GRANT APPLICATION

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI

The Society of the Cincinnati is a perpetual body composed of lineal male descendants of commissioned officers who served in the regular (Continental) American Army or Navy during the Revolution, 1775 - 1783. The oldest organization of its kind in the United States, the precursor of many hereditary military patriotic bodies, it has carried on in unbroken continuity since its founding by the actual participants in that war. The Society is organized into 14 self-governing constituent Societies (one of which is French) united under a General Society. George Washington was chosen first President General and held office until his death in 1799. The Society's headquarters are at Anderson House, an Historic House Museum designated a National Historic Landmark in Washington, D.C. Anderson House maintains a national museum of relics and a well-known library of books on and about the American Revolution.

The Society of the Cincinnati exists to:

Perpetuate, among their descendants, the cordial affection that existed among the founders.
Promote and cherish, between the respective states, that union and national honor so essential to their happiness and future dignity.
Preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature for which the founders fought and bled and without which the high rank of a rational being is a curse instead of a blessing.
Support educational, conservation/restoration, and research activities that promote the purposes of the Society and the ideals of liberty and constitutional government.

THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY'S GRANT PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION:

As one of the 14 constituent Societies, the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati qualifies and elects its own members, holds meetings and administers its own financial affairs independent of the General Society. On the advice of its appointed Grants and Education Committee, the Massachusetts Society makes grants from income on an annual basis to organizations whose activities and goals are deemed consistent with, and supportive of, the stated purposes for which the Society was founded. Grants will be awarded to projects that focus on the Revolutionary period.

ACCEPTABLE APPLICANTS:

In keeping with the stated purposes, the Massachusetts Society will accept proposals from organizations with a non-profit status under Section 501(c){3} of the Internal Revenue Code, using the Subject Matter and Proposal Format provided below.

The Massachusetts Society will not accept proposals for an institution's general operating expenses or for endowment purposes and reserves the right to accept or reject all or any part of the proposals submitted under these guidelines. Massachusetts Society members may not apply for, or receive funds for grants for themselves or their immediate families.

Questions on acceptable subject matter should be reviewed with the Chairman of the Grants and Education Committee prior to submitting the proposal.

GRANT PERIOD:

The Society does not accept multiyear grant requests. If funded, grants will be for a one-year duration upon the receipt of funds from the Society.

SUBJECT MATTER:

Proposals should encompass either one or more of the following categories:

1. Education:

Educational efforts which are designed to inform an audience about some aspect or aspects of the Revolutionary period will be considered. Such efforts may be in the form of an honorarium for a speaker or speakers or for the development and/or dissemination of curriculum materials.

2. Research:

Funds may be awarded for research on an individual or on some aspect of the Revolutionary period. Special consideration will be given to research pertaining to the military during that period.

3. Conservation/Restoration:

Funds will be awarded for the conservation or whole or partial restoration of structures, artifacts, paintings, graphics and printed documents and manuscripts of the Revolutionary period, with special emphasis on military items of that period. Restoration and conservation work must be carried out by an individual or organization well known to New England organizations which specialize in such matters, or by such organizations themselves.

PROPOSAL FORMAT:

All submitted proposals must adhere to the applicable parts of the following format:

A. Narrative:

Proposals will include a narrative which is not more than three 8½ x 11 typewritten, single spaced pages. The narrative should include:

What the organization plans to accomplish and the time frame in which it will be done. Specific dates for the beginning and ending of the project should be stated (See Deadline and Award Information).
How the project will assist the Massachusetts Society fulfill its purposes.
The audience or audiences who will benefit from the project if is partially or wholly funded.
Where additional funds will come from if the project is only partially funded.
The personnel who will carry out the project for the organization.
Whether the project is being done as part of a high school, college or graduate degree program and if so, the name of the faculty advisor.
The contact person with an address, telephone number and e-mail number.

B. Budget Page:

The budget page will include:

A detailed explanation of the use of the requested funds, including personnel, travel, fees, etc.
Indication of any matching funds or additional sponsorship of the project.

C. Appendixes:

A copy of the organization’s non-profit status.
Further helpful information such as brochures, pictures, etc., with the understanding that nothing will be returned.
Resume(s) of the person(s) carrying out the project, or information on the organization doing so.
A letter of support from a faculty advisor (if applicable).

D. Signatures:

Signatures required include the following (if applicable).

Person carrying out the project.
Executive director or president of the organization requesting the grant.
Authority figure of organization or individual contracted with to carrying out the project.
Faculty advisor

EVALUATION:

The Massachusetts Society is interested in determining whether its grant money is well spent. Upon the completion of your project, please send along a final report which describes briefly:

What your project has accomplished.
The audience or audiences which benefitted, or will benefit from the project.
How the project assisted the Massachusetts Society to fulfill its purposes.

The report should also include any further evidence of the project’s completion such as photographs of a restored object, notification of a lecture series, and publicity received which acknowledges the support of the Massachusetts Society (see below). Failure to complete an evaluation of the project and return of the required evidence of its completion may result in the loss of consideration for future funding.

DEADLINE AND AWARD INFORMATION:

A PDF copy of the proposal should be emailed to the Chairman of the Grants and Education Committee prior to September 15^th of each calendar year. The Committee will review all proposals and make its recommendations to the Society’s Standing Committee at its meeting in early November. Applicants may expect to hear sometime after that meeting. If the proposal is completely or partially funded, a check will be sent prior to the end of the calendar year. Projects should not be scheduled to start until the calendar year after the date of submission. Occasionally the Society may consider a request at a time other than the schedule outlined above. Contact the Chairman for details.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Individuals or organizations receiving funding from the Massachusetts Society must include a statement in all published materials and announcements which acknowledges support from the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Contact:

Thomas C. Hunter, Chairman, Grants and Education Committee
181 Hale Street, Apt 1
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
tchunter3@gmail.com