National Quilting Association, Inc., Your Link to Education, Creativity, Heritage

Grant Program

The National Quilting Association, Inc., through its annual grant program, provides financial support for organizations and individuals whose projects fall within the following areas:

  • Education of quiltmakers
  • Original research into the historical documentation of quilts, quiltmakers and subjects related to quiltmaking
  • Research on social history related to quilts
  • Outreach to the community through the art of quiltmaking.

Funds are not awarded for:

  • Personal travel or mileage reimbursement
  • "Salary" or direct income to an individual. An exception to this point may be made for contract labor necessary for the execution of a particular project
  • The purchase of capital items whose ownership will benefit an individual rather than a group.

The NQA Grant Program is funded through the proceeds of the Little Quilt Auction held each year in conjunction with the National Quilting Association's annual quilt show, as well as donations to the National Quilting Association designated for the grant program. Available grant funds fluctuate each year depending upon the success of these fundraising efforts. Applicants with questions about the NQA Grant Program, the fit of their project to the interests of NQA, or application procedures are encouraged to .

Applications for the 2010 Grant Program are now available; please click here to download (PDF). Completed applications must be received no later than 4 PM, OCTOBER 15, 2009.

All applicants will be notified in January 2010. Funds for successful grant seekers will be paid as soon as their award contract is returned.

2009 GRANT RECIPIENTS

  1. Bedford Babies, represented by the Village Square Quilters of White Plains, New York for their outreach program designed to teach quiltmaking to expectant mothers housed at the Bedford Correctional Facility.
     
  2. Equipment for Community Outreach and Quilting Facility,, represented by Cozy Quilters of Grove Hill, Alabama to support the group with their charitable quiltmaking efforts.
     
  3. Foster Care Quilts,represented by Fort Henry Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Wheeling, West Virginia, to support their charitable quiltmaking projects in Ohio County, West Virginia and Belmont County, Ohio. This group provides each child entering county Foster Care Programs with their own quilt.
     
  4. South Central Michigan Quilters’ Stories, represented by Cal-co Quilter’s Guild of Battle Creek, Michigan to document through recorded interviews the history of quiltmakers in their region. Transcribed interviews will be submitted to Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories project sponsored by the Alliance for American Quilts.
     
  5. Franklin County Quilt Documentation Project represented by the Chambersburg Quilt Guild of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania for support of preserving the antique quilts of Franklin County thorough documentation of oral and written histories.
     
  6. Amish Country Quilt Gardens Tour 2009, of Elkhart, Indiana, represented by the County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote the heritage of the local Amish community and their contribution to quiltmaking through murals and flower gardens designed from traditional quilt patterns.
     
  7. Quilting Education for Youth and Adults, represented by the Franklin County Extension and 4-H Committee of Benton, Illinois for support of their quiltmaking and sewing classes offered to home schooled children, 4-H groups, low income and other community members.
     
  8. Kent County Documentation Project, of Chestertown, Maryland for Community Quilt Days to help support a traveling exhibit focusing on the documentation, care and preservation of local quilts and their importance in family history.
     
  9. Alcona County Quilt Trail Project of Harrisville, Michigan for support of the county wide effort to promote the area’s quilting history by the creation of a self guided quilt trail consisting of the installation of painted quilt squares on barns and historical structures.
     
  10. Quilted Lives represented by Dody Staker of Cincinnati, Ohio to promote the art of quilting and investing in people’s lives by teaching quiltmaking to inner city residents at The Wesley Chapel Mission Center. The program which began with five teens has grown to include over forty community members.
     
  11. Grace Snyder: A Life in Extraordinary Stitches represented by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and the International Quilt Study Center for chronicling the life of the Nebraska native through an exhibit of her quilts and family photographs.
     
  12. The Adirondack Museum of Blue Mountain Lake, New York and the multi-faceted exhibition Common Threads: 150 Years of Adirondack Quilts and Comforters dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the region’s distinctive quilting traditions.
     

2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS

  1. All Star Quilters Guild, Inc, Jacksonville, Florida, for "Many Mini All-Stars Quilt Camp", a week-long summer program teaching children quilting and sewing skills through the completion of several projects;
     
  2. Sarah F. Brown, Columbus, Ohio, for the "Youth Sew", working with foster children, handicapped children and inner-city youth teaching them to quilt as a motivation to be the best they can be and improve their self-esteem;
     
  3. Castroville Golden Senior Quilters, Salinas, California, for to support the group's efforts to provide charity quilts in this economically-depressed community;
     
  4. Dee Dadik and Molly Butler, Columbus, Ohio, to support "Quilts of the Midwest: Creations of Art and Function", a touring exhibit showcasing 20th and 21st century quilts of the Midwest;
     
  5. Delaware Quilt Documentation Project, Wilmington, Delaware, to support the documentation of pre-World War II quilts created or residing in Delaware, with an emphasis on capturing the cultural diversity of the state;
     
  6. Mimi Dietrich, Baltimore, Maryland, to support students' work and participation in her class, "Baltimore Album Quilts and American Society", part of the American Studies offerings at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County;
     
  7. International Quilt Study Center, Lincoln, Nebraska to support "Quilting Nebraska’s Past", an exploration of the work of Nebraskan Grace Snyder including an outreach component to grade school students throughout the state;
     
  8. Just for Fun Quilters, Ceres, Virginia, an inter-generational group in the heart of Appalachia that reaches out through quilting both in the local community and internationally through creating quilts that are donated to charitable causes;
     
  9. Mattatuck Museum of Art History, Waterbury, Connecticut, for "Regional Quilts: Family, Industry, History" a multi-faceted exhibition exploring the importance of the local textile industry and the role of quilting in the industry and family life; and
     
  10. Paiute-Shoshone Quilters, Fallon, Nevada, for the "Newborn and Senior Community Quilt Project" a program meant to teach young girls and their parents to learn to quilt by providing charity quilts for the community.
     

2007 GRANT RECIPIENTS

  1. Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Inc., Kahului, Hawaii, for "Learn to Quilt", a program for young people, ages 10 to 17, where they can come together and share in the comfort, creativity and magic of quilt making;
     
  2. Chambersburg Quilt Guild, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for the "Franklin County Quilt Documentation Project", documenting pre-1950 quilts either made in or owned by residents of Franklin County, Pennsylvania;
     
  3. Forest U.M.C. Quilters, Ocklawaha, Florida, for "Quilting for our Kids", which teaches quiltmaking skills while creating quilts for foster children residing in an area group home;
     
  4. Just for Fun Quilters, Ceres, Virginia, an inter-generational group in the heart of Appalachia that reaches out through quilting both in the local community and internationally through creating quilts that are donated to charitable causes;
     
  5. Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, Ware, Massachusetts, for "Quilts: The Social Fabric of Massachusetts" documenting historic quilts either made in or owned by residents in the state;
     
  6. New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, Massachusetts, for "Housewarming", a collaborative project with the Coalition for a Better Acre to provide quilts to low-income residents buying their first home as part of the Coalition’s Welcome Home Program;
     
  7. Pioneer Woman Museum, Ponca City, Oklahoma, for "Native Quilters, Native Sons and Daughters", a program to teach quiltmaking to Native American youth, utilizing Native American quiltmakers as instructors;
     
  8. Susan A. Rivers, Ravena, New York, for "The Comfort Quilt Project" to support her efforts to create custom quilts for children battling life threatening illnesses.
     

2006 Grant Recipients

  1. La Colmena, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico for "Quilting and Crafting Futures Program", teaching low-income men, women and teens workplace behaviors and marketable skills through quiltmaking.
     
  2. Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, Ware, Massachusetts to support professional photography of historic quilts for "Massachusetts Quilts: History, Community, Memory".
     
  3. Scott's Run Settlement House, Osage, West Virginia, for "Quilting on the Run", enabling low income families to reclaim their quilting heritage and creativity while making quilts for charitable purposes.
     
  4. University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, Kentucky, for "Stars, Stripes, and Log Cabins: New England Quilts from the Pilgrim/Roy Collection" supporting educational materials for teachers and families accompanying the exhibit.
     
  5. Wood County 4-H Program, Bowling Green, Ohio, for "Patchwork Blocks for Service", teaching youth ages 10 to 19 how to quilt while making quilts for charitable purposes.
     

2005 Grant Recipients

  1. Allentown Art Museum, represented by Sharon Yurkanin, for The Season of Toiles Quilt Challenge - a challenge and exhibition designed to promote the many attributes of the Museum and to educate the public about the art of quilt making.
     
  2. Compeer, Inc., represented by Andrew S. Rawdon, JD, for the Compeer Quilting Bee - provides women with mental illness and drug use problems a rewarding educational and artistic opportunity while developing important social interaction skills.
     
  3. Red River Quilters, represented by Sally Sherwood, for Quilt Quest 2005 - educating a large group of elementary aged children and adults in the craft of quilt making and producing 400 child-size quilts to distribute to seriously ill, abused or neglected children.
     
  4. Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, represented by Paula M.B. Pahl, for Rooted in Tradition - the Art Quilt Symposium — an opportunity for quilters and others to learn about the history, design and construction of art quilts.
     

2004 Grant Recipients

  1. Eastern Long Island Quilters Guild, represented by Angela Moller, Riverhead, New York, for National Quilting Day - a project to expand a previously successful National Quilting Day celebration with extensive educational opportunities for the public.
     
  2. Red River Quilters, represented by Sally Sherwood, Shreveport, Louisiana, for Quilt Quest 2004 - a hands-on quilt project for fourth graders to produce 400 child-size quilts to distribute to seriously ill, abused or neglected children in the local region.
     
  3. Kids 'n Kamp, represented by Beverly S. Circone, Columbus, Ohio, Quilt Weekend - an opportunity for mothers of child cancer patients to learn quilting skills and share conversation, laughter, and a respite from a difficult time in their lives.
     
  4. Eduquilters, represented by Margie Engel, Satellite Beach, Florida, The Kids Quilt Project - expansion of a very successful project in which fifth grade students and teachers learn the basics of quiltmaking and produce quilts donated to Project Linus.
     
  5. The Mennonite Relief Quilt Project - the research and writing about the personal, social, theological, and political history of Mennonite Relief Sale quilts.