Humanities for All is a grant program that supports projects in the public humanities.
Donor Name: California Humanities
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/16/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
This program responds to the needs and interests of Californians, encourages greater public participation in humanities programming, particularly by new and/or underserved audiences. It aims to promote understanding and empathy among all the state’s peoples in order to cultivate a thriving democracy.
Appropriate programming formats include but are not limited to virtual and in-person interpretive exhibits, community dialogue and discussion series, workshops and participatory activities, presentations and lectures, conversations and forums, and interactive and experiential activities.
What Types of Programming Do Project Grants Support?
Project Grants support many kinds of real-time humanities learning experiences that encourage community engagement in and with the humanities. The choice of programming modes will depend on the subject matter, the programmer’s goals, and intent, as well as the characteristics, interests, and needs of the intended audience(s). California Humanities encourages innovation and experimentation with new approaches as well as use of time-tested formats such as:
- Community conversations, forums, and dialogues that center humanities topics and approaches to understanding the subject matter
- Interpretive exhibits (permanent or traveling, physical or digital) with accompanying public programming
- Lectures, presentations, demonstrations, and performances (with related discursive and/or participatory activities)
- Community-wide reads, reading- or film-and-discussion programs; book, film, and cultural festivals incorporating humanities activities
- Oral history projects, story-collection and -sharing programs, non-fiction writing or media-making workshops, and other activities that codify and share knowledge through digital or analog products
- Interpretive tours or other types of site- or place-based humanities programming
- Any combination of the above.
Funding Information
Applicants may request between $10,000 and $25,000. California Humanities funds may be used to support eligible project-related activities and expenses, including honoraria for speakers or presenters, staffing costs, programming expenses including travel, equipment, publicity, promotion, venue rental, refreshments, and hospitality, etc. within the two-year grant period (for this round, June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2026). Some restrictions apply, including a 10% cap on indirect costs, organizational overhead, and fiscal sponsorship fees.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be accepted from California-based public agencies (including libraries, museums, schools, universities and colleges, and tribal governments) and California-based nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status. Individuals, or organizations that do not have federal tax-exempt status, must apply under the auspices of an eligible fiscal sponsor.
Eligible applicant organizations (including fiscal sponsors) and project directors must:
- Be in good standing with California Humanities, (e.g., if a prior grantee, have submitted a final report and closed the previous grant), and
- Not have an active California Humanities grant or an application pending review in another California Humanities grant program. However, California Humanities will accept multiple applications by universities/colleges, public library systems, and art councils.
Project Grants Do Not Support:
- Organizational development or general operations (GOS)
- Research and/or planning activities not related to public programming within the grant period
- Open-ended or on-going programs, even if humanities-focused
- Extension, expansion, or continuation of projects previously supported by California Humanities
- Programming focused primarily on out-of-state audiences
- Capital or facilities improvements
- Research, travel, or residencies for support of individual creative or scholarly work
- Regranting programs, scholarships, prizes, or gifts
- Publications and media products (please see the California Documentary Project for funding information about the latter)
- Activities and projects primarily intended to advance a specific policy goal or political agenda or to influence legislation (advocacy)
- Classroom- or school-based projects lacking related programming that engages out-of- school audiences
- Professional development programs, trainings, conferences, or activities geared for academic, professional, or membership organizations
- Fundraising, marketing, or institutional advancement efforts.
For more information, visit California Humanities.
