2026 Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program

Maryland Humanities has announced the FY26 Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program, named in honor of longtime staff member Marilyn Hatza. The SHINE (Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity) Grant provides general operating support to nonprofit organizations that deliver humanities programming throughout Maryland. This funding is designed to help smaller organizations sustain and enhance their ability to offer accessible humanities-based initiatives to local communities. The program will distribute 30 grants of $5,000 each to eligible nonprofit organizations. These funds may be used flexibly to cover general operating expenses such as salaries, professional development, rent, utilities, supplies, programmatic activities, and equipment. However, applicants are discouraged from using the grant for re-granting activities, land purchases, building construction, or collection acquisitions. No matching funds are required, and the funding is intended to strengthen operational sustainability. To be eligible, organizations must demonstrate that at least 70% of their annual programming involves the humanities. Acceptable types of organizations include museums, historic sites, preservation and historical societies, and community or cultural organizations with a strong humanities focus. All applicants must be Maryland-based nonprofits in good standing with the IRS, have Maryland residents as their primary constituents, and operate on a total annual budget of $500,000 or less. Ineligible applicants include academic institutions (K-12, colleges, universities), public libraries, arts organizations, and government agencies at the state or federal level. Applications for the FY26 SHINE Grant will open on June 20, 2025, and must be submitted by September 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Award decisions will be announced by the end of November 2025. All applications must be submitted through the grant interface on the Maryland Humanities website. Organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor must submit additional documentation—including a fiscal sponsorship agreement, the sponsor’s 2024 annual budget, and the sponsor’s 990 form—by email to eross@mdhumanities.org before the deadline. Funding priority will be given to organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; serve communities and populations historically underserved by the humanities (including but not limited to rural populations, veterans, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities); and those operating in underserved geographic areas. Small to mid-sized nonprofits with limited fundraising capacity will also be prioritized, especially if their mission and programs strongly emphasize the humanities. Virtual informational sessions are scheduled to assist potential applicants on June 25, July 17, and August 12, 2025. Open office hours will be held on July 31 and September 2, 2025. For additional information, interested parties are encouraged to contact Emily Ross at eross@mdhumanities.org or Camilla Sandoval at csandoval@mdhumanities.org. Spanish-language assistance is available upon request.

Attend virtual sessions and open office hours for assistance. Spanish support available upon request.