ANHA Grants Program Frequently Asked Questions

What parishes are included in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area?
The ANHA is made up of the 14 parishes around the Atchafalaya Basin which are Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Iberville, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne and West Baton Rouge.

Who can apply for an ANHA grant?
Entities that may qualify for an ANHA grant include:

Nonprofits and 501(c)3s within the ANHA region
A municipality within the ANHA region
Libraries within the ANHA region
Universities with projects serving the ANHA region
Events that promote and/or preserve the cultural heritage of the ANHA

Examples of entities that do not qualify for an ANHA grant include:

Advocacy or lobbying groups

What are the grant funding categories?
ANHA grant fund projects related to:

Heritage Interpretation
Natural Resource Improvements
Recreation Improvements
Cultural Heritage Events
Small Funds for certain organization and projects
Collateral Organization Sponsorships

For full details on grant funding categories, click here.

What are some examples of projects that qualify for ANHA grants?

Interpretive signage projects
Trails providing access to historical/ recreational/ ecological amenities
Educational speaker series related to cultural heritage
Cultural, historical, recreational or ecological events
Projects providing interpretive opportunities or tradition-bearing
Projects that celebrate the unique cultural heritage of the Atchafalaya region

What are some examples of ineligible expenses?
ANHA grants may not provide funds to:

Major acquisitions of land or equipment
Advocacy or lobbying efforts
Monetary reimbursement for volunteer hours
Fundraisers
Improvements to private property

My project falls outside of the 14 parishes that make up the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. Can I still apply?
Only projects that take place or celebrate one of the 14 parishes that make up the ANHA may receive grant funds.

What is the duration of the application period?
The application period opens May 1 and closes May 31. Small fund grants (projects requesting $1,500 or less) are accepted on a rolling basis

When is the grant application due?
Application periods and deadlines can be found on our Grants & Resources page. The Spring application period will end on the last business day of May, and the Fall application period will end on the last business day of October.

Can anything be done if I've missed the grant application deadline?
Only projects that are submitted during the application period will be considered, but we encourage you to reapply during the next applicable period.

When can I expect to hear from ANHA regarding my grant?
Applicants can expect an email from ANHA staff after the grant committee review period. The review period last 30 days after the application window closes.

When will grant awardees and amounts be announced?
Grant awardees will be announced approximately 30 days after the application window closes.

What is the grant award range?
Grant awards may be as low as $500 and may be over $10,000 depending on the pool of applicants and types of projects submitted for that application period.

Does my project or event need to credit ANHA? If so, how?
Yes, events or projects that receive grants funded by ANHA need to give credit to ANHA. The manner of credit may differ depending on the project. Please review the grant Terms and Conditions for details.

My grant could qualify for multiple funding categories. What should I do?
If your grant could fall under more than one category, select the one you think it fits with the most. It's okay if there is some overlap with other categories. If you have questions or would like further clarification, email Caroline Byrne at cbyrne@crt.la.gov.

Where can I find information on prior grants?
Our site does not currently have information on prior grants. You can finding examples of projects within each funding category here.

Can I apply under more than one category for the same project?
No, a project or event may only be submitted once during the application period. You may apply for the same project on an annual basis.

Can I apply for grants for multiple different projects within the same application period?
Yes, you may apply for grants for multiple projects during the same application period. However, depending on the pool of applicants and grant committee review, funding may differ. This could mean one project may be funded fully while the rest are not funded at all, all projects may be funded partially, all projects may be funded, etc.

The Atchafalaya National Heritage Area is made up of 14 parishes, and we want to ensure grant funds are disbursed across projects and parishes as equitably as possible.

I have received a grant from ANHA in the past. Can I apply again? Can I apply with the same project or event on an annual basis?
Yes, you may reapply as an organization that has received funding in the past or for a similar project (e.g., an annual festival) that has received funding in the past. However, keep in mind that the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area is made up of 14 parishes, and we want to ensure grant funds are disbursed across projects and parishes as equitably as possible throughout the grant cycle. Past grant recipients may not receive grants simply because they have received them in the past, but we encourage submitters to continue applying as applicant pools will change from one application period to another.

How will my grant be judged?
Each application will go before a grant review panel and be scored based on:

Project's relationship to ANHA mission, vision and goals
Justification of funding needs for project
Feasibility of project
Efficiency of Tactic/ Approach
Sustainability/ Projected Future Impact of Project
Creativity of Project

Based on the applicant pool and scores from the grant committee, projects may be fully funded, partially funded or not funded at all.

Do ANHA grants reimburse 100% of submitted costs? Or is there a certain percentage that is reimbursed?
ANHA reimburses up to 50% of the hard costs of projects for our grants. There is no guarantee that grantees will receive as much as 50%. To receive payment, all receipts or invoices from a third party totaling the amount of requested funding (or less) must be presented to receive the money awarded to the project after completion. Applicants must also complete and submit a copy of the final report and final invoicing forms before receiving reimbursement.

Can you explain what "matching funds" means?
ANHA requires at least a 50/50 match for all eligible projects. Projects that show more than this 1:1 match are encouraged and more heavily considered.

Matching funds may be a combination of cash and in-kind products or services. In-kind matches must be directly attributable to the project. Unpaid personnel time for employees, volunteers, and consultants and contributions of services, materials, and supplies are considered an in-kind match and must be documented.

Unacceptable matches include operating costs of sites/organizations and routine repair, utility and maintenance costs for office sites.