Grants
Michigan Humanities Council grants emphasize collaboration among cultural, educational, and community-based organizations and institutions to serve the people of Michigan with public humanities programming. These grants play a vital role in defining our culture, our state, our community, and ourselves. Organizations are encouraged to explore and retrace our histories, roles in societies, advancements and changes, meaning in self-expression and fulfillment, commonalities and differences.
Please note that all the forms below require Microsoft Word or Excel unless otherwise noted.
Grant Archive Database
For examples of previously awarded grants, the Council invites you to review prior funded projects in our Grants Archive. The database presents a variety of examples of previously awarded major grants, quick grants, and touring grants.
Major Grants (up to $15,000)
Up to $15,000 is awarded per major grant. A draft may be submitted for Council staff to review and provide feedback up to two weeks before the deadline. Generally, decisions on grant applications are announced within 60 days following the application deadline. Applications must be postmarked no later than the final date listed below, or the first Monday after the date if occurring on a weekend or holiday. An example of a previously submitted narrative is also available.
- Spring Deadline: Draft, February 23. Final, March 15. Notification Date: May 15.
- Fall Deadline: Draft, August 24. Final, September 15. Notification Date: November 15.
- Questions? Contact Cynthia Dimitrijevic at 517-372-7770.
- Forms: Application Guidelines. Application Cover Sheet. Score sheet used by Grant Committee.Budget Itemization & sample. Budget Overview & sample. Interim Financial Report & Final Finance Form.
- Evaluations: Project Evaluation Packet and Reporting Requirements. Audience. Outside Evaluator. Participant. Program Director.
Quick Grants (up to $500) and Planning Grants (up to $1,000)
The Michigan Humanities Council provides support for public humanities programs that fall outside the design and deadline schedules of the major grants. To help meet these requests and to match humanities resources and professionals with local needs, the Council offers Quick Grants and Planning Grants. Quick Grants provide up to $500 and Planning Grants provide up to $1,000 to Michigan-based, nonprofit organizations for public humanities programs or services. Planning grants cover expenses involved in developing a public humanities program that will result in a non-profit applying for a Council major grant. Organizations may only receive one quick or planning grant per year.
- Deadline: Four weeks prior to an event or planning session. Funds available year-round or until exhausted.
- Questions? Contact Nancy Wireman at 517-372-7770.
- Forms: Quick/Planning Grant Application [web]. Quick/Planning Grant Application [MS Word]. Quick/Planning Grant Final Report Form [MS Word]. Quick/Planning Grant Certification [MS Word].
Arts & Humanities Touring Program Grants
(up to 35% of expenses or $3,000)
Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Directory represents 248 of our state’s most talented performing and visual artists and humanities presenters. It provides schools, libraries, museums, civic and service groups, festival organizers, and other Michigan nonprofits a wide variety of cultural programming in the fields of dance, music, storytelling, theater, and traditional and visual arts. Touring Program grants are available to nonprofit organizations which may request up to 35 percent of presenters’/exhibitors’ fees and travel expenses. Requests for grants may not exceed $3,000 per application, and an organization may not request more than $6,000 in a fiscal year. Applications are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The directory is a joint project of the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. A listing in Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Directory is not an endorsement by the Michigan Humanities Council or the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, nor are the Councils responsible for program content and/or incorrect information.
- Spring Deadline: February 25–March 10 for programs scheduled April 1–September 30. Notification date: April 1.
- Fall Deadline: August 25–September 10 for programs scheduled October 1–March 31. Notification date: October 1.
- Questions? Contact Phyllis Rathbun at 517-372-7770.
- Forms: Touring Grant Application Guidelines. Touring Grant Application. Grantee Final Report Form. Application to be listed in 2009-12 Touring Directory [or PDF].
Transportation Grants
The Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) provided transportation grants of up to $500 to Michigan K-12 schools to help underwrite the transportation cost of a field trip to arts and cultural events or venues. However, the program was CLOSED on October 15 after funding was exhausted: demand far exceeded funding available.
Grant Publicity Requirements
The Michigan Humanities Council requires each grant recipient include to reference support from the Michigan Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities in all of its press releases, publicity materials, and discussion with the media.
Grants
- Arts & Humanities Touring Program Grants
- Grants Archive Database
- Grant Photologue
- Grant Publicity Requirements
- Major Grants
- Quick Grants
- Transportation Grants
The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Open House, in Niles, July 26, 2008.