New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Grant/Stakeholder Survey

NJHC - FY 2020 Grant Evaluation Questionnaire

Introduction

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) will begin a new three-year funding cycle for its General Operating Support (GOS) program, in addition to its annual Project Grant round, in Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 – June 20, 2020). This marks the first new grant cycle after the NJHC’s comprehensive grant reevaluation that was implemented in Fiscal Year 2017, when a concerted effort was made to encourage the use of new strategies for assessing and enhancing audience engagement throughout the cultural community. The updated grant program encourages grantees to think more deeply about the current and potential audiences they serve, and how they can make state history accessible and relevant to 21st-century residents and visitors.

In preparation for developing the new FY 2020 grant guidelines, and to improve upon the foundation of past efforts, we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey and share your experiences with the NJHC program. We are eager to hear your insights as a previous or potential applicant.

All responses will remain anonymous. 
1.Has your organization accessed and/or utilized U.S. Census data to better understand the demographic makeup of the community that surrounds your headquarters location (i.e. within 20-30 mile radius)?
2.Has your organization updated its mission or long-range plan to prioritize efforts to broaden and diversify its traditional audience over the past three years?
3.How do you currently collect geographic data from visitors to your site(s)? Choose ALL that apply.
4.Current NJHC guidelines require that “twenty-five percent (25%) of an organization’s audience (both virtual and actual) come from beyond a 20-mile radius from its headquarters location.” How would you characterize this eligibility requirement?
5.Please take a moment to briefly elaborate, if necessary, on your previous answer – i.e. what are your thoughts on the NJHC audience eligibility requirement?
6.What best describes your organization’s marketing strategy?
7.Current NJHC guidelines require that an organization have “an annual operating budget of at least $100,000 in non-state history funds.” How would you characterize this eligibility requirement?
8.Please take a moment to briefly elaborate, if necessary, on your previous answer – i.e. what are your thoughts on the NJHC budget eligibility requirement?
9.Does your history organization currently follow the highest professional standards (e.g. AASLH StEPs, AAM National Standards, Society of American Archivists standards, etc.)?
10.Would an NJHC guideline requirement of participation in an established professional standards program impact your eligibility moving forward?
11.How would you generally characterize the General Operating Support (GOS) “Narrative” requirements (Pg. 9) (i.e. format and length etc.)?
12.Please take a moment to comment on the GOS “Narrative Topics” required for the application (Pgs. 9-10). What do you like? What would you like to see change? What other recommendations would you make that would improve our understanding of your organization’s operations and programs?
13.What are your thoughts on the additional “Required Attachments” (Pgs. 11-12)? Did we leave out something that you believe should be included? Conversely, do you find any attachments unnecessary or redundant?
14.How would you characterize the Project Grant program’s “Funding Priorities and Evaluation Criteria” (Pg. 6)?
15.What are your feelings on the eligible/ineligible project types and related expenses (Pgs. 4-5)?
16.What are your thoughts on the “Narrative Form,” “Budget Form,” and “Required Attachments” (Pgs. 10-11)? What do you like? What would you like to see change? What other recommendations would you make that would improve our understanding of your future project grant proposals?
17.Please take this opportunity to provide the NJHC additional insight on its grant guidelines not covered (or addressed completely) in the previous sections.This information will be critical to ensuring that the NJHC continues to have its finger on the collective pulse of grant-making trends in order to meet the unique needs of New Jersey’s history non-profit community.
Current Progress,
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