Grants

& Fellowships

North Carolina Humanities has been a leading cultural funder in North Carolina since our founding in 1972. Through our work we create and support chances for people to learn from experts and each other.

FELLOWSHIPS: NC Humanities’ new Fellowship program provides individual humanities researchers with access to funding opportunities in North Carolina’s higher education sector. 

GRANTS: NC Humanities distributes grants to nonprofit organizations across the state for projects that address fundamental humanities questions and create conversations about who we are and how we live together in North Carolina and the world. 

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We welcome diverse projects from across North Carolina addressing different themes and using a variety of public humanities formats. NC Humanities expects all grant proposals to utilize a humanities discipline or practice to advance one or more of the following areas: 

  • Deepen human connections by broadening perspectives
  • Equip communities with empathy, understanding, and respect
  • Inspire community and connect North Carolinians across difference

Eligible proposals which meet one or more of the following are given special consideration:

  • Applicant organizations in rural communities
  • Applicant organizations primarily serving traditionally under-resourced groups including communities of color or other marginalized groups (Seniors, ALAANA (those of African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and/or Native American descent), People with Disabilities, New Americans (Immigrants, Refugees, First Generation Americans), Low-Income, and LGBTQIA).

Need help? We offer free grant and fellowship webinars and staff consultations!

NC Humanities routinely offers free informational webinars where we discuss our grants, fellowships, the application process, allowable expenses and more. See below for upcoming dates.

 

 

FELLOWSHIP WEBINARS:

GRANT WEBINARS: 

If you are seeking project grant funding we strongly recommend setting up a virtual consultation with our staff as you prepare your proposal. You can discuss a project idea, our application process, your draft proposal, or your current grant with our Director of Grants and Compliance. While we are always available for questions, a full staff review of an applicant’s draft grant proposal is only available upon request until 3 weeks prior to a submission deadline.  Please note a consultation is required as part of the Large Grant LOI process. 

OUR GRANTS and fellowships

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NC Humanities’ Project Planning Grants provide up to $2,000 to support the incubation or development of a public humanities project. Please review our 2024 Request for Proposals and 2024 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.

NC Humanities is offers Project Planning Grants on a rolling basis. To be eligible for consideration, the activities for which you are requesting funding must not begin sooner than eight weeks from the date of submission.

    • Application Opens: November 30, 2023
    • Application Submission Deadline: Rolling until September 30th, 2024
    • Award Notification: Decisions are typically announced a month after submission via electronic notification through your Applicant Dashboard in our online application management system.

NC Humanities’ Small Project Grants provide up to $5,000 to cultural organizations to support the implementation of public humanities projects. Please review our 2024 Request for Proposals and 2024 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.

NC Humanities is offering two Small Project Grant cycles with the following deadlines. To be eligible for consideration, the activities for which you are requesting funding must not begin sooner than eight weeks from the submission deadline.

    • Application Opens: November 30, 2023
    • Application Cycle 1 Submission Deadline: January 18, 2024 at 11:59 PM
    • Application Cycle 2 Submission Deadline: September 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM
    • Award Notification: Decisions are typically announced a month after submission via electronic notification through your Applicant Dashboard in our online application management system.

NC Humanities’ Large Project Grants provide up to $20,000 to support public humanities projects of a  broad or extended scope. Please review our 2024 Request for Proposals and 2024 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.

NC Humanities is offering one Large Project Grant cycle this year with the following deadlines. 

    • Application Opens: November 30, 2023
    • Letter of Intent Submission Deadline (mandatory): April 18, 2024 by 11:59 PM
    • Please note: A phone consultation is a required part of the Large Grant LOI submission process. Please click here to schedule.
    • Large Grant projects should not begin earlier than November 1, 2024
    • Final Proposals Submission Deadline (by invitation): July 9, 2024 by 11:59 PM

We strongly recommend that you begin your online proposal form 3 weeks prior to the Letter of Intent due date.

 

NC Humanities’ Fellowships provide up to $8,000 to support continuous full or part-time work on a humanities project for a period of two consecutive summer months. Funds support recipient’s compensation related to the proposed scholarly research. Please review our 2024 Fellowship Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.

NC Humanities is offering one Fellowship cycle this year with the following deadlines. 

    • Application Opens: February 21, 2024
    • Application Submission Deadline: March 27, 2024
    • Award Notification: May 2024 via electronic notification through your Applicant Dashboard in our online application management system.
 

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HOW TO APPLY

  1. Please review NC Humanities’ 2024 Grant Guidelines or 2024 Fellowship Guidelines and click on the category of interest above to read the Request for Proposals (RFP) as well as the submission deadlines.
  2. Watch this video tutorial on how to apply using our online application system.
  3. Get started on your application in our online application system.
    • If you are new to the online system, please create an account prior to applying. Once you have created your account and are logged in to your Applicant Dashboard, click “Apply” in the upper left-hand corner to view an alphabetical list of all open opportunities.
    • If you have previously created an account, please click here to login. Once on your Applicant Dashboard, click “Apply” in the upper left-hand corner to view an alphabetical list of all open opportunities.

 Note: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval

Thank you for your submission!