Virtual Connection Session: Post-Session Notes 1
May 28, 2025
Meeting Purpose: South Jersey Cultural Alliance hosted a virtual connection session with theNew Jersey Cultural Trust to discuss the FY26 humanities and history grant.
South Jersey Cultural Alliance Mission:
South Jersey Cultural Alliance connects, empowers, and advocates for artists, communities, and organizations to promote engagement and investment in arts and history in our region.
New Jersey Cultural Trust:
The New Jersey Cultural Trust, established in 2000, provides grants to arts, history, and humanities nonprofits in New Jersey for institutional and financial stabilization projects. For the purpose of this grant, the Historical Commission serves as the recommending agency for fiscal year 2026, administering grants up to $40,000 for history and humanities organizations. Organizations must be qualified by the Cultural Trust by June 11, 2025, to be eligible for grants, meeting criteria such as being a separately incorporated nonprofit with a primary mission in arts, history, or humanities. It is important to gather all required information before applying, and review your project for eligibility, which must address major stabilization challenges within specific categories.
Overview:
- This grant supports non-profit history/humanities organizations in addressing financial and institutional challenges, Awards up to $40,000, generally $10,000-$40,000 range
- Eligibility requires Cultural Trust qualification by June 11, 2025, and a primary history/humanities mission
- Declaration of Intent (DOI) due June 11, 2025; full application due July 17, 2025
- Funds support specific project categories like cash reserves, technology upgrades, and strategic planning - not general operations or programming
- Your mission statement must be primarily HISTORY or HUMANITIES focused. A mission statement that is too broad is not eligible for this grant.
- There is NO save function when filing for eligibility for the New Jersey Cultural Trust. The application must be filled out in one sitting.
- Make sure to register in SAGE a week before the deadline.
- Make sure to submit your application early, late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstance.
- FY26 grants for history/humanities organizations; arts organizations eligible next year
- No matching funds required
- Awardee grant period is for Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2026
- Administered by NJ Historical Commission as recommending agency
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be designated "qualified" by Cultural Trust by June 11, 2025
- Qualification criteria: nonprofit, tax-exempt, 4+ years operating, board oversight, primary cultural mission
- For this grant: Primary history/humanities mission required
- Cannot have active Cultural Trust IFS grant
Eligible Project Categories
- Cash reserves/working capital funds
- Debt/deficit reduction (one-time events only)
- Strategic planning and assessment
- Technology upgrades
- Capital equipment purchases
- Staff/board development
- New permanent staff position
Ineligible Projects/Expenses
- General operating costs, existing staff salaries
- Multiple discrete projects in one application
- Capital construction, fundraising events
- Ongoing programs/services
- Projects altering historic register properties
Application Process
- Declaration of Intent (DOI) due June 11, 2025 in SAGE system
- Full application due July 17, 2025
- Independent panel review based on evaluation criteria
- Awards announced November 2025
Technical Assistance Resources
- Recorded webinars, office hours, one-on-one assistance available
- Self-assessment tools and guidance documents on Cultural Trust website
- Staff available to answer questions via phone/email
You can watch the technical session on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOJ8Wc0MvPk
Session Links:
- For more information about the FY26 IFS History/Humanities grant program, please see the grant guidelines: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/assets/pdf/fy26-ifs-history-humanities-guidelines.pdf
- To check your organization’s current qualification status, click this link: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/assets/pdf/2025-ct-qualified-orgs-0115.pdf
- Find the qualification guidelines, the list of currently qualified organizations, and the link to the online qualification application form on the Qualification page of the Cultural Trust’s website: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/ct-qualification.shtml
- Use the online LUCY tool to check your property's register status: https://dep.nj.gov/hpo/tools/lucy/Verify the status by contacting the State Historic Preservation office by phone (609-940-4312) or email (njhpo@dep.nj.gov)
- Organizational self-assessment resources for the Cultural Trust's IFS programs are available here: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/about-ct-grants.shtml#assessment
- Browse lists of past grant-funded projects: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/ct-past-grant-awards.shtml
- Read articles about recent Cultural Trust grantees: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/ct-featured-grant-recipients.shtml
- Watch our technical assistance mini-webinars: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf-3ViPRk0i9oWWXB6wdvnCH60257xSReRead our DOI guidance document: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/assets/pdf/fy26-ifs-history-humanities-doi-guidance.pdf
- For registration links for Zoom office hours, recorded mini-webinars, and other technical assistance materials, go to the Cultural Trust website: https://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/ct-grant-opportunities.shtml#2026
SJCA Links:
- On May 29, during the Cultural Access Summit at Grounds for Sculpture, SJCA Executive Director Julie Hain will present the Excellence in Cultural Access Innovation Award to the Peto Museum for their incredible efforts to welcome visitors of all abilities. Learn more!
- Join South Jersey Cultural Alliance staff during our open office hours for casual, supportive conversation. Whether you have questions, need help brainstorming ideas, want feedback on a project, or just prefer to co-work in a virtual space, we’re here to connect. Stop by, say hello, and let’s build together. | Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Dates: June 2, July 7, August 4, October 6, November 3, December 1 of 2025 | Register here!
- We have moved! Make sure to update your records today! Add our current address 174 S New York Rd, PO BOX #142, Oceanville, NJ 08231
- The South Jersey History Trail has launched. Check out our most recent article and download the app today.
- We have a new social media account! Give us a follow on BlueSky
Partner Opportunities
- New Jersey Cultural Trust | Guidelines Released for New Jersey Cultural Trust’s FY26 Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History & Humanities Organizations | Declarations of Intent to Apply Deadline: June 11, 2025 | Full applications due on July 17, 2025. | More information and application.
- New Jersey State Council on the Arts | Free Webinar Watch Party Series on Financial Management for NJ Arts Nonprofits | June 11, 2025 | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Telling Your Financial Story to Different Audiences
- New Jersey Economic Development Authority | Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion Program – CAFE |Deadline: June 6, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. | More information and application.
