Culture Preservation Grants

The Culture Preservation Grants program is a partnership between Humanities Kansas and the Kansas Historical Society, designed to support projects that preserve and increase access to cultural and historical resources reflecting life in Kansas. With a clear focus on storytelling and community engagement, the grant aims to safeguard cultural materials through methods that prioritize preservation over conservation, ensuring these stories remain available for future generations. Applicants can propose a wide range of project types, including oral histories, digitization, transcription, collections care, language preservation, and hands-on training. To ensure quality and impact, each project must incorporate the expertise of a Project Consultant—typically a scholar such as a museum curator, archivist, or historian—who helps guide the project according to best practices. Funding may also be used to support accessibility features like sign language interpretation or accessible display equipment, provided these directly enhance the proposed project content. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations based in Kansas, excluding colleges and universities. While 501(c)(3) status is not required, applicants must have a Unique Entity ID (UEID) from SAM.gov and cannot have an open HK grant from a previous cycle. Award amounts go up to $3,500, and organizations are expected to provide a cost share equal to or greater than the amount requested, though this does not require a cash match. Grant funds may cover project-specific staff and consultant costs, travel, supplies, small equipment (under 25% of the budget), and some promotional expenses. Full-time staff salaries, major equipment purchases, and certain types of restoration or publishing activities are ineligible. The application process includes both a draft and final submission phase, with deadlines occurring three times a year: February 28, May 16, and October 3. Applicants may optionally submit a draft for feedback before final submission. Final applications must be submitted via the Humanities Kansas online portal by 11:59 PM on the due date. Notification of awards typically occurs within a month, and projects may begin two weeks after that. Each grant proposal must outline specific goals, identify project staff and their roles, describe a public-facing component such as an exhibit or event, and detail a timeline of activities to be completed within 12 months. All projects must offer a statewide archive the opportunity to duplicate materials produced using grant funds. For additional support or questions, applicants are encouraged to contact Humanities Kansas at info@humanitieskansas.org or call 785-357-0359.

Strong proposals define a clear scope of work, emphasize the uniqueness of materials, and focus on a single story or collection. Best practices and a qualified consultant are essential.