The Maryland Humanities is accepting applications for its Marilyn Hatza Memorial Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity (SHINE) Grant fund.
Donor Name: Maryland Humanities
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
This program will provide 80 General Operating Support grants worth. to non-profit organizations which provide humanities programming throughout the state of Maryland.
Funding Priorities
The most competitive applicants to the SHINE grant program will demonstrate multiple of these funding priorities:
- Organizations that center diversity, racial equity and inclusion within their mission and throughout their programming and organizational culture.
- Organizations that serve geographic areas that have historically been underserved by Maryland Humanities
- Organizations that serve audiences that have been traditionally underserved by the humanities, which includes but is not limited to: Veterans, Rural Populations, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), Low-income Individuals, Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Persons, LGBTQ+ Individuals, Currently or Formerly Unhoused People, Immigrants, and/or Disabled People
- Small and mid-size nonprofits that may not have staff capacity or resources to be competitive in fundraising.
- Organizations with a strong connection to and emphasis on the humanities in their mission and programming.
Funding Information
$5,000.
Eligible Activities
Organizations conducting activities in the humanities provide programs that do two or more of the following:
- Explore and elevate the shared stories of the past, present, and future to connect people
- Preserve, share, and celebrate cultural identities, heritage, and traditions
- Promote storytelling and enriching communities through dialogue, discussion, and participation
- Bring people together to encourage thoughtful and accessible programs that value equity, democracy, collaboration, and life-long learning
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a Maryland Humanities SHINE grant, an organization must:
- Conduct programming in the humanities as a significant part of its work (>70% of annual programming). Eligible non-profits include museums, historic sites, preservation and historical societies, and community & cultural organizations with a significant humanities focus.
- Be designated as a nonprofit organization and maintain good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as determined by organization’s 990 and Charity Check.
- Be physically located and registered as a nonprofit in Maryland and have Maryland residents as its primary constituents.
- Have a maximum total annual budget (income and expenses) of $500,000 or less.
Ineligibility
The following organizations are not eligible to apply for funding:
- Organizations with an annual budget that exceeds $500,000 (including capital revenue and/or funding for re-grants).
- Organizations whose mission, focus, or majority of their programming is the creation or performance of art. This includes visual art, dance, theater, and music.
- Any federally, or state-funded agency.
- All academic institutions, including, universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 institutions
- Public libraries.
For more information, visit Maryland Humanities.
