Humanities Montana Opportunity Grant Program

Humanities Montana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering civic engagement, critical thinking, and cultural understanding through public humanities programming across the state of Montana. For over 50 years, it has played a pivotal role in supporting arts, literature, history, and education initiatives in communities large and small. Most of its funding has historically come from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a federal agency that supports educational and cultural institutions across the United States. Until recently, Humanities Montana relied on NEH grants to support key programs, including Montana Conversations, Speakers in the Schools, and a broad range of community-focused initiatives delivered through museums, libraries, schools, and other public spaces. These programs reached all 56 counties in Montana, with a significant focus on rural areas where other forms of support are limited or unavailable. The sudden termination of NEH funding represents a critical disruption to these efforts. The funding cuts will deeply affect a wide network of humanities practitioners, including authors, poets, historians, educators, and performers who depend on Humanities Montana's support to bring enriching cultural programming to the public. These individuals are integral to sustaining Montana's diverse cultural landscape, particularly in underserved rural communities. The organization stresses that the humanities are essential not only for historical preservation and education, but for building vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities. In response to the funding loss, Humanities Montana is calling on supporters to take action by engaging with federal legislators and advocating for the restoration of humanities funding. The organization encourages individuals to share their stories about the importance of the humanities, reach out to elected officials, and consider creative means of sustaining local programming. As of the latest update, Humanities Montana has not released a new open grant opportunity, timeline, or submission requirements due to the funding disruption. The organization continues to communicate its mission and impact, highlighting the past effectiveness of NEH-supported initiatives and expressing its commitment to seeking alternative avenues of support to maintain programming. Questions regarding the impact of the funding loss or future opportunities can be directed to Jill Baker, Executive Director of Humanities Montana, at 406-564-3602 or jill.baker@humanitiesmontana.org. Stakeholders are encouraged to remain engaged and informed as the organization evaluates future directions and funding options.