Collaborative Project Grants

The IH: Project Grants - Multiplier by Illinois Humanities support nonprofit organizations in Illinois that foster collaboration through humanities projects. These grants, up to $10,000, prioritize initiatives engaging under-served communities and exploring overlooked histories. Successful applicants will work closely with partners and should focus on enhancing civic engagement through public humanities. The program encourages innovative approaches to discussions surrounding community issues, aiming to make the humanities accessible and relevant to all.

NOTE: Successful LOI applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. Applicants have two to three weeks to complete the full proposal. The timeline for activities seeking funding should not begin until 12 weeks after the initial LOI deadline.
Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.
Proposal that will be executed through partnership with more than one organization.

Eligibility

Must be a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization or have a fiscal sponsorOrganizations or projects must be Illinois-basedThe project must be rooted in the humanities (see definition above)Current Illinois Humanities grantees are eligible.Applicants can have an open Activate History, Vision, Action, General Operating, Envisioning Justice, or Foreground Rural Initiative grantBuy-in by all partners before submitting a proposal is a must.Partnering OrganizationsThe number of organizations partnering on a project is not limited to 4.All organizations partnering on the project do not have to be a nonprofit. Only the organization submitting the proposal has to be nonprofit and tax exempt.Applicants should submit one grant application per cycle.

Ineligibility

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 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 of a humanities project)

Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits (or fiscally sponsored groups) with annual budgets of $1 million or less; projects must involve at least two partnering organizations and be rooted in the humanities.