Community History Guidelines

No. Public history projects already in process are not appropriate for the Community History program, as a central part of the program is building a project from scratch. Organizations seeking funding for existing public history projects may want to apply for an NJCH grant.

Each organization accepted into the Community History program is required to identify 2 or 3 representatives that are able to participate in program activities, including learning sessions, team meetings, project work, and homework. Those participants will also act as primary community contacts during project development.

Community History’s cohort-based environment works best when all organizations are active, collaborative, and consistent participants in the program. Participants can expect to invest a significant amount of time in this program each week. We hope that the skill-building work of these cohorts will translate into long-term benefits for organizations that wish to incorporate public history into their broader programming.

Yes! It is reasonable—encouraged—for participating organizations to use a significant portion of the funding for personnel costs. Project plans and budgets are developed during the program and must be approved by NJCH prior to beginning work. Participants will receive more detailed information about eligible and ineligible expenditures during the program.

The exact syllabus for the intensive and learning sessions will be finalized based on particular needs and interests of participating organizations, but will include the following topics:

• Public history concepts and program models.
• Community outreach strategies.
• Developing project plans and budgets.
• Goal setting and evaluation.
• Marketing and publicity.

Nonprofit organizations, state and local government, and unincorporated community groups are eligible to apply to be part of Community History.

Organizations or groups that are interested in incorporating history into their programming but have little experience and no professional historians on staff to do so are ideal applicants. History-missioned organizations that are primarily volunteer-run, with little or no professional staff, are also welcome to apply.

Not eligible:

• For-profit organizations or businesses.
• Individuals.
• Organizations who participated in a past Community History cohort.