Tools for Grant Seekers

Broadly, the humanities help us understand and interpret what it means to be human; participating in the humanities equips us to form a diverse society. In academic settings, the humanities encompass studies of art, art history, communications, culture, ethnic and gender studies, ethics, folklore and folk culture, literature, languages, music, dance, theatre, history, and philosophy. At Illinois Humanities, our focus is on the public humanities that happen (most often) outside of academic institutions. We create — and support — programs, and modes of engagement that emphasize curiosity, questioning, and dialogue.

Public humanities programs feature the following practices:

• The public humanities create a public. Gathering is designed with intentionality, and the people who gather may not already know each other.
• People are talked with, not talked at. People are learning “with,” not just learning “from.”
• People are encouraged to ask questions to better understand their own — as well as others’ — experiences and points of view.

Regardless of the mode of practice, public humanities support people to employ capacities we inherently hold as humans — being curious, listening closely, changing our minds, and embracing complexity and nuance. The public humanities call upon us to use, practice and develop ways of engaging with one another that help us discern our own beliefs, expand our understanding of what is possible, and appreciate that differences make us stronger. These particular human abilities are like any other skill: they get better with practice and, when underdeveloped or underattended, they atrophy.

Does your organization have a working definition of the public humanities? Share it with us–we’re eager to explore how others are addressing this complex question.

Illinois Humanities supports public humanities programs, initiatives, and organizations. We do not fund:

• Activities that promote a specific political position or ideology
• Alcoholic beverages
• Businesses, for-profits
• Capital projects (i.e., renovation or purchase of buildings or land)
• Endowment contributions
• Foreign travel
• Lobbying
• Major equipment purchases (though equipment to assist a specific program is admissible)
• Out-of-state programs that have no specific relevance or thematic connection to people in Illinois (though technically a grant recipient or fiscal agent can be located elsewhere in the U.S.)
• Programming that falls outside of the humanities
• Social services (though a social services agency may apply for funding for a humanities project)

To be eligible for this grant opportunity, a previous Illinois Humanities Grantee must be:

• Must be up-to-date with all reporting requirements. If you are unsure if your organization has outstanding reports, please contact us at communitygrants@ilhumanities.org.
• Previous Illinois Humanities grantees cannot have an open Project Grant or an open General Operating Grant. All grants are considered open until the final report has been submitted by the grantee and marked as complete by the Illinois Humanities Grants Team.
• Meet the eligibility criteria as an individual or as an organization.

Note: If your organization acts as a fiscal agent for another, you may have an open grant and still receive funding for any grant offered by Illinois Humanities.

The following applicant types may apply:

Eligibility Criteria for Organizations

To be eligible for this grant opportunity, an organization must be:

• Located and serving in Illinois with experience working in their community.
• The proposed project must benefit people in Illinois.
• A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service or be represented by a fiscal agent or sponsor with 501(c)3 status in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (learn what “good standing" means here).
• An organization with an annual operating budget of $1 million or less. 

Organizations may only submit ONE project grant proposal. 

Eligibility Criteria for Individuals

To be eligible for this grant opportunity, an individual must be:

• Located and serving in Illinois with experience working in their community.
• The proposed project must benefit people in Illinois.

Individuals are eligible to apply for a Solo Project Grant only.

501(c)(3) and other nonprofit organizations must be in good standing with the IRS in order to apply. You can check your organization’s status here. If your status has been revoked, you may still apply to Illinois Humanities using a fiscal sponsor (which must be in good standing). And you can explore how to reinstate your charitable status here.

Illinois Humanities has been making grants since its inception in 1973, with over 3,000 awards given, totaling over $22 million. We are proud to have supported dozens of documentary films, conferences, exhibits, training programs, oral history projects, and scores of other activities. We are firm believers in the many organizations and individuals throughout the state of Illinois that value the humanities, culture, and dialogue as community-building activities, and wish to help them fulfill their missions, carry out high-quality programming, and grow their organizations. We are indebted to the Illinois General Assembly for the support that allows this grantmaking program to exist.