Applying for a Grant

Evaluating Grant Applications

Each application is reviewed by a team of experienced TPS Alumni (educators, evaluators, subject matter experts). A successful grant application includes a thorough description of the intended project, its audience and content, supported by a timeline of activities, a budget and budget narrative. Evaluators also look for management supports and a sustainability plan. TPS Regional Coordinators make granting decisions within six - eight weeks of submission. See the Eastern Region Grant Application Rubric. 

Granting Criteria

When making granting decisions, regional coordinators consider the following:

Access: The proposed project will reach geographic areas and/or populations not currently served by TPS Consortium members;

• Acceptable: The project reaches a population not served by an existing Consortium member.

• Exemplary: The project has the potential to provide professional development to a critical mass within a specified area. The proposed project reaches populations that have not been targeted by other projects.

Scope of the proposed workshop or course and its likely success in helping to achieve TPS Consortium Goals;

• Acceptable: The proposed project delivers a portion of the TPS Program Foundational Goals.

• Exemplary: The proposed project delivers all of the TPS Program Foundational Goals AND Facilitation Goals.

Educational activities and partnerships of the proposing organization:

• Acceptable: The organization has an established PD or education program that will integrate sources and/or collections from loc.gov and TPS content.

• Exemplary: Collaboration with one or more organizations is evident and used to reach project goals and objectives.

Sustainability of a grantee’s use of TPS content within their educational programs;

• Acceptable: The project aligns with existing organizational objectives and is integrated into ongoing activities.

• Exemplary: The proposed project includes plans for the integration of TPS into current and future activities, such as curricula or other ongoing activities.

Project plan describes sound planning, recruitment, implementation, evaluation, and resource allocation. 

• The project staff has the capacity to implement the proposed project successfully.

• The application includes a reasonable plan to recruit participants.

• The plan narrative includes a reasonable evaluation plan.

• The proposed project has a realistic budget and justification.

• Please note that indirect costs are not an allowable grant expense.

• Information provided by the organization regarding its partnerships and activities is supported by appropriate documentation, such as letters, reports, etc. 

Award Requirements 

Grantees must submit financial reimbursement requests and program reports quarterly. Grant funds will be disbursed upon submission of appropriate documentation of expenditures.

• Quarterly Report
• Reimbursement Request 

Single Audit Reporting Requirement

All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.