HumanitiesAR opening 2024 grant cycle with new guidelines

HumanitiesAR, an Arkansas nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for Humanities, announced new details for grants and grant cycles for 2024, offering the opportunity for nonprofit organizations and educators to apply for financial assistance for various innovative, humanities-based projects in Arkansas.

New in 2024, HumanitiesAR has expanded eligibility for its Mini Grant projects to include operations expenses and removed the cost-share requirement. It also increased the maximum Mini Grant award to $5,000 to better support organizations faced with rising costs and financial challenges. In addition, select grant application cycles and dates have changed, with most grants adjusted to two cycles per year. HumanitiesAR provides these grant opportunities as part of its mission to enrich and advance the education of the humanities in Arkansas.

“The impact of these grants extends far beyond nonprofits and educators, as they enrich our state’s diverse history and cultural fabric,” HumanitiesAR Executive Director Jama Best said. “Past recipients have undertaken some remarkable and influential projects, while grants for educators have sparked enthusiasm and a new appreciation and understanding of the humanities. We encourage educators and nonprofits to seek out this funding as we look to make a greater impact in 2024.”

Adding operating expenses to the Mini Grants initiative will help eligible museums and nonprofits pay overhead costs such as salaries, fire suppression systems, website design and maintenance, utilities, building and employee insurance, or various equipment needs, including computers, scanners, HVAC and hot water heaters. Organizations must be located in Arkansas and have an annual budget of $250,000 or less with at least one full-time employee to qualify.

Also new in 2024, the Black History and Culture Grant, the Museum Collections and Resource Grant, and the REACH Grant have moved to two application cycles per year, and the REACH Grant no longer requires a principal signature.

In 2024, HumanitiesAR will continue to offer a wide array of grants to nonprofit organizations and educators who wish to engage in projects that help connect Arkansans to the past, one another and the community.

Eligible projects for nonprofits include public programs, lecture series, publications, exhibits, podcasts, documentary films and historical research. Other grants, such as the Access to the Humanities Grant, allow nonprofits to ensure their humanities projects and events are accessible to those with disabilities, while the Museum Collections and Resource Grant helps museums with professional development, supplies, or the preservation of textiles, artifacts and media. Specific grants for educators offer funding for classroom projects, state park field trips and museum field trips.

Those who wish to apply for funding should note that select grants require a letter of intent to be issued within a designated window, followed by the submission of a complete application at a later date. Upcoming letter of intent windows include the Museum Collections and Resource Grant, open now through Feb. 28, and the Black History and Culture Grant, which opens on Feb. 15.

To see a complete list of grants or to learn more about qualifications and the application process, visit arkansashumanitiescouncil.org and click on grants.