Grants
North Carolina Humanities has been a leading cultural funder in North Carolina since our founding in 1972. NC Humanities distributes grants to projects across the state that address fundamental humanities questions and create conversations about who we are and how we live together in North Carolina and the world. Through our work we create and support chances for people to learn from experts and each other. If you have such a program proposal, our team would love to hear more about it and see if we might help!
Click the + to learn more
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 webinars and staff consultations for all current and prospective grantees!
NC Humanities routinely offers free informational webinars where we discuss our grants, the application process, allowable expenses and more. See below for upcoming dates.
December 7th at noon: Register Here
January 9th at 1 PM: Register Here
February 7th at noon: Register Here
March 13th at noon: Register Here
April 3rd at noon: Register Here
May 1st at 10 AM: Register Here
August 8th at noon: Register Here
Other dates to be announced
We also strongly recommend setting up a virtual consultation with our staff as you prepare your grant proposal. You can discuss a project idea, our grant 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 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
Click the + to learn more
NC Humanities’ Large Grants provide up to $20,000 to support public humanities projects of a broad or extended scope. Please review our 2023 Request for Proposals and 2023 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.
NC Humanities is offering one Large Grant cycle this year with the following deadlines.
- Application Opens: November 30, 2022
- Letter of Intent Submission Deadline (mandatory): April 20, 2023 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, 2023
- Final Proposals Submission Deadline (by invitation): July 11, 2023 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’ Community Engagement Grants provide up to $3,500 to cultural organizations to support the implementation of public humanities projects. Please review our 2023 Request for Proposals and 2023 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.
NC Humanities is offering two Community Engagement 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, 2022
- Application Cycle 1 Submission Deadline: January 19, 2023 at 11:59 PM
- Application Cycle 2 Submission Deadline: September 14, 2023 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’ Community Research Grants provide up to $2,000 to support the incubation or development of a public humanities project. Please review our 2023 Request for Proposals and 2023 Grant Guidelines for full details on this funding opportunity.
NC Humanities is offering one Community Research Grant cycle with the following deadline. 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, 2022
- Application Submission Deadline: March 9, 2023 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.
HOW TO APPLY
- Please review NC Humanities’ 2023 Grant Guidelines and click on the grant category of interest above to read the Request for Proposals (RFP) as well as the submission deadlines.
- Watch this video tutorial on how to apply using our online application system.
- 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