Funding Eligibility

Through a competitive process, these grants are awarded to nonprofits organizations, local municipalities, and cultural, civic, and educational entities. Although eligible for grants, colleges and universities are strongly encouraged to partner with and apply through local nonprofit organizations.

Individuals and for-profit organizations are ineligible for Community Project Grants. Organizations with an open Community Project Grant from a previous cycle are ineligible to apply; all open grants must be closed before submitting a new proposal.

Humanities is the process of pursuing an understanding of our shared human experience. Through exploration of the humanities, we learn how to think creatively and critically, to reason, and to ask questions. Humanities include the study of history, literature, culture, languages, law and political science, folklore, gender studies, religious studies, philosophy and sociology, art history, archeology and sociocultural anthropology, and civics.

Public humanities programming involves actively engaging with the public and fostering constructive dialogues grounded in humanities disciplines (see “What are the humanities?”), typically in conversation or consultation with a humanities advisor.

This is an important distinction, as Florida Humanities does not fund social service projects.

Social service/humanitarian projects (i.e. education, medical care, and housing) aim to promote the welfare of others, typically for the benefit of a community. While similar in name and concept, public humanities programming is grounded in scholarship, analysis/interpretation, and that “ah-ha!” moment about a broader truth and understanding of our shared human experience.

No, Florida Humanities does not directly fund the arts, including the creation of art (murals, paintings, sculptures), theatrical performances, or dance as a standalone program.

Florida Humanities, however, would be able to support complementary public humanities programming for artistic works, such as panel discussions with humanities scholars following performances or community conversations and lectures around a humanities theme brought forth through an art exhibit.

The Project Director is the point of contact for the grant and should oversee its success, and to bring up any issues that arise. They will receive all communications related to the grant proposal, contract, payments, etc. and will be charged with writing the final report.

A Humanities Advisor is an individual with a high level of experience in a humanities discipline and/or is actively engaged in research or programming in that field. Humanities advisors could include individuals such as these:

• Humanities Scholars: an individual who has an advanced degree in a discipline of the humanities. Having a humanities scholar participate in programming is strongly encouraged. (Example: Professor at a College or University)
• Subject Area Experts: an individual who does not possess an advanced degree, but has a demonstrated record of working, teaching, and/or publishing in a humanities discipline. Such individuals are likely recognized by others as experts in their field. (Example: Director of a Nonprofit or published historical expert)
• Community Experts: a community member with special knowledge of cultural traditions or local history, and/or who possess specialized skills or specific information related to the locality or target audience. (Example: Native American tribal elder or local historians)

Start by thinking about how a scholar could best contribute to your project.  What kind of expertise is needed for that role? Humanities advisors can likely be found right in your community at related nonprofit organizations, or in Universities or Colleges. There is no limit to the number of qualified scholars you bring onto your project – in fact, the more the merrier.

Florida Humanities maintains a Speakers Directory (mainly used for our Florida Talks program), that Community Project Grant applicants can look to for expert speakers or humanities advisors to contribute to their public humanities programming.

Florida Humanities strongly encourages collaborations. For your application, one organization must be the Sponsoring Organization, taking responsibility for applying for the grant and managing grant funds. Make sure to identify any partnering organizations in your application, explaining their role in the project and their relationship with the Sponsoring Organization. You should also upload letters of commitment from your partner organizations.

Cost share (also known as a “match”) is that portion of the project or program costs that are not paid by the funding agency (which would be Florida Humanities, if you are applying for our grants). Cost share includes all contributions, including cash and in-kind, that can be directly contributed to the project. A minimum 1-to-1 match is required for Community Project Grants.

If you have an open Community Project Grant, you cannot apply for another Community Project Grant until that grant is closed out (i.e. the Final Report has been submitted and the grant has been closed by Florida Humanities staff, which can take up to 30 days).  If you have an open grant or program other than Community Project Grants, you may apply for a Community Project Grant.

Head on over to our Online Application Portal and log-in with your organization’s information (create an account only if this is your organization’s first time applying). All applications must be submitted online through this portal.