Museum Grant Program

The objectives of the Museum Grant Program are to support applicants who demonstrate:

Strong Governance and Strategic Development

• Follow good governance practices;
• Develop and monitor long-term goals;
• Demonstrate a link between public consultation, planned programs, their impact, and the results of evaluation;
• Value training and learning opportunities for staff and volunteers;
• Follow the Standards for Saskatchewan Museums;

Valued Programming

• Deliver meaningful activities, programs and services that are valued by the public;

Community Connections

• Are welcoming and inclusive;
• Collaborate through networks and partnerships;
• Value community involvement and actively engages the public;

Responsible Use of Resources and Risk Management Practices

• Demonstrate a realistic and responsible use of resources (funds, volunteers, etc.); and
• Demonstrate a link between planned activities and the museum’s budget.

Priority will be given to:

• The equitable distribution of MGP funds across the province;
• Museums that provide increased participation opportunities for people who live in rural areas and people from the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District
• Museums that provide increased participation opportunities for First Nations and Métis peoples, Young people, and Newcomers;
• Indigenous, ethno-cultural or multicultural museums.
• support cultural communities and groups who have had limited access to SaskCulture funding.

To be eligible, your museum must:

• Be a museum. A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. They are open to the public, accessible and inclusive, and foster diversity and sustainability. Museums operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, and offer varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing (International Council of Museums). This includes building-based museums, ecomuseums and virtual museums.
• Maintain separate financial records related to the operation of the museum.

And be either:

A Registered Non-Profit organization based in Saskatchewan.

These organizations must:

• have a primarily cultural mandate in Arts, Heritage, Multiculturalism or Cultural Industries as defined by SaskCulture’s Cultural Policy, or otherwise demonstrate significant engagement in cultural activity ;
• be in existence as a registered non-profit for at least one full fiscal year prior to the deadline date;
• be in good standing with Information Services Corporation (ISC);
• have no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture; and
• provide a signed copy of the organization’s annual financial statement that was most recently submitted to the ISC to show evidence of good standing as a non-profit organization in Saskatchewan. Ensure the financial statement has been signed by two authorized signatories (i.e. board members).

OR

A Municipality or First Nation that:

• is in good standing with the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program;
• has no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture;
• can provide a copy of the museum’s most recent annual financial statement that is signed by an authorized signatory. For museums where the First Nation or Municipality is financially responsible for the museum, a representative from the First Nation or Municipality who has the authority to sign on behalf of your organization should provide an authorization; and
• provide a copy of the Municipal Bylaw or Band Council Resolution that established the museum, if one is not already on file with SaskCulture.

Ineligible Organizations are those that are:

• Part of a federal or provincial operation and/or Crown Corporation;
• Already receiving more than 50% of its total revenues from the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund (SLTF). (Exception: Stream One funding applicants may receive up to 100% of their funding from the SLTF to a maximum of $5,000);
• Already receiving operational funding directly from the Culture Section of Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund; and/or
• Receiving funding directed by the Government of Saskatchewan.

MGP operates on a two-year cycle, providing two years of funding to successful applicants. The program has three funding stream levels, each with a separate application form. Applicants may only apply to one stream. Applicants must choose which application form to complete depending upon their individual circumstances and the expectations of the funding stream.

To determine the most suitable stream in which to apply:

Review the table below to determine the funding stream that best suits your museum. When reviewing, note the level of applicant contribution that is required from sources other than MGP/Sask Lotteries. When calculating your request amount, keep in mind that only eligible operational expenses will be considered.

*Budget ranges are based on MGP Statistics. This is a reflection of the majority of budgets per stream. Some applicant budgets may fall outside of these ranges and may not be represented in the ranges listed above.

Explore the unique features of each stream and understand what makes museums in each category successful. In addition, review the specific application requirements f each stream to ensure you meet all the necessary criteria. For all streams, there is no guarantee that the amount requested will be the amount awarded. For instance, an applicant may apply to Stream Two for $8,000, but might only be awarded $4,000.

• STREAM ONE
  Stream One offers a simplified application that can cover 100% of the applicant’s annual eligible expenses up to a maximum of $5,000. No financial contribution from the applicant is required. This stream is best suited for applicants seeking a less intensive, more capacity-friendly granting process. All first-time applicants to MGP must apply to Stream One.
  • Applicants who have successfully applied to Stream One tend to:
    • Be primarily volunteer-run (although they may have paid summer students)
    • Be open for only part of the year
    • Have budgets that range from $1,500 to $65,000
  • The Stream One application consists of the following sections:
    • Activities and Impact
    • Welcoming and Inclusive Museums /Safe Spaces
    • Indigenous Objects and Materials
    • Risk Management
    • Budget and Budget Notes
  • Documents Required for Upload:
    • Financial Statement
• STREAM TWO
  Stream Two covers 50% of the applicant’s annual eligible expenses up to a maximum of $15,000. A 50% matching contribution from the applicant is required. For example, if an applicant requests $15,000 from MGP, they must also be able to contribute a minimum of $15,000 from sources other than Sask Lotteries. To avoid the potential of a grant return, it is recommended that you request an amount that the museum can realistically match. Building in a buffer amount may help ensure that a grant return is not required.
  • Applicants who have successfully applied to Stream Two tend to:
    • Have a paid staff person or strong volunteer base/board with the capacity to fulfill grant
    • Requirements
    • Be open for only part of the year
    • Have budgets that range from $30,000 to $115,000
  • The Stream One application consists of the following sections:
    • Activities and Impact
    • Welcoming and Inclusive Museums /Safe Spaces
    • Indigenous Objects and Materials
    • Risk Management
    • Budget and Budget Notes
  • Documents for Upload:
    • Strategic Plan or Equivalent
    • Completed Budget Form
    • Financial Statement
    • Communications Example
• STREAM THREE
  Stream Three: Stream Three covers 50% of the applicant’s annual eligible expenses up to a maximum of$30,000. A 50% matching contribution from the applicant is required. For example, if an applicant requests $30,000 from MGP, they must also be able to contribute a minimum of $30,000 from sources other than Sask Lotteries. To avoid the potential of a grant return, it is recommended that you request an amount that the museum can realistically match. Building in a buffer amount may help ensure that a grant return is not required.
  • Applicants who have successfully applied to Stream Three tend to:
    • Have at least one paid, full-time staff person
    • Be open year-around
    • Have a strategic plan in place
    • Have budgets that range from $125,000 to $500,000+
  • Documents for Upload:
    • Strategic Plan or Equivalent
    • Completed Budget Form
    • Financial Statement
    • Communications Example

The grant is intended to provide funds to support eligible operating activities

Eligible expenses include:

• Salaries and Benefits, including honorariums, wages and contract agreements for both regular and contract staff. Please see note under Ineligible Expenses regarding the duplication of grant funding.
• Training, including workshop and conference fees, training materials, and travel costs (i.e. gas, car rental, and hotel accommodation) for staff and volunteers;
• Administration, including office supplies, postage, insurance, office technology and software;
• Building rent, utilities and taxes;
• Minor maintenance and repairs (paint, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, etc.;
• Collections costs, including documentation, cataloguing, deaccessions, repatriation, conservation and research;
• Governance costs, including board meetings, evaluations, strategic and succession planning;
• Programming, including costs related to activities, services and exhibit development, community outreach, Culture Days and other festivals and events;
• Technology costs, including website development costs, software, data storage, laptops, tablets, printers, tech support and training, etc.; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff, volunteers and visitors, including masks, hand sanitizer, signage, plastic barriers, etc.;
• Communications, including material costs, advertising costs, and event promotion;
• Operational costs (excluding ineligible expenses) related to the development of a new museum, the transition of an existing museum into a new format (e.g. from building-based to virtual) or for the permanent closure of an existing museum;
• Consultative and Community expenses like Elder and/or knowledge keeper engagement, protocol tobacco, cloth, etc.;
• Fees associated with engagement of newcomers/2SLGBTQIA+/ other equity groups

If you are unsure whether your project fits the Purpose of this grant, please contact the consultant, and check the list of successful applicants and project descriptions.

Ineligible expenses and in-kind contributions will not be considered as matching grant funds. Ineligible and in-kind expenses used in such a manner can potentially make an application ineligible or only eligible for a reduced amount of the total grant request.

The following items are ineligible for MGP funds:

• Capital expenses, such as construction, renovations, repairs or purchase of shingles, windows, C-Cans, the purchase of land or buildings, or any major renovations or repairs that would significantly increase the value of the property;
• Purchase of artifacts or collections:
• Cash prizes, gifts, medals, trophies, charitable donations, or the purchase of alcohol;
• Sponsorships, fundraisers or award ceremonies, including fundraising costs such as the purchase of gift shop items, food to sell, etc.
• Activity that exclusively promotes definable religious or political viewpoints;
• Contributions of volunteer hours;
• Food or food-related costs are generally ineligible. However, up to 20% of the grant may be used for nutrition if these costs can be directly attributed to the cultural activity;
• Allowances, wages or personal expenses for program registrants and participants;
• Use or presentation of Indigenous cultural materials, traditional knowledge or stories, without evidence of permission (supporting letters) from the community.
• Out-of-province travel expenses for initiative participants to attend competitions, festivals, award ceremonies, etc.;
• Contracts with out-of-province cultural workers (unless there is no one in Saskatchewan providing that service);
• In-kind contributions (donations for food, goods, services, equipment, waiving rental fees, etc.) do not replace eligible expenses; and
• Duplication of support with grant funds from other sources. For example, if you receive a grant for a summer student or other specific cost, that expenditure cannot be included in your eligible expenses as that would be a duplication.

Applications must be submitted via the Online Grant Platform (OGP) by the deadline.

• SaskCulture will review applications to confirm basic eligibility requirements have been met. If a submission is ineligible, the applicant will be notified. There are opportunities for early submissions to get feedback to help improve aspects of a submission that are unclear or ineligible in advance of a deadline, but this is not a guarantee of either feedback or funding.
• Only complete, signed and submitted applications will be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their application is successfully submitted. Two different people must sign the application.
• Eligible applications are evaluated by volunteer community members with knowledge and experience that relates to the purpose and priority of this grant program. The assessors will evaluate applications based on the following criteria:
  • Extent to which the museum addresses the purpose of the MGP grant;
  • Extent to which the museum aligns with the priorities of the MGP grant.
• Returning or otherwise annual projects funded by SaskCulture may have their most recent project Follow-Up Report provided to assessors as part of the assessment process.
• Applicants can expect to be informed of funding results within eight (8) weeks of the application deadline. Dissatisfaction with the results of a grant assessment, either with the denial of the grant or with the amount of funding awarded, does not constitute valid grounds for appeal.
• Successful applicants will receive 100% of their Year 1 grant allocation upon grant approval.
• An acceptable follow-up report for Year 1, including evidence that The Indigenous Materials in Saskatchewan Museums Survey has been completed, will release the total Year 2 grant allocation.

If the museum does not apply for the next adjudication, a separate follow-up report will need to be completed in order to report on how the Year 2 grant funding was spent and to remain in good standing with SaskCulture.

Once your organization has been approved for a grant, applicants will:

• Use the funds for the eligible activities outlined in their application. Any changes to the use of funds must be approved by SaskCulture. Funds may not be transferred to other activities or organizations and unused funds must be returned to SaskCulture.
• Be required to retain all supporting receipts. All first-time grant recipients will be required to submit receipts. Other grant recipients will only submit receipts if requested to do so by the Outreach Consultant. Failure to submit receipts may affect the approved grant amount. For example, partial or no final payment, or a grant return of the first payment may be required.
• Have access to the Follow-up Report form on the Online Grant (not Granting) Platform, following the automatic system notification of approved funding;
• Be required to submit a Follow-up Report within 45 days of the completion of the project. This report must detail the activities of the project and indicate how it met the goals of the funding program;
• Refer to the Follow-up Report Form at the beginning of the project, as statistical information will need to be gathered during the project. The grant recipient may want to use the budget tool regularly as a project management tool.
• Use the funds for the funded project within 12 months of the project’s start date.
• Recognize Sask Lotteries as the funder in all relevant promotions and event opportunities, as well as highlighting SaskCulture’s funding program to help build awareness of the programs.

Example:

YOUR ORGANIZATION NAME received financial assistance from Sask Lotteries, thanks to a SaskCulture program.

Logos and promotional materials, along with how-to guides, are available at Using Logos.

Failure to meet the above funding obligations to the satisfaction of SaskCulture will be grounds to withhold the final payment if applicable, and will restrict access to future funding.

You will receive correspondence stating that your application has been denied funding for this particular funding program. While all decisions, made by volunteer Peer Assessors, are final, this news should not deter you from applying for future funding opportunities.

• Review the funding program criteria and determine how your application might better address the priorities. If your project’s objectives do not line up with the criteria of the funding program, take the opportunity to explore other options.
• Check your project budget and ensure that your costs are realistic based on your intended outcomes.
• Contact the funding Consultant to discuss ideas and/or changes needed for success. If the Consultant feels your project still has potential, adjust your application and try again at a different deadline or for a different fund.