an opportunity would be lost without funding now.
• Budget rates the project’s budget as described by the applicant. The budget should be reasonable and fiscally responsible with any essential vs nonessential costs clearly delineated. Heritage area-based resources should be utilized whenever possible to maximize the local economic impact. The ability to move forward with components of the project’s goal if awarded partial funding should be noted. Components, particularly if requesting a specific contractor (person, business, group, etc), should be reasonably justified by brief explanation, the submission of bids or quotes, and/or other documentation. This may be required by FFNHA to complete the application if not provided.
• Objectives, tasks, and time schedule rates how thoroughly the applicant has planned and organized the project. The project’s steps, stages, or phases should seem reasonably achievable within no more than 12 months according to the work plan. Delays or unforeseen hurdles can be discussed with FFNHA when/if they arise. Make sure what you are applying for can be completed in 12 months, or narrow the scope of your request to a more particular aspect, phase, or component of the project’s completion.
• Qualifications rates the ability of the project’s key personnel and hired or volunteer assistance to actually carry out the proposed project. Resumes, CVs, or website links for such information, especially for paid outside participants like speakers or service providers, should be provided when applicable.
• A Letter of Recommendation rates the positive impact that stakeholders believe the project will have for the partner, heritage area, and/or number of visitors as a result of receipt of funding, as well as confidence in the applicant’s overall plan for completion. Extra letters do not increase scoring

1. Abstract of the project 100 words or less summarizing the project and its goal(s).
2. Official Contact information All names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and/or website addresses for the partner, the Authorizing Official of the partner to receive funds (executive director, president, etc), the project director (if different) and any co-sponsoring organizations.
3. UEI Try this link to begin the process of obtaining a UEI if you have not replaced your DUNS number, or contact [email protected] if you need help meeting this requirement prior to the deadline. Applications without a partner’s UEI will not be considered.
4. Project overview:
   1. Project Title
   2. How many people do you anticipate reaching through this project? Estimate the likely breakdown of residents, visiting tourists, and/or web participants.
5. FFNHA relationships:
   1. When was the last time (month and year) this partner received funding from FFNHA and for how much? If you’ve received funding recently, include a brief statement of what the funds were used for, if the project was completed on time, and the lasting impact it has had.
      1. Partners or applicants who have been unsuccessful at completing a prior grant could be removed from consideration.
   2. How will this project help advance FFNHA’s goals of driving visitors to an FFNHA partner(s) and communicating content about one or more of our themes to locals, tourists, and/or the digital community?
   3. If applicable, how will this project increase understanding of various perspectives and/or viewpoints, particularly regarding the struggle for freedom, by people within the heritage area?
6. Financials:
   1. What is the level of urgency for this project to be completed at this time? Are there any extenuating circumstances or deadlines for other funding that should be considered?
   2. What is the total project estimate being requested from FFHNA? Will that amount fully fund the project’s total completion or will further funding or project phases be necessary? How much funding is available, anticipated, and/or applied for elsewhere?
   3. How much, if any, of the funding would be paid outside* of the heritage area? (Includes hired labor and contractors, speaker and presenters, materials and supplies, etc). Please explain these as they apply to this project. *This information will not exclude the applicant from consideration – but we strive to have the greatest economic impact inside the heritage area whenever possible. We realize this is not always possible.
   4. Include the anticipated budget breakdown of all requested project components, using quotes, good faith estimates, and copies of or links to fees, products and/or services to be purchased, as much as possible.
   5. If partial funding is granted, can the project or a whole piece of it be completed? Please note the most and least essential component(s) required to move the project forward, or the highest priority item(s) to obtain.
7. Project timeline and qualifications
   1. What is the proposed timeline for any stages/phases of the project and the final anticipated completion date? Remember, this application must be for items, phases, or components which can be completed by the last business day of August. Please narrow the scope of your request accordingly.
   2. Briefly describe the role and qualifications for key personnel of the project. When applicable, please provide weblinks or resume/CV material for goods or services being purchased.
      
      1. Additionally, if specific speakers, contractors, sellers, goods, or services are being requested or a quote is submitted, briefly explain how and why those selections were made.
8. Support and recommendations from stakeholders
   1. Please upload at least 1 letter from a stakeholder (unrelated to the grant writer) who supports this particular project and can verify its need, the plan for achievement, fiscal responsibility, and/or the anticipated positive impact(s) for the audience of this FFNHA partner.
9. Official signature.
   1. Submitting the web form will be used as the partner’s agreement acknowledging and accepting FFNHA’s grant program’s requirements. Submission is no guarantee of funding.

Some grants, such as Project Grants, are intended to be flexible to meet partners’ needs. Others are more specific, and the application should strongly relate and specifically show how it applies. Only one grant may be open per partner at a time, and only one per partner may be applied for in each round. If it is determined that an application fits a better grant option in that cycle, or may be more competitive in a different category, it may be moved to that pool of applications at FFNHA’s discretion. The ideas listed here are only a starting point. Please consider the following when applying for specific grant programs:

• Project Grants – These will remain largely as they have since 2023. A wide variety of requests would be appropriate, especially if they don’t fit a more specific grant program.
• FFNHA Themes Grants (coming soon) – Three total would be available at a time; one each for (1) Western Settlement, (2) The Border War, and (3) The Enduring Struggle for Freedom. Requests for funds should strongly show how content about that theme will be the focus of the project.
• Accessibility Grants (coming soon) – These should focus on expanding the audience of the partner and making it easier for more people to visit or attend than before. Ideas include: modifications for easier physical access, translations/braille content, “leveled” or lower reading options or activities for children, ELL programs, and school groups, modernizing language, fixing or creating sidewalks or user-friendly trails, sensory-friendly materials such as headphones or “social story” materials, staffing at an event for a specific audience (opening for a low sensory timeslot, hiring translators/interpreters, etc), or learning opportunities to improve staff’s understanding of these audiences, and media to promote these options at the site.
• Education Grants – These are focused on K-12 audiences and include both Bus on Us and Education Materials grants of $250. Bus on Us is designed to help fund transportation for field trips to our partner sites and Educational Materials grants are for getting content about FFNHA themes to the students. Ideas include buying items for classroom use or events, costs for guest speaking, and postage for traveling trunks. Purchases from a partner site will have priority when possible.
• Professional Development Grants – These are smaller grants (up to $500) to help partners fund opportunities for staff or volunteers to learn. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the fiscal year’s funds are depleted. Close Out will require verification of completion. Ideas include: tickets/registration for conferences, webinars, or speakers, courses or workshops from organizations like AASLH, conventions, books or video series, etc. Meals/per diems or courses for academic credit cannot be included.
• America250 Grants – These are intended to help a partner prepare for and attract increased tourism surrounding 2026 when it communicates one or more of our themes. Ideas include: updating or creating exhibits and media, modernizing the language in signage, translations, media for advertising, or expanding access to the site. We recommend materials from AASLH as a good source in learning more about the America250 initiative.