Implementation Grants

The Connecticut Humanities Fund offers Public Presentation Implementation Grants to support the execution of humanities projects that are ready for public delivery. These grants are intended for projects that demonstrate significant humanities scholarship, involve well-defined goals, and advance public understanding of history, culture, and society. They are designed to bring to fruition work that has already undergone planning and development, although receiving a prior planning grant is not required. Implementation Grants may support exhibitions, public programs, interpretive digital media projects, and documentary films, provided they are rooted in humanities content and meet the program’s funding priorities. The Connecticut Humanities Fund emphasizes projects that include strong scholarship, explore topics inclusively and equitably, and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in alignment with the America 250 | CT Commission’s guiding themes. Priority is also given to projects that engage communities in contemporary issues, promote creativity, ensure accessibility of content beyond the grant term, and foster organizational collaboration. The fund encourages proposals that contextualize current events or community issues, draw connections between past and present, and have a clear focus on Connecticut. Projects involving Indigenous history must align with the organization’s Indigenous Values Statement. Eligible applicants include Connecticut-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that have been incorporated for at least one year, municipalities, and federally or state-recognized tribes. Applicants must demonstrate regular public programming and be in compliance with prior Connecticut Humanities grants. For-profit entities, individuals, state agencies, and organizations not in good standing with past grants are ineligible. All applicants are restricted to one open Public Presentation Planning or Implementation Grant at a time and may receive no more than two Implementation Grants within three consecutive fiscal years. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $35,000, with a maximum project period of twenty-four months beginning on the first day of the month in which the award is announced. Implementation Grants must be matched dollar-for-dollar, with varying proportions of external funding required depending on award size. For grants under $25,000, at least 25 percent of the match must come from external sources, while grants of $25,000 or more require 50 percent from external funding. Allowable costs include salaries directly related to the project, consultant fees, travel, design services, equipment, materials, marketing, and evaluation. Salaries and wages may not exceed 25 percent of the grant request. Prohibited expenses include advocacy projects, artistic production unrelated to humanities content, restoration, capital improvements, book publication, endowments, social events, food and beverage costs, retroactive funding, and indirect overhead. Applications are submitted through the Connecticut Humanities online portal. Prior communication with CTH Grants Staff at grants@cthumanities.org is mandatory; applications without prior consultation will not be reviewed. Applicants may request draft reviews up to two weeks before deadlines. Required attachments include evaluation materials, résumés or CVs for key personnel, letters of commitment from partners, budgets, board lists, and operating budgets. Depending on project type, additional attachments such as exhibition floor plans, program summaries, digital media samples, or film treatments are required. Applications are due by December 1, 2025, and May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Award notifications are issued by the first business day of February for the December cycle and the first business day of July for the May cycle. Projects must be completed within the 24-month grant period. Following submission, grantees must comply with Connecticut Humanities’ reporting and intellectual property policies and may be subject to co-branding requirements for literature programs or America 250 | CT-themed initiatives. Contact information for the program is grants@cthumanities.org or 860-785-9640, and the office is located at 100 Riverview Center, Suite 290, Middletown, CT 06457.

Applicants must contact staff before applying. Draft review available two weeks before deadline