When is the deadline for CARES Act Grants (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security)?

This grant has a rolling deadline or the deadline has not been announced.

CARES Act Grants (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security)

Humanities Tennessee

Foundation One-time Humanities Grants Grants for Nonprofits Operating Support Grants

Funding Amount

Average $5,000 per grant

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

CARES Act Grants

Funder: Humanities Tennessee (re-granting from National Endowment for the Humanities)

Geographic Scope: Tennessee (all nine Congressional districts)

Purpose: Emergency relief funding for nonprofit organizations affected by COVID-19 pandemic

Status: This was a one-time emergency funding program (2020), not currently available

What They Funded:

Support for organizations providing public humanities programming in communities throughout Tennessee

Operating expenses, payroll, and organizational sustainability

Organizations providing public programs examining ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture

No match requirement

Award Details:

Total distributed: $550,000 across two rounds

First round: 64 grants awarded to organizations from Johnson City to Memphis

Average award: $5,000

Applicants had annual operating budgets ranging from $5,000 to $39 million

Second round: $230,000+ in additional funding available

Funding Source:

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

Part of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Federal economic stabilization plan appropriated by U.S. Congress

Contact Information:

Sandy Obodzinski, Development & Communications Director

C: 615.948.9184

E: sandy@humtn.org

Humanities Tennessee

615 Main St, Ste. B19

Nashville, TN 37206

615-770-0006

info@humtn.org

How to Apply

Application Process (Historical)

1. Round 1: Applications were accepted in spring 2020
2. Round 2: Applications accepted through June 15, 2020
3. Two-Round Structure:
- Round 1: 64 grants awarded of 78 applicants
- Round 2: Additional $230,000+ available
4. Award Notification: By end of month following application deadline

Eligibility (Historical):

Nonprofit organizations providing public humanities programming
Located in Tennessee
No match requirement

Note: This was a one-time emergency funding program specific to COVID-19 relief (2020). Not currently available.

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What Humanities Tennessee actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025: 9
Total given: $79K
Median grant: $8,901
Range: $6,375–$10K

By dollars: Tennessee 100%. Top recipient cities: Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Knoxville, TN.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Example grants

WPLN FM 903 Nashville Public Radio · Nashville, TN

Humanities project

$10K
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art · Memphis, TN

Humanities project

$10K
TN Historical Society · Nashville, TN

Humanities project

$10K
National Alliance of Pan African Se · Whites Creek, TN

Humanities project

$9,653
UT Downtown Gallery · Knoxville, TN

Humanities project

$8,901