Humanities For All Grants

Humanities Kansas, a nonprofit supported by federal funds through the National Endowment for the Humanities, offers the Humanities for All Grants to support public projects grounded in history, literature, and culture. The grant initiative is designed to engage the general public in meaningful conversations and foster a thriving democracy through storytelling and dialogue. Eligible projects should be centered around humanities disciplines, with a focus on adult, out-of-school audiences. Formats may include exhibits, community discussions, presentations, films, podcasts, and other innovative methods. Grant awards are competitive and capped at $15,000. Additional funds are available for increasing accessibility, including interpreters, audio tours, or adaptive rentals. Applicants must be Kansas-based nonprofits, including public libraries and cultural institutions receiving municipal support. A 501(c)(3) determination letter is not necessary, but a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov is required and must be set to public for validation. Organizations with existing open grants are ineligible to apply. Humanities for All Grants follow a structured application timeline with three annual cycles: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Draft submissions are optional but encouraged for feedback. Drafts are due approximately one month before final submissions, which are due in late February, May, and October respectively. Notifications follow about one month after the final submission, with projects allowed to begin shortly after. The application must be completed through the HK online portal. Applications must include a project narrative, goals, a humanities scholar with appropriate credentials, a timeline, a marketing plan, a detailed budget with cost share equivalent to the grant request, and optional letters of support. While direct cash match is not required, in-kind contributions like volunteer time or donated space are essential. Projects must avoid disallowed expenses such as full-time staff salaries, equipment purchases over 25% of the grant request, and projects involving lobbying or religious advocacy. Applicants must answer detailed questions about project content, format, audience engagement, and partnership. Supplementary questions and attachments are required for specific formats like exhibitions, media, signage, and book discussions. Final submissions must include promotional images, scholar credentials, event schedules, and budget notes. Humanities Kansas mandates acknowledgment of funding on all public materials and maintains content neutrality requirements as a federal fund recipient. For assistance or to submit a draft, applicants are encouraged to contact Leslie VonHolten, Director of Grants & Outreach, at LVH@humanitieskansas.org. Drafts should be sent via email, while final submissions must be completed through the online portal before 11:59 PM on the specified deadlines.