Arts and Music Education Grant

An organization is eligible to receive grant funding if they are in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and MHC. An organization is in good standing with the IRS when they have completed all IRS reporting requirements and can receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. MHC uses the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm compliance.

An organization is in good standing with MHC unless they have a history of untimely or inaccurate financial or program reports or an open grant beyond its closure date. If you are unsure whether you are in good standing with MHC, please contact us at submissions@mnhum.org. MHC may grant an eligibility exemption to an organization if the applicant uses a fiscal agent.

Deadline to request MHC feedback: Friday, June 13, 2025

Applications due no later than: 6:00 p.m. CDT, Monday, June 23, 2025

Applications under review: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Funding available following execution of the grant agreement.

Project End Date: May 31, 2026

All eligible applications will be evaluated on a 100–point scale using the following scoring factors and weight criteria:

Project Details (25)

• • Is the primary purpose of the project to support underserved youth and adults to pursue music, creative writing, or performing arts?
  • Does the applicant identify how the project will support Arts and Music Education in Minnesota?
  • Does the project meet any of the legislatively named priorities for the intent of this funding?
  • How many underserved youth and adults that have been underserved by traditional arts funding will the project reach? Be specific with the communities that will be served, number of adults/students/youths, teachers, instruments, materials, musicians, or artists involved?
  • How will the project provide students with high-quality arts programming and access to experienced teachers, musicians, and artists?
  • Will the project offer scholarships to existing high-quality arts programming, including camps, schools, and centers devoted to teaching the arts, and
  • Will the project offer outreach and transportation services, as well as on-site services, to help communities gain access to and use the scholarship?

Community Involvement (25)

• • How were community members, organizations, or schools, involved in developing this grant proposal and does the proposal help reach students from diverse backgrounds? How were their ideas incorporated?
  • How will the community be involved in implementing and evaluating the success of the project?
  • Can you identify past success in collaborating with the community to offer Arts and Music education or scholarships?
  • Does the project have existing or matching funds to help facilitate group or individual lessons in the arts?

Project Management (25)

• • Does the project identify which individual(s) are responsible for ensuring the proper implementation, evaluation, and financial oversight of the project?
  • Does the submitted budget align with the proposed project?
    • Is the budget in MHC’s required template?
  • Are itemized expenses detailed, clear, and consistent with Legacy?
  • Is the evaluation process, including criteria and methodology, clear?
  • If applicable, how will you ensure compliance with Minnesota competitive bid laws?

Evaluation & Impact (25)

• • Is the success of the project clear?
  • Is the evaluation process clear as to methodology?
  • What audience are you attempting to reach with your project?
  • How do you expect to impact the audience you are attempting to reach?
  • What steps are you taking to maximize your desired impact?

Applicants are encouraged to apply online through MHC’s grants management system. Applicants may also download and review the full application—Arts and Music Education Grant (PDF).

We recommend reviewing the full application prior to logging on and setting up an account. You may save your initial application entries and subsequently return to the document to finish your application.

Apply Now

Budget Template

Applicants must submit complete applications to be considered eligible. Applications contain the following sections:

• Applicant Contact Information
• Project Overview
• Project Alignment
• Project Narrative
• Project Budget

Please do not submit any additional materials other than what is requested, such as binders or photos, in the application.

Unrequested material will not be reviewed.

Please make sure that your proposal only seeks funding for events and activities that are allowable. Minnesota law does not allow legacy funding to be used to:

Legacy prohibits funds from being used to:

• Cover costs incurred before the grant agreement is fully signed,
• Start, match, add, or complete any type of capital campaign,
• Must not serve as a substitute for traditional sources of funding,
• Support capital costs (such as improvements, construction, property, or equipment),
• Support benefits and fundraisers,
• Purchase promotional giveaway items such as t-shirts, keychains,
• Fund out-of-state expenses, such as out-of-state travel and lodging and contractor expenses,
• Pay for indirect costs or overhead charges not directly related to the activities outlined in the project proposal,
• Food expenses when expenses are either (i) incurred during the planning phase of the project, or (ii) are not essential to the final program,
• Wages, salary, and benefits of staff for the time that such individuals are not working on the project.

• MHC’s Grants Management Agreement with MN Department of Administration (OGM) (PDF)
• Legacy Amendment
• Budget Template (PDF)
• Budget Template (Excel)
• Application (PDF)
• FAQs (PDF)

If you have any questions about this RFP, applying in English is a barrier, or you need a reasonable accommodation to submit your application, please contact:

Briza Maldonado
Minnesota Humanities Center
Grants Administrator
987 Ivy Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55016
briza@mnhum.org