The Project Narrative consists of four sections: 1) Applicant Organization Profile, 2) Statement of Need, 3) Description of Impact, and 4) Project Design & Resources. The application review committee will base its funding decision on the project narrative and budget.
Note: Within each section, be sure to address each question or item specifically to demonstrate how your project meets the goals of the History Fund as outlined in the Guidelines in the section titled “What are the Goals of the History Fund?”
The project narrative section is limited to 2,000 words (thus the four sections below should not exceed 2,000 words in total).
1. Applicant Organization Profile
Briefly describe your organization. Who are you?
- How long has your organization existed?
- Cite your current mission statement, and explain how you fulfill your mission.
- Describe three or four of your organization’s most prominent activities over the past 5 years.
2. Statement of Need
Describe your project and the conditions that make it necessary. What do you want to do and why?
- Explain the need for the proposed project. Why do you need to do this project at this time?
- How does this project address long-term or strategic goals for your organization?
- Why is this project important to your community?
3. Description of Impact
Describe how successful completion of your project will address the need you identified above.
- What does success “look like” for your project?
- Describe who will be served by this project. Depending on the project, your answer may include an explanation of the visitors, patrons, or community served, and / or of the board members, staff, or volunteers whose participation will benefit the organization (for example, in the case of an Organizational Development grant).
- How will you evaluate the intended outcomes of the project?
Note: If your History Fund proposal is funded, you will use the measures outlined in your application to demonstrate how well the project accomplished its objectives in the final report.
4. Project Design & Resources
Describe the activities necessary to complete the project. How will you accomplish your project?
- What activities or work will take place? Break the project down into specific steps or phases and describe each. Identify the professional standards relevant to this project. Explain how this project will meet those standards.
- Who will do the work? Explain that qualified people have been secured or will be hired to complete the work and explain their roles. Attach resumes of any pre-selected principal personnel. If there are any external project partners, explain their role in the project and why it is necessary.
- Provide a schedule for completing the project. Include the start and end dates of all major tasks. Also include the submission of a progress report at the mid-point of the project and a final report at project’s end. In addition, note that History Fund staff may (at their discretion) request draft products for review during the grant period. Download the Work Schedule form. (Opens in Excel)
- Organize your work schedule into four columns:
| Work to be accomplished | Work days | Start date | Completion date |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Note: “Work days” refers to the actual number of days spent completing the work activity.
- Compile a budget for the project using the form included in this application. Refer to the Budget Form section for instructions.