Budget Form

The Budget Form must be filled out and submitted as part of the application.

MHC Grant funds may be used to cover project-related expenses such as:

• Honoraria
• Per diem and travel costs
• Costs for print, publicity, supplies

MHC Grant funds may NOT be used for:

• Cost incurred before the beginning of the grant period
• Activities in the creative or performing arts
• General operating expenses
• Construction and/or renovation projects
• Museum or library acquisitions
• Direct social action or political advocacy
• Food, refreshments, alcohol or entertainment
• Fundraising or profit making activities

Matching Funds
Sponsoring organizations are required to provide financial support for their projects. The matching funds must be at least equal to the grant amount requested from the Council. The matching funds can be made up of cash and other contributions from the sponsoring organization, cash from third parties, in-kind contributions from third parties, or program income. Applicants are encouraged to raise third-party cash as an indication of community interest in their project and to demonstrate a partnership between public and private support.

For each budget line item, indicate whether it will be using Council funds, sponsoring organization cash and contributions, third-party cash, and/or third-party in-kind, and give the total for that line.

The following items cannot be used for matching funds:

• Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or other state humanities councils.

• Monies that are being used to meet the matching or cost-sharing requirements of another federal grant.

• Costs that cannot be supported by Council grant funds (listed above).

Budget Form (click here for the budget form and example)
The budget should list the categories (with the supporting detail) in the order below.

a. Salaries and Wages. Include the costs for personnel such as project directors, grant administrators, researchers, and clerical support staff. Other project participants should be listed under “Project Participant Fees.” Provide name, title, and basis for calculation for each person.

The Council will not support heavy administrative costs. Project directors can receive a maximum of $1,500; however, few projects require this degree of support. The Council will also not fund a salaried person to perform his/her routine duties; the value of such services can be used as matching. This includes university and college faculty participating in programs at their home institution during the school year. However, Council funds can be used to pay for the services of a faculty member who does not have duties during the summer and is not paid during that time.

b. Benefits. Council funds may not be used to pay fringe benefits (such as contributions for social security, employee insurance, pension plans, etc.), but these costs can be used for matching. Please give the rate and base of compensation.

c. Project Personnel. Project personnel or scholars can receive from $100 to $250 in Council funds for a single presentation at a program. At the discretion of the Council, a nationally-known scholar may receive up to $500. Panelists, respondents, discussion leaders, and moderators can receive stipends ranging from $50 to $150 in Council funds depending on the time involved in preparation and presentation.

The Council recognizes that many scholars deserve honoraria greater than its limited funding will permit. Should a sponsoring organization wish to pay a scholar/project participant more than the honorarium allowed by the Council, it may pay the additional expense and include it as a part of matching.

Staff and board members of the Maryland Humanities Council, and their immediate families, as well as many public officials and employees of federal and state agencies are prohibited from accepting honoraria paid from Council funds. The value of his/her services may be used as matching.

d. Travel. The Council discourages heavy travel costs. The budget should list the name of each person traveling and indicate the number of days s/he will be in travel status, departure and destination points and the total transportation and per diem for the trip.

Mileage should be calculated at the rate of $.36 per mile for privately-owned vehicles; include the estimated number of miles. Airfare must be calculated at economy rates; travel must be undertaken on U.S. flag carriers. A maximum of $78 per night is allowed for lodging. The Council allows up to $17 per diem for half-a-day’s meals, and $34 per diem for a full day’s meals.

e. Materials, Supplies, & Services. The budget should specifically enumerate the materials, supplies, and services to be used in the project. Accommodations for people with disabilities — for example, cassette recordings of printed materials, large print labeling, or sign language interpreters — are eligible project costs and should be included here. The Council does not fund the purchase of permanent equipment.

f. Indirect Costs/Overhead. The Council does not fund indirect costs/overhead. These costs may be included in the budget as a part of matching. Include the method of cost computation. Sponsoring organizations that do not have an established, federally approved rate may use ten percent of the total direct project costs as the rate of indirect costs.