Deadline: 1-Feb-22
The California Humanities has launched the Humanities for All Project Grants Program to support the development and delivery of humanities-based learning experiences for the people of California that encourage thoughtful reflection, analysis, and consideration of important topics, in keeping with the mission to connect Californians to ideas and one another to understand the shared heritage and diverse cultures, inspire civic participation, and shape the future.
This program aims to increase public participation in and access to the humanities by providing relevant, engaging, and meaningful humanities-based programming. They are particularly interested in programming that will engage new and historically underserved communities in addition to already-established audiences.
Programming that fosters connections between different communities or demographic groups, promotes networking and collaboration between institutions and organizations, and links humanities-associated organizations with other community partners and sectors is also desired.
Project grants are intended to support time-bounded projects, not open-ended activities. Projects should result in some tangible public humanities programming activity within the two-year grant period; However, projects that show potential for extension or amplification beyond the grant period are welcomed.
What Types of Programming Do Project Grants Support?
Project Grants support many kinds of real-time humanities learning experiences that encourage community engagement in and with the humanities. The choice of programming modes will depend on the subject matter, the programmer’s goals, and intent, as well as the characteristics, interests, and needs of the intended audience (s). California Humanities encourages innovation and experimentation with new approaches as well as use of time-tested formats such as:
- Community conversations, forums, and dialogues that center humanities topics and approaches to understanding the subject matter.
- Interpretive exhibits (permanent or traveling, physical or digital) with significant humanities content and accompanying public programming
- Lectures, presentations, demonstrations, and performances (with related discursive and / or participatory activities).
- Community-wide reads, or reading- or film-and-discussion programs; Book, film, and cultural festivals incorporating humanities activities; Oral history projects, story-collection and -sharing programs, non-fiction writing or media-making workshops, and other activities that produce and share knowledge products
- Interpretive tours or other types of site- or place-based humanities programming
- Any combination of the above
Funding information
Applicants may request between $ 10,000 and $ 25,000. California Humanities funds may be used to support eligible project-related activities and expenses, including honoraria for speakers or presenters, staffing costs, programming expenses including travel, equipment, publicity, promotion, venue rental, refreshments, and hospitality, etc. within the two -year grant period (for this round, June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024). Some restrictions apply, including a 10% cap on indirect costs, organizational overhead, and fiscal sponsorship fees.
Project Grants Do Not Support
- Organizational development or general operations (GOS)
- Research and / or planning activities not related to public programming within the grant period
- Open-ended or on-going programs, even if humanities-focused
- Extension, expansion, or continuation of projects previously supported by California Humanities
- Programming focused primarily on out-of-state audiences
- Capital or facilities improvements
- Research, travel,
- or residencies to enable individual creative or scholarly work
- Film, video, radio, and new media (podcasts, websites) products (please see the California Documentary Project for funding information)
- Regranting programs, scholarships, prizes, or gifts
- Book publication expenses
- Activities and projects primarily intended to advance a specific policy goal or political agenda or to influence legislation (advocacy)
- In-class instruction, curriculum development, or other activities without significant public programming components for out-of-school audiences
- Professional development programs, trainings, conferences, or activities geared for academic, professional, or membership organizations
- Fundraising, marketing, or institutional advancement projects
Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be accepted from California-based public agencies (including libraries, museums, schools, universities and colleges, and tribal governments) and California-based nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status. Individuals, or organizations that do not have federal tax-exempt status, must apply under the auspices of an eligible fiscal sponsor.
Eligible applicant organizations (including fiscal sponsors) and project directors must:
- Be in good standing with California Humanities, (eg, if a prior grantee, have submitted a final report and closed the previous grant), and
- Not have an active California Humanities grant or an application pending review in another California Humanities grant program. However, California Humanities will accept multiple applications by universities / colleges, public library systems, and art councils. Organizations that operate an established fiscal sponsorship program that has been pre-approved by the California Humanities list of multi-application fiscal sponsors (see FAQs for details) may also submit multiple applications. Recipients of a currently active Humanities Relief or Recovery grant may apply for a Humanities for All Project Grant.
Organizations (and Project Directors) that have previously been awarded a Humanities for All Project Grant or Humanities for All Quick Grant are required to wait one year following the submission of their final report before applying for another Humanities for All Grant.
For more information, visit https://calhum.org/humanities-for-all/