The Humanities for All Project Grants, offered by California Humanities, aim to support public humanities programming initiated at the local level across California. This grant program aligns with California Humanities' mission to foster public engagement with humanities, especially among new or underserved audiences, and to promote understanding and empathy crucial for a thriving democracy. The foundation's strategic priority is to invest in projects that resonate with Californians' needs and interests, ensuring that the humanities remain accessible and relevant to diverse communities.
The target beneficiaries of these grants are Californians across the state, with a particular focus on new and/or underserved audiences. The impact goals include encouraging broad public engagement with humanities programming and strengthening democratic values through increased understanding and empathy. By supporting locally-driven projects, California Humanities seeks to empower communities to develop programs that directly address their unique contexts and foster a sense of shared humanity.
The program prioritizes projects that utilize various programming formats, including virtual and in-person interpretive exhibits, community dialogue series, workshops, presentations, and interactive activities. A key focus is on ensuring that these projects are developed by California-based nonprofit organizations and non-federal public agencies. The grant's theory of change posits that by funding these diverse and accessible humanities programs, the foundation can contribute to a more informed, engaged, and empathetic citizenry.
Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in public participation in humanities programming, particularly among previously unengaged groups. Grantees are expected to demonstrate how their projects respond to community needs and interests, leading to tangible results such as enhanced community dialogue, increased cultural literacy, and a stronger sense of civic engagement. The program's design, including its two-year duration and focus on project-related expenses, ensures that funded initiatives have the resources and time to achieve meaningful and lasting impact.
