Humanities North Dakota Grant Program

The North Dakota Humanities Grant Program, administered by Humanities North Dakota, supports initiatives that bring historical, cultural, and ethical perspectives to community conversations and issues. As a state-based nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities North Dakota is dedicated to enriching public understanding of the humanities. Through this grant program, the funder seeks to advance critical thinking, civic engagement, and cross-cultural understanding within communities across the state of North Dakota. The program is designed to support a broad range of humanities-centered projects that promote inquiry and dialogue about values, meaning, and democratic issues. Eligible projects must be open to the public and should engage participants in reflection and learning about what it means to be human. They must foster multiple viewpoints, encourage civic discourse, and include collaborations among scholars and community or cultural institutions. Projects may cover disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, jurisprudence, comparative religion, archaeology, linguistics, the arts (through interpretation), and select social sciences using qualitative or cultural approaches. Funding is provided in two tiers: Quick Grants of up to $2,000 and General Grants ranging from $2,001 to $10,000. All grants require a cost-share, with different match requirements based on the applying organization’s annual operating budget. For both large and quick grants, applicants must contribute at least $1.50 for every dollar requested. Organizations with budgets over $100,000 must contribute at least $0.50 in cash per dollar requested, while those with budgets over $1,000,000 are required to contribute $3 for every dollar, including at least $0.50 in cash. Certain types of expenditures are ineligible for funding. These include projects not open to the public, classroom and academic expenses, travel to professional meetings, equipment over $2,000, general operating expenses, entertainment, and more. Art exhibitions and performances are also excluded unless they include a humanities-focused interpretive component. Fundraising, construction, and political advocacy are likewise not permitted. Additionally, any costs incurred before the grant is awarded are ineligible for reimbursement or match. Eligible applicants include a wide array of nonprofit entities such as educational institutions, community groups, churches, museums, libraries, historical societies, and governmental or tribal organizations. The program explicitly excludes individuals and out-of-state applicants. Colleges and universities are encouraged to host public-facing projects off-campus when possible. Applicants must ensure all outstanding grant reports are submitted and approved before applying for new funding. The General Grant program has three annual deadlines: March 1, June 1, and October 1. Quick Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. All applications must demonstrate community interest and include a clear cost-share plan. There is no publicly available point of contact listed for this program, and applicants are directed to the funder’s web platform for further guidance. Applicants are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the funder’s goals of promoting civil dialogue and strengthening democratic values through the humanities.