Grassroots Competitive Grant NC Museum of Natural Sciences Karin Cochran and Emlyn Koster April 12, 2016

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1 Grassroots Competitive Grant NC Museum of Natural Sciences Karin Cochran and Emlyn Koster April 12, 2016

2 Grassroots Science Program is to change to a competitive grant program in 2016 GRASSROOTS SCIENCE PROGRAM/COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM SECTION 15.18A.(a) Effective July 1, 2016, the Grassroots Science Program within the Department of Commerce is transferred to the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, as enacted by Section of this act. Page 296 Session Law House Bill 97 Total amount funded $2,448,430 Open to any eligible science center or museum or children's museum 2-year competitive grant program starting July 1, 2016

3 The Museum of Natural Sciences reviewed the new program in collaboration with the current Grassroots Collaborative Review Process Reviewed the Statue from the 2015 budget bill Discussed the interpretation at the February, 2016 two-day meeting in Raleigh Conducted an online survey for feedback Reached out to individual museums in dialogue Engaged the NC Arts Council to review other grant programs Consulted other standard practices in other science programs Recommended a grant program process for consideration on the report due March 1, 2016

4 The statute includes the following distribution guidelines Total amount funded: $2,448,430 $750,000 $600,000 $1,148,430 Available to Tier 1 County applicants Available to Tier 2 County applicants Additional available to applicants regardless of County Tier Limitations $75,000 maximum award available to each Tier 1 County applicant $60,000 maximum award available to each Tier 2 County applicant $50,000 maximum award available to each Tier 3 County applicant The Tier system is the current county designation but this methodology is under review

5 Grassroots Museums County Tier Designations Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

6 The statute includes the following eligibility criteria 1. The museum must be a science center or museum or a children's museum that is physically located in the State. 2. The museum must be open, operating, and exhibiting science or science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education objects to the general public at least 120 days of each year for the past two or more years. 3. The museum must be a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxes pursuant to section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. 4. The museum has on its staff at least one full-time professional person. 5. The museum s governing body has adopted a mission statement that includes language that shows the museum has a concentration on science or STEM education and that the adopted mission statement has been in effect for the past two or more years.

7 DNCR including the Museum of Natural Sciences proposes the following interpretation of the eligibility criteria 1. The museum must be a science center or museum or a children's museum that is physically located in the State. Applicants must provide documentation that they meet ASTC s definition of a science center, ICOM s definition of a museum, or ACM s definition of a children s museum as well as their physical address. 2. The museum must be open, operating, and exhibiting science or science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education objects to the general public at least 120 days of each year for the past two or more years. Applicants must provide documentation of their operational hours and exhibits for the past two years. 3. The museum must be a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxes pursuant to section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants must provide a copy of their IRS 990 form 4. The museum has on its staff at least one full-time professional person. The applicant must provide documentation describing its full-time professional staff 5. The museum s governing body has adopted a mission statement that includes language that shows the museum has a concentration on science or STEM education and that the adopted mission statement has been in effect for the past two or more years. The applicant must provide its mission statement(s) for the past two years with explanation of how it meets the above criteria. STEM correlation will be based on definitions by the NC STEM Center.

8 The statute includes the following eligibility criteria When compared to other museum applicants: 1. Are located in counties that are more economically distressed according to the annual rankings prepared by the Department of Commerce pursuant to G.S. 143B (c). 2. Generate a larger portion of their operating funds from non-state revenue. 3. Have a higher attendance-to-population ratio. 4. Partner with other museums in the State to share exhibits, programs, or other activities. 5. Are not located in close proximity to other science or STEM education museums. 8

9 DNCR including the Museum of Natural Sciences proposes the following interpretation of the eligibility criteria 33% 11% 11% 11% When compared to other museum applicants: 1. Are located in counties that are more economically distressed according to the annual rankings prepared by the Department of Commerce pursuant to G.S. 143B (c). Based on the applicant s ranking within their tier cohort. 2. Generate a larger portion of their operating funds from non-state revenue. A simple ratio of State to Non-State funding will determine percent value. 3. Have a higher attendance-to-population ratio. A simple attendance to county population (per last available census) will determine percent value. 34% 33% 4. Partner with other museums in the State to share exhibits, programs, or other activities. This will be interpreted based on a narrative submitted by the applicant as well as submitting letters of support. Percentage will be based upon the number of documented museum partners in the past fiscal year. The range determined by the highest number of partners in an applicant s cohort of applications. 5. Are not located in close proximity to other science or STEM education museums. Determined by straight line distance to closest eligible applicant. Range determined by minimum/maximum distance between eligible applicants. 9

10 In order to administer a grassroots program, an Advisory Panel is essential to manage the final distributions The role of the Program Advisory Panel will be to review the applications to determine the final allocations. DNCR and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences will prepare the material for the panel s review. The committee will make a final recommendation to the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources for final approval Program Advisory Panel 3 members from Advisory Commission of the Museum of Natural Sciences appointed by the Governor 1 member from the NC Museums Council 1 member from the NC Science, Mathematics & Technology Educational Center 1 Ex Officio DNCR Representative Secretary, Chief Deputy Secretary or Deputy Secretary 2016 Hi Level Application Process and Timeline Develop online application similar to NC Arts Council grant process Advertise through Grassroots Collaborative, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NCMC and DNCR websites Open 6 week application process on July 1 st Engage with applicants Prepare applications in September, 2016 Review applications by Advisory board in September/October 2016 Distribute funds in November, 2016 in preparation for museums calendar year Monitor grant process 10

11 In consultation with Grassroots collaborative, DNCR proposes the following considerations for changes to the competitive grant statute Considerations for 2016 changes Considerations for 2017 review 1. Rename the program to the North Carolina Science Museums Grant Program 2. Require the applicants to describe how funds will be used and offer measureable results at end of cycle 3. Include operating support to manage the competitive grant program 4. Review the Not for profit requirement 5. Confirm how funds will be distributed if limited museums qualify for the full $ Review the guidelines after one year a. Revisit close proximity requirement b. Modify statute language to reflect the Department of Commerce s standard method for ranking economic distress c. Revisit requirement of counties located in economically distressed regions 11

12 12 DNCR requests operational support to manage the competitive grant program effectively Job Responsibilities Two Positions Develop and manage grant application materials with annual updates Develop and manage promotional materials with annual updates Serve as a resource for grant applicants and Program Advisory Panel Prepare applications for review Address outstanding questions through grant process Monitor grant awards Develop reports for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, DNCR, and NCGA as required Coordinate with NC Museum of Natural Sciences, DNCR, and NCGA as required to make future improvements to the grant program Develop partnerships among the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Grassroots Collaborative, DNCR, and non-state science museums Share best practices Share programming and traveling exhibits Share resources across tiers

13 Grassroots Sciences Museums DNCR Facilities Environmental Education Centers