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 ksutter@freedomsfrontier.org. 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 ksutter@freedomsfrontier.org 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 DUNS are no longer applicable.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 originated, obtained or completed, and receipts provided for, 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.

Before You Begin
• Projects must be completed within FFNHA’s fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) and fully closed out (including receipts) by the last business day of August.
• A Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov is required before the application deadline. Learn more or apply here.
• Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.

Step 1 – Project Overview

Partner Organization:
Grant recipient

Project Title:

Amount Requested:

Project Summary (1-2 sentences):
Provide a clear, concise description of your project.

Anticipated Completion Date:

UEI (Unique Entity ID):
Required. Applications without a UEI will not be considered.

FFNHA Theme Alignment:
Please select the FFNHA theme that best aligns with this project.

Projected Audience Reach:
Projected number of individuals this project will serve.

Estimate the likely breakdown of the project’s audience in each box below.
Residents:
Visitors/Tourists:
Online/Virtual:
Provide estimated percentages (must total 100%).

Step 2 – Official Contact Information

Primary Contact (Grant Writer):

Title:

Email:

Phone:

Are you authorized to make legal/financial decisions for the partner organization?

Will you be the project director?

Mailing Address (for payment):

Organization Website:
This may be a link to a social media page.

Step 3 – Funding History

Has your organization previously received FFNHA funding?

If yes:
Date of most recent award (month/year):
Amount awarded:
Brief description of the funded project (100–150 words):
Was the project completed on time?
Lasting impact or outcomes (100–150 words):

Step 4 – Budget

Total Project Budget:

Amount Requested from FFNHA:

Budget Breakdown:
Provide an itemized budget including:
• Expense category
• Description
• Cost
• Funding source (FFNHA or other)
Quotes, estimates, or links are encouraged where available. Supporting documents can be uploaded at the end of the application.

Funds Spent Outside FFNHA Boundary:
This includes hired labor and contractors, speaker and presenters, materials and supplies, etc. See FFNHA’s boundary here.

Other Funding Sources:
List all confirmed or pending funding sources.

Will you charge admission or registration fees?

If yes, provide estimated fee structure and purpose.

Step 5 – Project Workplan

Project Narrative (200–400 words):
Describe how your project:
• Aligns with FFNHA themes
• Promotes tourism and/or economic development
• Engages residents, visitors, or online audiences

Timeline:
Provide a clear timeline of major activities and milestones from start to completion.

Key Personnel:
List key team members and briefly describe their qualifications (1–2 sentences each).

Provide a full timeline for each stage of the project through its anticipated completion date.
Please be as specific as possible.

Evaluation Plan (100–200 words):
How will you measure success? Include specific metrics (attendance, engagement, economic impact, etc.).

Step 6 – Cosponsoring Organization(s)

Are there cosponsors?

If yes, is the cosponsor an FFNHA partner?
For a list of FFNHA partner sites, click here.

Cosponsoring organization(s):

Brief description of each cosponsor’s role (1–2 sentences each):

Step 7 – Letters of Support and Documentation

Letters of Support:
• 3 letters
• Letters should come from stakeholders not directly involved in the project
• Letters should address need, feasibility, and impact

Supporting Documents (optional):
Upload any additional materials (quotes, designs, plans, etc.)

Certification:
By submitting this application, you certify that:
• The information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge
• The organization agrees to FFNHA grant terms
• The project will be completed within the stated timeline

FFNHA Grant Application Scoring Rubric

Applications are evaluated without access to applicant identity.

Project Alignment & Impact (18 points)

Evaluates: how clearly the project is defined and how well it aligns with FFNHA mission/themes.

16–18: Strong alignment; clear tourism/economic/community impact; well-supported claims

12–15: General alignment; some impact described but not fully developed

7–11: Weak or unclear alignment; limited evidence of impact

0–6: No meaningful alignment or impact

Project Reach & Audience Impact (18 points)

Evaluates: size and clarity of audience served (residents, visitors, online).

16–18: Clear, specific audience breakdown; totals 100%; strong justification and realistic reach

12–15: Generally clear audience with minor gaps or limited justification

7–11: Vague or partially developed audience; weak explanation of distribution

0–6: Missing, unclear, or not credible audience information

Project Feasibility & Workplan (18 points)

Evaluates: timeline, execution plan, and ability to complete within grant period.

16–18: Detailed, realistic plan with clear timeline and logical structure

12–15: Generally clear plan with minor gaps or missing detail

7–11: Underdeveloped or partially unclear execution plan

0–6: Missing or not credible plan

Budget Quality & Financial Feasibility (18 points)

Evaluates: clarity, realism, and justification of costs.

16–18: Fully itemized, clear, and well-justified; costs align with scope

12–15: Mostly clear with minor gaps or weak justification

7–11: Limited detail or unclear cost structure

0–6: Incomplete, inconsistent, or not credible

Local Spending within Freedom’s Frontier (15 pts)

Evaluates: regional economic investment and justification.

13-15: 75–100% local spending OR strong justification for exceptions; clear local economic intent

8–12: 50–74% local spending; some intentional local sourcing

3-7: 25–49% local spending; limited justification

0–2: <25% local spending or not addressed; no justification

Organizational Capacity & Partnerships (8 points)

Evaluates: organization’s ability to execute.

7-8: Strong qualifications, partnerships, and readiness

4-6: Adequate capacity

1-3: Limited detail

0: No clear capacity

Evaluation & Outcomes (5 points)

Evaluates: how success will be measured.

3: Clear, measurable metrics

2: Some metrics

1: Weak or vague

0: Not addressed

FINAL SCORE: ____ / 100

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 – The long-running Project Grants program (formerly “Interpretive Grants”) awards up to $3,000 and supports projects that celebrate and preserve the heritage of the Freedom’s Frontier region. This established program remains both an accessible entry point for organizations new to the grant process or a reliable funding source for larger organizations undertaking targeted initiatives.
• Heritage Grants – Designed for larger-scale projects that advance the mission of Freedom’s Frontier NHA, these grants award up to $10,000 in funding. This tier is intended for organizations seeking more substantial funding to support preservation work, interpretive programming, community engagement, or other initiatives that connect residents and visitors to the region’s rich history.
• Mini Grants – These entry-level grants award up to $1,000 in funding and are designed for small-scale projects. This tier is intended for organizations seeking first-time funding to support their work.
• 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.