Reading and Discussion Program Grants Common Questions

Who can apply to host a Reading and Discussion Grant program?
Any tax-exempt organization in New York State that has previously hosted a Reading Between the Lines series is eligible to apply. Please note that you must be in good standing with the Council, having returned your host and participant evaluations and Council books.

How is a Council Reading and Discussion Grant program structured?
Your R&D Grant proposal should involve at least one text, one scholar-facilitator, and at least four discussion sessions with a consistent group of participants. You may supply the text(s) to your participants or you may require them to purchase the materials themselves. Your budget should include any expected costs for text(s) and your scholar-facilitator's stipend for series development and/or time spent facilitating sessions.

Acceptable formats include but are not limited to:

Several sessions on a single theme, with each session dedicated to the exploration of a single text. For example, six sessions investigating the Civil War with a different book addressed at each session.
Several sessions devoted to exploring aspects of one text. For example, four sessions examining the Declaration of Independence from a variety of angles.

Ineligible formats include:

Using several scholars as text "lecturers". Both your material and scholar selection should support a learning community with a commitment to ongoing discussion.
Drop-in attendance. Participants should make every effort to read all texts and attend all sessions. The program format at attendance expectations should be made clear at registration.

How should we identify a Reading and Discussion Grant topic/theme?
Based on your site's experience hosting an RBTL program, you may have already identified a topic area that you, your site, your past scholar-facilitator or your participants would like to explore further. R&D Grants can also be used to investigate subjects particular to your region, your local history or current events. You may work with a scholar-facilitator in a variety of ways. They may select a theme or topic to explore, help to develop the series syllabus, provide context to a subject area and/or text(s) and facilitate discussions.

Do I have to have my texts selected in order to apply for a Reading and Discussion Grant?
No. Your application requires you to identify a scholar-facilitator, a topic/theme to investigate and a program format. If you have already selected your text(s), please list them in your application and indicate in the budget form whether text(s) purchase is part of your grant request or if your participants will purchase their own text(s). If your application is awarded, you will be asked to notify the Council of you text selections prior to beginning your program.

Are there criteria for selecting the text(s)?
The texts selected for the series should be accessible in both tenor and length to non-academic readers, and must be in print and reasonably priced. You are also welcome to use material from the internet as long as the texts are not copyrighted and are available in the public domain. Your R&D program should concentrate primarily on non-fiction, although it may include fiction if it is discussed within an historical or cultural context.

What expenses can I include in my application budget?
The application budget allows you to identify your expected expenses in the following areas: Scholars' Honoraria & Consulting Fees, Texts and Reading Materials, Staff Salaries, Publicity, Equipment & Facility Rental, Administrative Expenses and Other Expenses.

The Council's R&D Grant award must be matched 1:1 by contributions to the project from the sponsoring organization, or from third parties in an amount equal to or exceeding the Council's award. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funds may not be used as cost sharing. Cost sharing may consist of cash contributions, in-kind contributions, or a combination of the two.

In-kind cost-sharing contributions are not cash; rather, they are the dollar value of goods and services contributed to the project by either your organization or by third parties.

Is there any cost to my organization for hosting a Reading and Discussion Grant program?
No. However, your organization must provide one to one matching funds. In-kind matching is acceptable. In-kind cost-sharing contributions are not cash; rather, they are the dollar value of goods and services contributed to the project by either your organization or by third parties. The host organization is responsible for providing staff support for this program and for gathering an audience. See What are the responsibilities of the host organization? in Common Questions below.

How many Reading and Discussion Grant programs may my organization apply for?
An organization may apply for and host one Reading and Discussion Grant program per calendar year. There is a maximum of two R&D Grants per organization.

May my organization apply for more than one Reading and Discussion Grant program at a time?
No. An organization may submit only one R&D program proposal per annual application round.

Do I have to have a scholar-facilitator in place to apply for a Reading and Discussion Grant?
Yes. In order to apply you must have identified a humanities scholar who is committed to assisting in the development of your R&D program and facilitating the discussion sessions and you must include that person's current resume with your application. While you may apply with the scholar who facilitated your past Reading Between the Lines series, you may also choose a different scholar for your R&D Grant application. Please make sure your proposed scholar-facilitator has visited our website, read the R&D Grant guidelines, and is clear about the program requirements and expectations before agreeing to work with you as an R&D Scholar-facilitator.

Who qualifies as a scholar-facilitator?
A humanities scholar is an individual with particular training or experience qualifying him or her as a professional in one or more of the academic disciplines of the humanities. The typical qualifications are an advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in a humanities field of study and a regular appointment at a recognized institution of higher learning. However, individuals without an advanced degree or who are not affiliated with a college or university may qualify as humanities scholars because of their methods of research, inquiry, and teaching. Students doing graduate work in a humanities discipline are also qualified. The Council also recognizes that scholarship and knowledge gathering are defined differently in different cultures, and respects such diversity of training and preparation as consistent with our understanding of the humanities as fields and as methods of inquiry.

How should I go about finding a scholar-facilitator?
Often the easiest way to find a scholar is by contacting your local colleges and/or universities. Don't forget to inquire about interested graduate students if you are near a school with a graduate program, and also ask about retired faculty who might still be in the area. Many organizations also have scholars as board members, advisors, or volunteers who may be interested in facilitating a series or can recommend others.

What does the scholar-facilitator have to do?
You may work with a scholar-facilitator in a variety of ways. Your discussion sessions must be facilitated by a scholar but they may also be involved in the selection of a theme or topic to explore and the development of the series syllabus.

How much, and how, does the scholar-facilitator get paid?
The scholar-facilitator's payment is negotiated between the host organization and the scholar-facilitator and should reflect the work your scholar-facilitator has agreed to perform. The Council is not involved in this transaction.

What are the responsibilities of the host organization?
Your organization is responsible for:

Selecting a scholar-facilitator for your R&D program.
Developing an R&D program syllabus.
Scheduling the reading and discussion sessions and notifying the Council of these dates.
Publicizing the event in your community to gather an audience of at least 15 participants.
Crediting the Council in all materials related to the series.
Returning the evaluation materials to the Council within three weeks of the end of the series.

When should we schedule the series?
Your reading and discussion sessions should be scheduled at times that allow for the greatest number of people to take part (evenings or weekends). Your program must take place between September and June. An introductory session is required. Scheduled prior to the first text discussion, an introductory session allows participants to familiarize themselves with the facilitator and the text(s), discuss administrative protocols, and establish a group rapport. Please review our Introductory Session Guidelines.

How long does each Reading and Discussion Grant program session last?
Each session should last roughly 90 minutes.

How large a group is required?
A group of at least 15 is required. The maximum number of participants is 20. Participants should make every effort to take part in all discussion sessions. The host site is responsible for gathering the group and maintaining the participant attendance rate.

Can we charge an entrance fee for an R&D Grant program?
No. All Reading and Discussion Grant programs must be free. An event is not considered free if attendance requires paid membership with the sponsoring organization.

When do we receive the grant disbursement?
You will receive the first half upon return of your signed Grant Agreement and the submission of your session dates to our Calendar of Events. Initial payment will be made no sooner than November 15. You will receive the second half upon receipt of your final evaluation materials once your program has concluded.

Is there any follow-up after the series for which I am responsible?
Yes. Your organization is required to complete and return a host organization evaluation as well as distribute, collect and return participant evaluations. These should be returned to the Council within three weeks of the end of the series. We also ask that you send us a copy of your participant registration form.