Grants for State governments - Humanities

This grant provides financial assistance to Native American tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and museums for the repatriation of human remains and cultural items to their rightful communities.

To implement a project aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities outlined in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 (Div. A, P.L. 117-167). The Act established a new International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI Fund) to to support the development and adoption of secure semiconductors, [and] semiconductor supply chains with the goal to make the global semiconductor supply chain more resilient, diversified, and secure.

This program provides funding to small museums across the U.S. to improve educational programs, exhibit development, and community engagement initiatives.

The GIVE Washington County Fund Grants, offered by the Washington County Community Foundation in Pennsylvania, is inviting applications from eligible nonprofits, governmental or educational institutions for a flexible grant of up to $10,000, to be used in eight focus areas including animal welfare, arts, community improvement, conservation, education, health, human needs, and religion, excluding general operating or routine program support.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to rural libraries in Oregon to create community-focused humanities events that explore themes related to public life and community engagement.

This grant provides financial assistance to a wide range of organizations for urgent preservation and conservation projects aimed at protecting nationally significant historic collections across the United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small and mid-sized institutions for preserving their valuable humanities collections, including archives and historical artifacts, with a focus on enhancing preservation practices and infrastructure.

This funding opportunity supports educational and training projects for professionals at cultural institutions focused on preserving and providing access to humanities collections, such as archives, rare books, and audiovisual materials.

This funding opportunity supports professional development programs for higher education faculty and K-12 educators to deepen their understanding of the humanities through intensive study and collaboration.

This funding opportunity supports the creation and distribution of engaging media projects, such as films and podcasts, that explore humanities themes and reach broad public audiences.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies to improve online access to historical records, particularly those that highlight the contributions and histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as early legal documents related to the evolution of U.S. democracy.

This grant provides financial assistance to various organizations and governments for the preservation and conservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections across the United States.

With this solicitation, BJA seeks to support efforts by both wrongful conviction review (WCR) entities, which represent individuals with post-conviction claims of innocence to review individual cases, and conviction integrity or review units (CIUs) to enhance criminal justice system integrity. This includes a category to select a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider to ensure WCR and CIUs entities and the field obtain the skills, training, and information on the latest practices to safeguard the integrity of convictions and support post-conviction review of claims of wrongful convictions. The TTA provider will also build and maintain a database for the field on exonerations.

This grant provides financial support to tax-exempt organizations in Boone County, Iowa, for projects that enhance community well-being in areas such as arts, education, health, and environmental protection.

The Museums for America (MFA) grant program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), provides funding to support strategic, project-based efforts that help museums of all types and sizes serve their communities. The program’s primary focus is on enhancing museums' abilities to provide public exhibitions, educational programs, professional development, audience engagement, and collections care. Through this funding opportunity, projects must align with the goals of lifelong learning, community engagement, or collections stewardship and access. Applicants are required to demonstrate how their proposed activities will advance their museum’s strategic goals and generate measurable outcomes for their audiences and communities. The total anticipated funding for the Museums for America program in fiscal year 2025 is approximately $21,699,000. IMLS expects to make around 122 awards, with grants ranging between $5,000 and $250,000. The average award size in previous years has been approximately $177,860. Projects must begin on or after September 1, 2025, and have a performance period of one to three years. A one-to-one cost share (matching funds) is required for all awards under this program, with the cost share contributed from non-federal sources. Eligible applicants include museums that are nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, tribal organizations, or units of state or local government located in the United States, its territories, or freely associated states. Museums must operate on a permanent basis for educational, cultural, or aesthetic purposes, exhibit objects to the public regularly, and employ professional staff. Institutions operating as discrete units within parent organizations may apply independently if they meet specific eligibility criteria, including having their own budgets and operational authority. The application requires a project narrative that addresses three core components: project justification, project work plan, and project results. The narrative must explain the need or challenge the project addresses, the specific activities and resources required to implement the project, and the intended outcomes for audiences or collections. Supporting documents, such as resumes of key staff, a performance measurement plan, budget justifications, and optional letters of commitment or partnership, are also required. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 15, 2024. The peer review process evaluates applications based on alignment with MFA program goals, clarity of the work plan, qualifications of project staff, and the likelihood of achieving meaningful and lasting results. IMLS prioritizes projects that incorporate best practices, foster community collaboration, and promote access to collections or programs for underserved audiences. Applicants are encouraged to focus on sustainability, ensuring the benefits of their project will continue beyond the funding period. Award notifications are expected in August 2025, with detailed reviewer feedback provided to both successful and unsuccessful applicants. Post-award requirements include submitting interim and final financial and performance reports and adhering to federal regulations on cost principles and award administration. For technical assistance, IMLS program staff are available to answer questions and provide resources to help applicants develop competitive proposals.

The National Park Services (NPS) History of Equal Rights Grant Program (HER) will preserve sites related to the struggle of all Americans to achieve equal rights. HER grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), administered by the NPS, and will fund a broad range of preservation projects for historic sites including: architectural services, historic structure reports, preservation plans, and physical preservation to structures. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in creating public exhibitions and programs that explore key themes of American history and culture, engaging diverse audiences through humanities scholarship.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in facilitating public discussions and reflections on the experiences of war and military service through the humanities, aimed at veterans and their communities.

The Virginia250 grants, offered by Virginia Humanities, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and Virginia Tourism, aim to support localities in developing arts experiences, events, programs, and content in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. This initiative aligns with the broader mission of these organizations to promote cultural understanding, heritage, and tourism within Virginia. The grant program seeks to leverage the historical significance of the 250th commemoration as a backdrop for artistic expression and community engagement across the state. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are diverse, including non-profits established as 501(c)(3) organizations, 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education, other IRS-designated not-for-profit organizations, tribal nations recognized by Virginia and/or the U.S. federal government, and local committees and partners of local VA250 Committees. The program prioritizes inclusive participation, ensuring that tribal nations not recognized by the state or federal government can still apply through an eligible fiscal sponsor. This broad eligibility criteria reflects a strategic priority to engage a wide array of community stakeholders in the commemoration efforts. The primary focus of the grants is to fund projects that offer arts experiences, events, programs, and content directly tied to the 250th commemoration. Applicants can apply for up to $10,000, with a required 1:1 match, indicating an emphasis on shared investment and community partnership. The funding, managed as subawards through the University of Virginia and paid on a reimbursable basis, suggests a commitment to accountability and careful financial stewardship. The project period from August 1, 2024, to August 1, 2025, provides a clear timeline for implementation and impact. The expected outcomes include the successful development and execution of arts-focused commemorative activities across Virginia. Measurable results would likely encompass the number of arts projects funded, the number of localities engaged, the reach of these events (e.g., attendance figures), and the types of artistic content created. The underlying theory of change is that by supporting local arts initiatives tied to a significant historical event, the grants will foster a deeper appreciation for Virginia's heritage, stimulate cultural tourism, and strengthen community bonds through shared experiences. This approach aims to create lasting cultural and economic benefits throughout the state.

This grant provides funding for workshops that help K-12 educators and higher education faculty enhance their teaching of American history and culture through direct engagement with historical sites and resources.