Because Humanities Nebraska (HN) exists to help people explore what connects us and makes us human, we offer grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities to support projects related to the public humanities. This webpage contains information and links to help guide you through the application process, and HN grants staff are available to help you, too.

We highly recommend that you contact the HN grants staff when you are developing an application. We are more than happy to answer your questions and give you advice. We can also log in to view your draft application in the system and provide specific feedback if you give us enough lead time before grant due dates.

  • If you have never applied to HN before, or if you are new to grant writing, we especially want to work with you to help make this process as easy as possible.
  • If you have successfully applied to HN before, we still encourage you to contact HN staff. We can help you fine-tune your application to better fit our guidelines.

Humanities Nebraska Grants Staff

Any of the HN staff members who work with grants are happy to talk to you about your grant application:
  • Katie Bradshaw, Grants Management & Outreach Specialist, email or (402) 474-2131 ext 114 (regular hours: 9-4 Central, Tu, Wed, Th)
  • Barbara Grant, Office and Grants Coordinator, email or (402) 474-2131 ext. 102
  • Erika Hamilton, Director of Literary Programs, email or (402) 474-2131 ext. 104
  • Kristi Hayek Carley, Program Manager, email or (402) 474-2131 ext. 108
  • Mary Yager, Associate Director, email or (402) 474-2131 ext. 103

What makes a successful HN grant application?

The following basic elements are generally required for a successful application. More details are provided in the FAQ sections below. When you have questions, contact HN staff!

  • Applicant is a non-profit according to the State of Nebraska and the IRS and has 501(c)(3) or other 501(c) status, or is a federal, state, county, local, or tribal government entity – including public schools and libraries – that doesn’t have any past-due HN grant reports still pending.
  • Humanities are central to the portion of the applicant’s project HN is being asked to fund, and the program encourages interaction, thought, and discussion over ideas, topics, and questions.
  • At least one humanities subject expert is involved in planning and/or implementing the project, and their role and expertise are clearly described.
  • The project takes place in Nebraska and/or has direct significance to Nebraska, and Nebraskans are a primary target audience.
  • The project does not involve advocacy for a particular viewpoint and is free of bias and includes a balance of views.
  • A public program that is free or has a nominal fee (not a fundraiser).
  • A project budget showing at least a 1:1 match between HN grant funds and cash or in-kind budget items.
  • Adequate plans to promote and evaluate the project.
  • Reasonable timeline and proportional budget.

Special consideration may be given to projects that reach across Nebraska or that target underserved audiences (due to geography or socioeconomic status).

Starting summer 2023, Humanities Nebraska grant reviewers will prioritize projects that meet a “connections” theme, linking the humanities and other disciplines, connecting the humanities with other activities, or bringing together a humanities organization and a nontraditional project partner or underserved audience.

While applications exploring the connections theme will be given priority, HN granting will remain competitive and open to other humanities projects.

Humanities Nebraska embraces inclusive grantmaking. We encourage submissions of projects that address the experiences of diverse and underrepresented groups in Nebraska public humanities programming. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

Types of Grants, Deadlines, and Matching Funds

All three types of HN program grants — mini, major, and media — have the same basic requirements. The main differences are (1) the amount of money requested and (2) the deadlines, with larger grants and grants for “media” projects (creation of websites, podcasts, radio programs, films, etc.) requiring some additional information and review time.

GRANT TYPEREQUESTGRANT DEADLINEPROJECT BEGINS ON OR AFTER*MATCHING FUNDS
Mini Grant$2,000 or less. The average award is $1,600.Jan 1
Mar 1
May 1
Jul 1
Sep 1
Nov 1
Feb 1*
Apr 1*
Jun 1*
Aug 1*
Oct 1*
Dec 1*
Cash or in-kind expenses** equal to or greater than the request; a 1:1 match. (Applicant must provide at least half the total project cost.)
Major GrantMore than $2,000.
While there is no maximum request, the average award is $5,100, and awards are typically less than $10,000.
Mar 1
Aug 1
May 1*
Oct 1*
Cash or in-kind expenses** equal to or greater than the request; a 1:1 match. (Applicant must provide at least half the total project cost.) At least 10% of the match must be cash.
Media GrantMore than $2,000.
While there is no maximum request, the average award is $7,900. Few grants larger than $15,000 have been awarded.
Jan 15
Jun 15
May 1*
Oct 1*
Cash or in-kind expenses** equal to or greater than the request; a 1:1 match. (Applicant must provide at least half the total project cost.) At least 10% of the match must be cash.

Grant applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on the due date. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the grant is due the next business day.

*Items in a project budget that will be paid for with HN grant funds cannot be incurred before the “project begins on or after” date (see the table above).

**See the FAQs for an explanation of cash versus in-kind expenses.

Any project that involves production of film, television or radio, or creation of digital projects such as websites, DVDs or podcasts, is considered to be a media project and should be applied for using the Media Application. (Under certain circumstances funding for pre-production aspects of media projects is available through the Mini Grant process – contact HN staff to discuss your project.)

Digital products may be components of a larger project or a project in its own right. Projects relying heavily or solely on a digital format should have strong humanities content, be based on sound scholarship, and offer users an interactive and engaging experience. These projects could be humanities-based Internet presentations such as online exhibitions that might be interactive and could include open dialogue moderated by humanities scholars. Projects must be humanities based. HN will not fund organizational websites or promotional websites or CD/DVDs.

Media grant applications are sent to outside reviewers who have media expertise. Each reviewer will assess the technical merits of the project and the capability of the project team to deliver the proposed results. The applicant will receive a copy of each reviewer’s assessment and will be given the opportunity to submit a formal response to the technical review. The media grant application, technical reviewer’s comments and the applicant response will then be included for review during the following Major Grants round. The applicant will be notified regarding funding within three months of the media grant submission deadline.

Out-of-state applicants must submit a $150 processing fee to subsidize the cost of the technical review process. Pay this fee now:

HN Grants FAQ

YES, ELIGIBLENO, NOT ELIGIBLE
  • Applicant is a non-profit according to the State of Nebraska and the IRS and has 501(c)(3) or other 501(c) status and the IRS, or
  • Applicant is a federal, state, county, local, or tribal government entity – including public schools and libraries.
  • Individuals
  • For-profit entities or businesses
  • Entities with overdue reports on previous HN grants
  • Entities unable to certify compliance with nondiscrimination and other federal statutes. Click here to find the grant application questions preview, which contains the certification text all grantees are required to sign.

A note about creative and performing arts projects

HN cannot fund creative or performing arts unless the project includes a significant humanities-based educational component. The goal of an event or experience should be to help the audience understand and discuss things like values, history and social context. The experience or event must be accompanied by some form of facilitated learning in order to give the audience something to think about in addition to something to enjoy.

The application should demonstrate that a humanities subject expert will be involved in planning to ensure that the humanities are well represented in the project. The application should thoroughly explain how the performing or creative arts component will complement and enhance the humanities aspect.

HN funds may be requested to pay humanities subject experts and presenters and their travel (when necessary), publicity to develop an audience, and resources needed to facilitate learning. Some funding of performers may be requested as needed to illustrate the educational component.

Creative and performing arts projects that are ineligible for HN funding may be eligible for Nebraska Arts Council funding.

  • A pre-performance talk by a humanities subject expert describing the culture and the times that influenced William Shakespeare
  • Facilitated discussion with accompanying performance that presents the historical and social context of opera and the role of opera in today’s culture
  • Presentation and discussion of the various musical traditions and instruments of ancient and contemporary cultures
  • Workshops that introduce students to the values, principles and history of African society and life through the study of traditional storytelling, dance, drumming and music
  • Lecture-recital program exploring the evolution of American roots music
  • Workshops for high school students that incorporate the history and cultural influence of photography with photography training
  • Talks given by Native American presenters recognized for their knowledge of the history and cultural impact of dance in Native American societies followed by dance and drum exhibition
  • Presentation of the history of a community that results in art that portrays that history
  • Living history portrayal of a historical figure ending in discussion with a humanities subject expert
  • A series of talks about the historical, social and critical context of paintings in a gallery exhibit
  • Writing workshops that include discussion of the human condition, such as workshops on character development, motivation, conflict and resolution, and historical context.

How does the application process work?

Log into your organization’s existing account in the HN grants management site. If you are a new applicant, create a new account. All applications must be submitted through this system. Log in here.

Note: if your organization has previously applied for a HN grant but you can’t find the login information, please contact HN staff for assistance. Please don’t create another new account, which will duplicate your organization’s information in the HN grants system.

For an overview of the new applicant dashboard in our online system (as of 12/18/24), click here.

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