SHARP (Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan)

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

Geographic Scope: Tennessee (all three Grand Divisions)

Purpose: Support jobs in the humanities, keep humanities organizations open, and assist the field in response to and recovery from COVID-19 pandemic

What They Funded:

• Public humanities projects
• Operational support for humanities organizations
• Planning for future growth and sustainability post-pandemic
• General operating support and humanities project support

Award Details:

• Total awarded: $941,454 to 91 organizations
• Award range: $5,000 - $20,000 per grant
• Distribution: ~70% General Operating Support (GOS), ~30% Humanities Project Support (HPS)
• Organizations served across all three Grand Divisions of Tennessee

Two Grant Types:

1. General Operating Support (GOS) Grants: For nonprofit organizations with primary mission of public humanities education
2. Humanities Project Support (HPS) Grants: For nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is not public humanities (e.g., arts, sciences, community/social services) to undertake a public humanities project

Funding Source:

• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
• Part of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ($1.9 trillion)
• Approved by U.S. Congress, signed March 11, 2021

Project Period: January 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022

Contact Information:

• Humanities Tennessee
• 615 Main St, Ste. B19
• Nashville, TN 37206
• 615-770-0006
• info@humtn.org

Application Process (Historical)

1. Request Access: Organizations requested grant application access through website
2. Access Provided: September 30, 2021 - application access became available to eligible participants
3. Application Submission: Applications submitted through online portal
4. Final Deadline: November 30, 2021
5. Award Notification: December 31, 2021

SHARP Calendar (Historical):

• NOW (Sept 2021) - Request access to application
• September 30, 2021 - Application access available
• November 30, 2021 - Final deadline
• December 31, 2021 - Award notification
• January 1 - November 30, 2022 - Project period
• February 28, 2023 - Final reports due

Eligibility (Historical):

• Tennessee-based nonprofit organizations doing work in public humanities
• Organizations with primary mission of public humanities (for GOS grants)
• Organizations undertaking public humanities projects (for HPS grants)

Note: This was a one-time emergency funding program specific to American Rescue Plan Act (2021-2022). Not currently available.