Private Humanities Grants

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo offers Arts Fund Project Support grants to support organizations aiming to engage culturally diverse and/or underserved communities within Kalamazoo County, emphasizing ethnic/minority, tribal, and rural communities. This initiative seeks to enhance the quality and diversity of arts in the region. Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 organizations with annual budgets under $500,000, especially those targeting underserved communities. Projects must occur solely within and cater exclusively to Kalamazoo County's citizens. Two application periods are open for this grant: July 15 - September 20, 2024, and December 16 - February 14, 2025. The maximum grant amount is $5,500 or up to 50% of the project's budget.

Humanities North Dakota offers general grants ranging from $2,001 to $10,000 to support projects centered in the humanities. These projects must explore critical issues, involve humanities scholars, and be designed to attract and engage a public audience. Formats for these projects can vary widely and may include lectures, discussions, exhibits, interpretations of performances, living history presentations, book or film discussions, oral histories, radio, video, and film documentary productions, language preservation projects, and teacher seminars. The goal is to bring the humanities off campuses and into communities, promoting a deeper understanding of human values, cultures, and history. Close Date: Rolling based on project start dates: April 1 projects: March 1 July 1 projects: June 1 November 1 projects: October 1

This grant provides funding for projects that collect and share untold stories of Massachusetts residents, particularly from historically excluded communities, in relation to the legacies of the American Revolution.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations addressing urgent community needs or innovative projects, with awards starting at $10,000 for initiatives that demonstrate strong potential for positive impact.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that deliver essential services and enriching programs in health, education, arts, and community development.

This funding opportunity provides $4,000 to assist non-traditional researchers, students, and others with financial challenges in conducting research at Penn State’s Eberly Family Special Collections Library, focusing on various topics such as women writers and African American history.

The Essex Community Fund (ECF) at Adirondack Foundation invites local nonprofits, schools, churches, and municipalities to apply for grant funding. Eligible projects must serve town of Essex residents through community services, beautification, historic preservation, culture, the arts, education, or programs for youth and senior citizens. The deadline to apply is May 24. ECF gives strong preference to capacity building grants or modest one-time capital projects. It does not award grants for ongoing operating expenses. While grants typically range from $250 to $2,000, the maximum a potential grantee can request is $5,000. After reviewing applications, the ECF committee anticipates making grant recommendations in June with funding available as early as July. Applications must be submitted online through Adirondack Foundation’s Online Grants Manager: adirondackfoundation.org/granting/online-grants-manager For more information about ECF grants, please call Colleen Van Hoven at (518) 569-3141 or email colleenvanhoven@gmail.com or email leslee.mounger@adkfoundation.org. To learn more about community funds at Adirondack Foundation, visit adirondackfoundation.org. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: May

Value: The Highland Area Community Foundation (H.A.C.F.) appears to be offering a grant for community-related projects. Applicants are required to submit a proposal narrative that includes a description of the organization's general purpose, objectives, and operational scope; a statement of the problem addressed; details on the purpose and expectations of the specific project for which funding is sought, including its relevance to community needs; a proposed program design; and a detailed project budget including other funding sources. Funds must be used specifically for the purpose stated in the grant award, and a progress report with photos is required within 12 months of receiving the award.

The Museum on Main Street grant program is a collaborative effort between the Smithsonian and Mass Humanities, designed to bring world-class exhibits to six rural communities across Massachusetts. This initiative directly aligns with Mass Humanities' mission to foster a more informed and engaged citizenry by making humanities accessible to a broad audience, particularly those in underserved areas. By partnering with the Smithsonian, Mass Humanities leverages a national resource to enrich local communities, demonstrating a strategic priority of community engagement and cultural enrichment through accessible programming. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are rural communities in Massachusetts, specifically those with a population of 12,000 or less, as defined by the 2020 US Census. The program aims to empower these communities to host the "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" tour, thereby promoting civic discourse and understanding of American democracy. The impact goals include increased community engagement with humanities topics, enhanced local cultural programming, and a deeper connection to historical and civic themes within participating towns. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around community-rooted programming. Grantees are expected to not only host the "Voices and Votes" exhibit but also to create supplementary programming that resonates with their local context and addresses relevant community issues. This emphasis on tailored, local initiatives reflects a theory of change where broad national themes are made meaningful and impactful through local interpretation and application, fostering a sense of ownership and relevance among residents. Expected outcomes include robust participation from diverse community members in the exhibit and related events. Measurable results could include the number of attendees at the exhibit and associated programs, feedback from participants on their learning and engagement, and the development of new community partnerships. The grant's structure, offering $10,000 to host sites, enables these communities to invest in the necessary resources for successful program implementation, reinforcing Mass Humanities' commitment to supporting sustainable cultural initiatives at the local level.

This program provides funding to San Francisco-based artists with at least 25 years of residency and artistic practice in the city, supporting projects that celebrate their cultural contributions and engage with the community.

INcommon Grants, provided by Indiana Humanities, offer funding to tax-exempt organizations for public programs that utilize the humanities to explore subjects related to race and ethnicity. This aligns with Indiana Humanities' mission to foster dialogue and understanding on these complex topics, believing the humanities can create a space for learning, considering different viewpoints, respectful disagreement, and discovering shared values. The grant program seeks to support diverse projects across Indiana that address various themes and use a variety of public humanities formats, such as reading series, civic reflection discussions, public lectures, film screenings, exhibits, web projects, podcasts, walking tours, or documentary films. The target beneficiaries are tax-exempt organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, churches, and government entities, all of which are eligible to apply. The impact goal is to encourage programs that contribute to a deeper understanding of issues like immigration, gentrification, assimilation, incarceration, policing, institutional racism, and the legacies of segregation in housing and education. By fostering community discussion and conversation, the program aims to promote shared values and bridge divides within Indiana communities. High priority is given to projects that include community discussion and conversation, demonstrating Indiana Humanities' focus on interactive and participatory engagement. Successful proposals are expected to incorporate input from humanities scholars, serving as advisers or facilitators, ensuring the intellectual rigor and depth of the programs. Projects must have a strong focus on the humanities, adhering to guidelines from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and be intended for a public audience with accessible presentation sites. Expected outcomes include the development and implementation of impactful public humanities programs that increase public understanding and dialogue on race and ethnicity. Measurable results could include the number of programs delivered, audience participation, and qualitative assessments of the discussions fostered. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly centered on using the humanities as a tool for civic engagement and promoting understanding around critical societal issues, with a theory of change that posits that through guided discussions and public programming, communities can build bridges and address challenging topics constructively.

This funding opportunity supports individuals and organizations in Washington, DC, to document and preserve the oral histories of local residents, focusing on community collaboration and culturally significant themes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and higher education institutions for projects that improve or expand cultural facilities, enhancing community access and tourism.

This grant provides funding to journalists and media organizations in Alaska for in-depth reporting on complex and underreported issues, as well as arts and culture stories, to enhance public understanding and engagement.

The Sid W. Richardson Foundation provides grants to support the missions of non-profit organizations serving the people of Texas, with a focus on educational, health, human service, and cultural programs and projects. Established in 1947 by Sid W. Richardson, the Foundation began distributing major grants in 1962, following the availability of substantial income from assets from Richardson's estate. Despite Richardson's global interests, his primary concern remained with the people of his home state of Texas. The Foundation, through its Board of Directors and staff, continues to fulfill his vision by prioritizing grants that directly benefit clients or target audiences, particularly in smaller communities and rural areas. Grants are not available to individuals but are made primarily to organizations within Texas, especially those in the Fort Worth area for human services and cultural organizations. Grant renewed every year. Annual Spring deadline: February 1st.

This grant provides funding for nonprofits and public organizations in Louisiana to create small-scale humanities projects that engage local communities and explore the state's unique history and culture.

Established in 1996, the Evansville Fund is a permanent charitable endowment aimed at supporting the Evansville community across various domains, including the arts, education, health and human services, and historic preservation. Through its annual earnings, a portion is allocated as grants to enhance community welfare, distributed to non-profit organizations, the local school district, and government agencies. The fund is characterized by its diverse Family of Funds, each established by individuals or organizations to support specific charitable objectives within Evansville. Grants are awarded annually in November by a volunteer board responsible for fundraising and grant decisions. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: October 1st

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in Oklahoma to create engaging cultural experiences that explore local history and heritage through public programs and events.

The South Carolina Arts Commission is offering the ArtsNOW Schools Advancement Grants of $10,000 to $100,000 over three years to ArtsNOW Partner Schools in South Carolina, to support arts integration, professional learning, curriculum mapping, and planning through innovative practices.

The Cameron Charitable Trust offers grants primarily to charitable organizations in North Carolina, focusing on supporting indigent or sick persons. The trust's mission is directly aligned with alleviating hardship and promoting well-being among vulnerable populations in the state. Through its grantmaking, the foundation aims to empower organizations that deliver essential health and human services, thereby contributing to a healthier and more supportive community for those most in need. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are organizations that serve the poor, needy, ill, and infirm. The Trust seeks to support initiatives that make a tangible difference in the lives of these individuals, with an implicit impact goal of improving access to care, essential services, and overall quality of life for the target population. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on making a "real difference" suggests an expectation of significant, positive change for the beneficiaries. The Trust's grantmaking priorities are clear: preference is given to charities with a proven track record of fiscal responsibility, characterized by wise and efficient use of funds and minimal overhead. This strategic focus ensures that grants have maximum impact and are not diluted by excessive administrative costs. Situations where a grant can genuinely transform circumstances are particularly favored, indicating a desire for catalytic funding rather than simply maintaining existing services. While a formal "theory of change" is not articulated, the Trust's strategic priorities imply a belief that by supporting efficient, impactful charities focused on the indigent and sick, they can directly contribute to improved health outcomes and human services in North Carolina. The average grant size of $125,000 to $175,000 and average total annual giving of $850,000 suggest a commitment to substantial funding that can enable significant program delivery and sustainable operations for recipient organizations. Eligibility requires organizations to be classified as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, further ensuring their charitable status and accountability.