Heritage Core Funding

This program provides contributions to non-profit organizations and municipalities for the operation of community heritage centres in Nunavut. Supported organizations include community-based museums, municipalities, archives, and similar heritage societies. The maximum amount that can be awarded is $100,000. The program allows for multi-year funding. Multi-year funding is conditional upon having appropriated funds available in the budget for subsequent years.

1. Purpose

This program provides contributions to non-profit organizations and municipalities for the operation of community heritage centres in Nunavut. Supported organizations include, museums, societies, and municipalities.

2. Eligibility

Eligibility is restricted to organizations such as community-based museums, archives and heritage facilities.

The following list of specific criteria for heritage facilities must be met within the funding proposal before it can be considered:

• Heritage Centres must be operated by a local government, not-for-profit corporation or a registered society in good standing under The Societies Act (Nunavut);
• The facility must be dedicated to portraying the cultural or natural heritage of Nunavut through the acquisition, preservation, documentation, study and exhibition of museum or archival collections significant to the heritage of Nunavut;
• The facility must have legal custody of a collection or group of collections held in the public interest in accordance with an approved collections management policy;
• The operating entity must own or lease a permanent structure which houses the heritage facility and provides a safe and secure environment for its collections;
• The facility must operate for a minimum of 300 hours each calendar year and be open to the general public without appointment;
• If the facility is operated by a registered society, membership must be open to the general public;
• The facility must have affirmed that, through charter, constitution, by-law or resolution, that upon dissolution of the governing body, the collections owned by the governing body shall continue to be managed in the public interest.

3. Eligible Expenses

In addition to those expenses allowed in the policy, approved applicants to this program may claim:

• expenses related to recurring operating expenses such as salaries of permanent employees; and
• expenses related to the purchase of equipment and furnishings are eligible under this schedule.

4. Review

A Working Group reviews the funding proposals and makes recommendations to the Director of Heritage. The Grants and Contributions Administrative Officer chairs the Working Group, which is comprised of up to four additional members. The Working Group meets once per year to review funding proposals. In cases where timelines require a proposed project to be assessed quickly and the Working Group has already met, the Director of Heritage may approve or reject the funding proposal.

5. Supporting Data

A completed funding proposal is submitted to the department, which includes a description of the project, an outline of the project objectives, the proposed budget (including revenues and expenditures) and a timeline for completion of the project. Funding proposals should include:

• An estimate of all utility, staff, maintenance and facility insurance costs;
• An estimate of any required accounting costs;
• A schedule of posted public access operating hours;

A summary of operations, including a detailed annual operating budget and a schedule of proposed programs and events

6. Accountability

In addition to the reporting and audit requirements outlined in the policy, recipients are also required to submit an achievement report outlining the benefits achieved, compared to the expectations indicated in the proposal.

7. Amount

The maximum contribution that can be awarded is $100,000, subject to available funding. The government’s liability is limited to the amount of funding authorized. In addition, the government will not be responsible for any budget shortfalls or deficits.

8. Payment

Payments will be issued in two installments, as outlined in the terms of the Conditional Contribution Agreement.

9. Term

Contributions are once per fiscal year, with a reporting period from April 1 to March 31 of each fiscal year. The department may conditionally approve multi-year projects, subject to availability of funds in subsequent years.