Ways to Give
Your support for the humanities helps keep our state creative, connected, and in community.
Celebrate the Humanities in Action
2026 Honorees: Susan Eleuterio, nationally recognized folklorist, philanthropist, and former Illinois Humanities board chair; Ofelia Guerra, founder of Ballet Folklorico; historian and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Mike Matejka; Daniel Kisslinger and Damon Williams, co-founders of Respair Media and AirGo; and Mayer Brown, provides vital corporate and pro bono work that sustains civic and cultural institutions
Public Humanities Awards 2026
Join us on Wednesday, September 23, at the Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. to celebrate this year’s Public Humanities Award honorees, who demonstrate how the humanities are lived every day in Illinois communities, through culture, history, journalism, education, and civic engagement.
This unforgettable evening of celebration promises to be enlightening, fun, and connecting.
Reserve Your Seat Today | Become a Sponsor
Can't attend? Make a donation.
Support the Humanities
Individual Giving
Your investment offers critical funds that keep our programming free and available to all Illinoisians and supports the public humanities' role in making people’s lives better and our state more resilient.
See Your Impact
Illinois Humanities is the only statewide nonprofit working to activate the humanities to foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement in Illinois. Here's some of what you helped us accomplish in 2025.
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 Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, $10,000
- 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
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.
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