About Us
Our Mission
Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.
OUR VISION
An Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.
Founded in 1974, we are the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by state, federal, and private funds. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration. Stay connected with us by subscribing to the Illinois Humanities newsletter and following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @ILHumanities.
Our Strategic Plan
Our new strategic plan outlines what we are going to do and why. Over the next five years, we will work to make the public humanities central to a just, creative, and connected, Illinois. We are committed to being partner-centered, honoring our complex histories and cultures, making space for difficult (and crucial) conversations, and actively promoting equity.
We will champion a statewide humanities ecosystem by creating programs to address timely issues, amplifying statewide public humanities programs and practitioners with support and visibility, connecting organizations with one another and across diverse sectors, and promoting the importance of the humanities for our state’s wellbeing.
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Envisioning Justice partner Renaldo Hudson (left) and Executive Director Gabrielle Lyon at an event cohosted by Illinois Humanities and WTTW.
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This is Illinois Humanities 2025
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A young writer performs their winning poem at the 2024 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. (Photo by Glitter Guts)
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Graduates of the Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea pose with their family and friends at the 2024 graduation ceremony.
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Director of Grants Programs Mark Hallett (left) and Board member Juana Guzman present an award at the 2023 Public Humanities Awards. (Photo by Glitter Guts)
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A 2019 Country and the City event gathers speakers, performers, and audience members in Springfield, Ill.
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Illinois Humanities staff at the 2024 Public Humanities Awards.
Advocacy Call
Illinois Humanities, as a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is facing potential funding cuts that could significantly impact our work. About one-third of our annual budget comes from NEH grants. Despite this challenge, we are committed to continuing our programs, thanks to the support of individual donors, foundation grants, and state funding. We need your help to advocate for NEH funding by contacting your congressional representatives.
Our Impact in 2025
For 50 years, Illinois Humanities has worked throughout the state to make the public humanities accessible to all. Through grants, partnerships, and public programs, we have worked with groups of all sizes, disciplines, and stages of development to increase their local and statewide impact and support the state’s cultural ecosystem.
Explore the map to discover our vast network of grantee partners across the state and connect with a public humanities organization near you. Below, see a snapshot of how Illinois Humanities grants and programs provide free and transformative humanities experiences for all Illinoisans.
4,936
Illinoisians in 44 counties engaged in culture, history, and social issues through free Road Scholars Speakers presentations
333
arts and culture leaders from over 188 organizations attended our inaugural One State in the Arts and Humanities Conference
227
free events fostered reflection, built community, and strengthened civic engagement across every legislative district
988
youth poets statewide participated in our annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
Recent Grantee Partners
Activate History Microgrants (FY2025)
- Jourdan Brunson, $1,000
- CIRCA Pintig, $1,000
- Crossing Borders Music, $1,000
- The Emerald Avenue Foundation, Inc., $1,000
- First Christian Church, $1,000
- Forgottonia Project - Joey Brewer, $750
- Gaylord Building Historic Site, $1,000
- Geneseo Public Library District
- The Hub-Arts and Cultural Center, $750
- Kayla Lucas, $750
- Charles McGregory, $1,000
- OH Art Foundation, $1,000
- Open Space Arts, $1,000
- Antonio Ramirez, $1,000
- Chinella Robinson, $1,000
- Matthew Schlerf, $1,000
- Sherry Leah Sparks, $750
- Anderson Taylor, $850
- Gladys De La Torre, $1,000
- Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, $1,000
- Untold Histories, $1,000
- Yul Ailea Stites, $1,000
General Operating Grants (FY2025)
- Cairo Historical Preservation Project, $10,000.00
- Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium DBA Cultural Access Collaborative, $10,000.00
- contratiempo nfp, $10,000.00
- Guild Literary Complex, $10,000.00
- Haitian American Museum of Chicago, $10,000.00
- Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, $10,000.00
- Madison County Historical Society Inc, $10,000.00
- MAKE Literary Productions, NFP, $10,000.00
- Metro East Literacy Project, $10,000.00
- National Museum of Gospel Music, $10,000.00
- Perceptions Theatre, $10,000.00
- South Macon Public Library, $10,000.00
- Stephenson County Historical Society, $10,000.00
- The RealiTea ProjecT Inc., $10,000.00
Envisioning Justice Grants (FY2025)
- Michael Adebayo, $5,000.00
- Carlos J Acosta, $5,000.00
- BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities, $6,000.00
- Beyond Prisons / Build Communities Not Prisons, $5,000.00
- Chicago Books to Women in Prison, $7,000.00
- Chicago Torture Justice Center, $10,000.00
- Coalition to Decarcerate Illinois, $10,000.00
- The Community Archive, $10,000.00
- Abdul Hasib, $5,000.00
- Illinois Workers in Action, $10,000.00
- Hannah Johnson, $10,000.00
- Knox College, $10,000.00
- Knox College, $8,000.00
- Legacy Training, Inc., $10,000.00
- Legacy Training, Inc., $6,000.00
- Midwest Books to Prisoners, $10,000.00
- Millikin University, $8,000.00
- King Moosa, $5,000.00
- Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center, $5,000.00
- Reparations Media, $10,000.00
- Sam Smith, $10,000.00
- Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, $10,000.00
- Crushion Stubbs, $5,000.00
- Walls Turned Sideways, $10,000.00
Project Grants (FY2025)
- American Indian Center, $10,100.00
- Black Alphabet, $4,250.00
- Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, $10,250.00
- Federación de Clubes Michoacános en Illinois/Casas Michoacán, $4,250.00
- First Nations Film and Video Festival Inc, $10,100.00
- Garvey Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center, $10,100.00
- Illinois Heartland Library System, $7,344.00
- Mendota Museum & Historical Society, $10,250.00
- Mezcla Media Collective, $4,250.00
- Narratives, $4,100.00
- The Community Archive, $10,250.00
Our Team
Illinois Humanities is powered by a dedicated team of Board and staff members whose care and commitment have helped to increase our impact across the state. Meet the people who make our work possible and browse available opportunities at Illinois Humanities.
Board member John Bracken (left) and Program Manager of Envisioning Justice Tyreece Williams present the Beacon Award at the 2023 Public Humanities Awards. (Photo by GlitterGuts)
Discover Our Brand Identity
At Illinois Humanities, our brand identity reflects our commitment to sparking meaningful conversations, fostering thoughtful reflection, building strong communities, and enhancing civic engagement across Illinois. To learn more about our visual identity, including our logos, typography, and brand standards, visit our Brand Identity page.
Land Acknowledgement
At Illinois Humanities we respectfully acknowledge that the land on which our main office is located is made up of the territories and lands of the people of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa Nations as well as many other tribes who have called this land home including Miami, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee Nations. These Nations were forcefully removed from their traditional territories, however, these lands continue to carry the stories, resilience, and tenacity of these Nations. Despite the federal and local government-enforced policies of genocide of American Indians, Chicago is home to the third-largest urban Indian population representing more than 100 different Tribal Nations.
We also recognize that land acknowledgment statements are most meaningful when coupled with a commitment to programs and actions that support Indigenous rights and cultural equity. We acknowledge that Illinois Humanities is just starting this journey and that we have more work to do, but we are committed to supporting and building sustained relationships with Indigenous organizations throughout Illinois and encourage you to support these organizations and efforts as well. In the Chicago area, these organizations include The American Indian Center, Trickster Cultural Center, American Indian Health Services, and the Center for Native Futures.
Funders
Contact
Suite 650, 125 South Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787 Fax
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Illinois Humanities respects the privacy of its audiences and will at no time sell or distribute personal information to any party not directly affiliated with Illinois Humanities and its programs.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations, or our funders.
© Copyright 2026 Illinois Humanities