2024 INcommon Grant Program

INcommon Grants, provided by Indiana Humanities, offer funding to tax-exempt organizations for public programs that utilize the humanities to explore subjects related to race and ethnicity. This aligns with Indiana Humanities' mission to foster dialogue and understanding on these complex topics, believing the humanities can create a space for learning, considering different viewpoints, respectful disagreement, and discovering shared values. The grant program seeks to support diverse projects across Indiana that address various themes and use a variety of public humanities formats, such as reading series, civic reflection discussions, public lectures, film screenings, exhibits, web projects, podcasts, walking tours, or documentary films. The target beneficiaries are tax-exempt organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, churches, and government entities, all of which are eligible to apply. The impact goal is to encourage programs that contribute to a deeper understanding of issues like immigration, gentrification, assimilation, incarceration, policing, institutional racism, and the legacies of segregation in housing and education. By fostering community discussion and conversation, the program aims to promote shared values and bridge divides within Indiana communities. High priority is given to projects that include community discussion and conversation, demonstrating Indiana Humanities' focus on interactive and participatory engagement. Successful proposals are expected to incorporate input from humanities scholars, serving as advisers or facilitators, ensuring the intellectual rigor and depth of the programs. Projects must have a strong focus on the humanities, adhering to guidelines from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and be intended for a public audience with accessible presentation sites. Expected outcomes include the development and implementation of impactful public humanities programs that increase public understanding and dialogue on race and ethnicity. Measurable results could include the number of programs delivered, audience participation, and qualitative assessments of the discussions fostered. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly centered on using the humanities as a tool for civic engagement and promoting understanding around critical societal issues, with a theory of change that posits that through guided discussions and public programming, communities can build bridges and address challenging topics constructively.