The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers the Cultural and Historical Support Grant through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). This grant provides financial support to eligible museums and official county historical societies to strengthen the Pennsylvania museum community. The funding is derived from the PHMC’s operating budget, as allocated by the state legislature, and is specifically restricted for this purpose. Awards are calculated based on the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year operating budget and are distributed as general operating support.

The primary objective of the grant is to support the ongoing operational needs of eligible museums and county historical societies in Pennsylvania. The program aims to assist museums that do not receive operational funding from other state agencies and to ensure a geographically balanced distribution of funds. The grant allows applicants to determine and describe how they will use the funds, which may be allocated toward salaries, insurance, professional development, marketing, equipment, and other general expenses necessary for the institution’s function.

Funding awards for museums are based on a percentage of their annual operating budget, typically ranging from 1% to 2%, with a maximum grant award of $65,000. Official County Historical Societies are awarded a maximum of $8,000. No single county shall receive more than 37.5% of the total available grant funding in a given year. Grant awards are subject to annual appropriations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Eligibility for this grant is restricted to museums located in Pennsylvania with an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff member (or an approved equivalent). Additionally, museums must have tax-exempt status (501(c)(3)) or be an entity of local government, and they must have been incorporated and exhibiting to the public for at least two years. Official County Historical Societies must also have tax-exempt status, must be officially designated for their county, and must maintain a physical facility that is accessible to the public at least 100 days per year or by appointment.

Applications for the Cultural and Historical Support Grant are submitted through the Commonwealth’s Electronic Single Application for Assistance system. The application period typically opens in early July and closes at the end of August. Applicants must register for a Keystone Login to access the online application portal. There is no requirement to mail a hard copy of the application or supporting documents. The grant awards are reviewed and prepared by agency staff before being submitted to the Commission for approval.

Applicants are encouraged but not required to participate in best practices recognized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), such as the Pledge of Excellence, Core Documents Verification, or AAM Accreditation. The PHMC tracks participation in these initiatives but does not require them as a condition for funding. The program contact for the grant is Rusty Baker, Executive Director of PA Museums, who can be reached at (717) 909-4951 or via email at c-rubaker@pa.gov. Additional inquiries may be directed to RA-PHGrantSupport@pa.gov with the subject line "CHSG."