County History Partnership Program

The Atlantic County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs administers the County History Partnership Program using funds provided through the New Jersey Historical Commission. ACOCHA is a unit of Atlantic County government founded in 1975 to foster the growth and development of the local history community. The New Jersey Historical Commission is the state agency dedicated to advancing public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Through the county regrant program, eligible organizations can seek support for work that promotes historic excellence, benefits the public, and is accessible to the public at large. The program seeks to engage diverse audiences and practitioners in the exploration, enjoyment, interpretation, understanding, and preservation of New Jersey history, particularly history connected to Atlantic County. The program offers three categories of support. Project Support funds a history-related project sponsored by an eligible nonprofit organization, such as a historical exhibit, reenactment, program, or special publication. General Programming Support supports major ongoing history programming with multiple events or activities during the year. General Operating Support is intended for organizations whose primary mission or charter is history related and can support operating expenses that increase exposure to history in the community. The maximum award request for any category is $6,500. Projects must begin no earlier than January 1, 2027 and must be completed by December 31, 2027. No cash or in-kind match is required for any funding level, although applicants may show organizational funds and in-kind volunteer hours because these resources can influence competitive scoring. Eligible historical work includes research-based written history, oral history, biographies, inventories and assessments that create documentary records, public history projects, videos, tours, podcasts, websites, seminars, conferences, workshops, lectures, documentary photography, publications, and certain artful history projects. Eligible expenses vary by funding category and may include personnel, contracted services, printing, publicity, equipment, supplies, travel, conservation materials, research costs, exhibition expenses, publication costs, and other approved project or operating expenses. For Project Support and General Programming Support, administrative support may not exceed 25 percent of the total request. Major restrictions include retroactive funding, direct payments to professional artists, debt service, endowments, certain capital improvements, non-public projects, projects unrelated to New Jersey history, political or ideological advocacy, and other expenses specifically identified as ineligible in the guidelines. Applicants must have a historical focus and the proposed work must relate to Atlantic County history. General Operating Support applicants must be based in Atlantic County. For the other funding levels, applicants may be based elsewhere in New Jersey, but the proposed events or projects must occur in Atlantic County. The guidelines also state that all applicants must be incorporated in New Jersey as nonprofit corporations, be current with New Jersey Charities registration, and be federally tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). Multidisciplinary projects may qualify when a qualified historian is involved. Religious organizations may submit requests, but funding involving potential religious use can be referred to the New Jersey State Attorney General's Office for case-by-case review. Organizations receiving certain direct New Jersey Historical Commission support are generally prohibited from simultaneously receiving a county regrant, subject to the stated exception for organizations receiving county General Operating Support that apply to the Commission for one project grant. The signed application and supporting materials must be delivered on or before October 9, 2026 at 4:00 pm. A grant workshop is offered during the grant cycle and attendance is mandatory for prospective applicant organizations, preferably by the primary grant writer, except that current 2026 recipients are exempt from the mandatory attendance requirement. Applicants must prepare a 3-5 page narrative using the prescribed narrative questions, with 1.5 spacing, 1-inch margins, 12-point type, sequential page numbering, and the applicant name at the top of each narrative page. The narrative addresses organizational history, the proposed project or programming, historians or presenters, event dates and locations, audiences and demographics, community and historical significance, participation and diversity, organizational mission, budget expenses, contingency planning, publicity, outreach, and audience demographic collection. Vendor quotes are required for applicable contracted services or equipment purchases, and letters of commitment with services and pricing are required for speakers or consultants where applicable. ACOCHA staff first check proposals for required documentation and then prepare them for review by an independent Grants Review Panel of history professionals. Review considers historic merit, community need, compliance with law, administrative capability, prior programming and funding history, quality of the historic experience, audience engagement, quantitative impact, governance, and budget strength. Completeness and correctness of the application also affect award consideration, and inflated or poorly justified budgets can adversely affect scoring. Award recommendations are submitted to the Advisory Board for final approval. Awards are expected to be announced by letter in late December or early January. The first payment, representing 75 percent of the final award, is expected during Q1 or Q2 of 2027 after award requirements and agreements are completed. The remaining 25 percent is expected during Q1 or Q2 of 2028 after submission and approval of the Final Report and satisfaction of documentation, acknowledgment, and compliance requirements. Questions may be directed to Kimberly Brown at 609-909-7309 or kbrown@aclsys.org.

Provide every requested item because incomplete applications may be disqualified. Demonstrate clear Atlantic County historical significance and qualified historical oversight. Address quality of historic experience, audience engagement, quantitative impact, inclusive governance, and realistic budgeting. Avoid inflated budgets and justify requested costs. Show diversified resources and a contingency plan if the award is lower than requested. Explain outreach to diverse and underserved audiences and how audience demographics will be collected and analyzed.