Humanities Access Grants

Humanities Access grants help support capacity building for humanities programs that benefit one or more of the following groups: children, family, and young adults (defined to include those between ages 18 and 30).

Humanities Access grants provide funding for existing programs at institutions such as public libraries, local and regional museums, historical societies, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, archival repositories, and other cultural organizations.

Programs supported by Humanities Access grants have included, for example

• a young readers’ initiative sponsored by a state humanities council;
• a “family conversations” program at a rural historical society connecting the area’s cultural and natural resources; and
• internships for students at a liberal arts college to work in local cultural organizations during the summer.

Humanities Access Grants offer two years of match-based funding. All funds must be expended by the end of the grant period. Humanities Access grant funds should not be used to replace existing program funds. Instead, the grant should expand or enhance an existing exemplary humanities program.

Institutions that have never received an NEH grant and small to mid-sized institutions are especially encouraged to apply.