You may book a program in one of two ways.

1. Engage a Speaker directly, without requesting a program from HUMANITIES MONTANA. You arrange amounts and payments directly with the speaker.
2. Apply for a program through a HUMANITIES MONTANA Speakers Bureau award. You contribute $50 at the time of your application, provide the planning, coordination, advertising, meeting room, and an audience. If accepted, HUMANITIES MONTANA will pay the speaker’s honorarium, travel, lodging, and meals. You also have the option of providing meals or lodging. These programs must be presented free of charge to the public. If your application is not accepted, your check will be returned. You may sponsor up to three HUMANITIES MONTANA-funded programs in a calendar year. Please turn to the back of this catalog for instructions and follow the steps to complete the application. Funding for the Speakers Bureau is provided by:

Humanities Montana is Montana’s independent nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Founded in 1972, HUMANITIES MONTANA provides services and grants in support of public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines. The educational and cultural programs sponsored by the Committee encourage Montanans to reflect on humanity’s creative and intellectual achievements, celebrate cultural diversity, probe the meaning of human values, and foster a deeper appreciation of ourselves, our cultures, and our world.

SPONSOR REQUIREMENTS

A minimum $50 cash co-payment per program is required from the sponsoring organization. A check for $50 per application should be paid at the time of the application. Whether applying online or via paper application, a sponsor may mail a check to Humanities Montana, 311 Brantly, Missoula, MT 59812 or pay online with a credit card.

Please attach a print copy of your application, if mailing a check. If Humanities Montana declines to fund an application, the $50 will be returned. Upon written request, appropriate waivers will be made for small or disadvantaged organizations.

As an alternative or in addition to the co-payment, organizations may provide speaker’s lodging and/or meal(s). Such arrangements must be made with the speaker in accordance with her/his preferences, and noted on the application. All cash contributed, as well as the value of meals and/or lodging, count as part of the sponsor’s total match to the grant.

All travel involving a round trip of more than 800 miles must include multiple programs in the same community or in other communities along the route. Humanities Montana staff can help suggest sponsors.

Humanities Montana pays honoraria and travel, meals, and lodging expenses directly to the speakers in the Speakers Bureau. As you know, in addition to co-payment, your sponsorship demands a real investment of volunteer time and often cash for the remainder of costs involved in promotion, telephoning, travel, hospitality, supplies, space, and rentals required for the program. When you attach a monetary value to your volunteer service and keep track of cash expenses and donated printing and publicity on behalf of your program, you will discover that your expenditures often exceed Humanities Montana’s grant.

Estimating and documenting such information is your single most important obligation to Humanities Montana. On the application, you must sign a cost-sharing statement. This demonstrates to our principal sources of funds, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Montana Cultural Trust, that our sponsors share the cost of public humanities programs in Montana, a requirement for their funding. After your program has occurred, you will be asked to figure the amount of cost share your organization contributed. Use the provided worksheet to calculate your cost share.

YOU MAY APPLY FOR A HUMANITIES MONTANA SPEAKERS BUREAU PROGRAM EITHER ONLINE OR BY FILLING OUT THE PAPER APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB-SITE OR MAILED FROM HUMANITIES MONTANA. IN EITHER CASE:

1. Select a topic and speaker far in advance of the proposed date. Secure the program meeting room.
2. Contact the speaker directly to see whether he or she is available on your program date.
3. Humanities Montana must receive your application form and co-payment check at least four weeks before your program. Late applications will not be approved.
4. Keep track of your time, donated services, and expenses. You will report the amount of volunteer time you and other volunteers spent on the project, the value of contributed services, and any expenses incurred in conjunction with the program as your cost share contribution. You will be required to file an online or paper final report two weeks after your program has occurred. Please begin keeping a written record of volunteered time and expenses now.
5. Wait for Humanities Montana acknowledgement of support. About a week after we receive your application, we will notify you of our decision. (Funding is limited and not all requests will be approved.) You will receive an e-mail or phone call notifying you of your request’s status.

Call your speaker again one week before your program, and confirm all program and logistic details.

Sponsors are limited to a maximum of three programs per calendar year.