As California Humanities moves to center equity in our work, we were pleased to recently announce some exciting changes coming to the Humanities for All Quick Grants program! As of May 1, 2024, Quick Grant applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis, available to organizations with total yearly operating budgets of under $500,000. These changes will make Quick Grants more accessible and available to smaller organizations that are making big impacts in the communities they serve.
To gear up for this exciting change to our Quick Grants, we will be offering some new resources to help applicants develop strong grant proposals and have their questions answered in real-time.
On Wednesday, May 15 from 11–12:15 pm, we will present an applicant webinar which will walk through our applications process, proposal narrative and budget, and provide technical advice for navigating our grant portal. For those who cannot join live, this webinar will be recorded and added shortly after to the California Humanities’ YouTube channel. Register here.
In addition, Program Officer Lucena Lau Valle will offer weekly virtual Office Hours, available Fridays throughout May. This an opportunity to ask questions about your project, applications, and anything else relating to developing a Quick Grant proposal. Sign up for an Office Hour time slot, here.
Finally, our updated grant guidelines and FAQs are now live on our program page! Learn more about the eligibility requirements for this grant program, and find answers to questions about designing your project, the role of the Project Director, Applicant Organizations and Fiscal Sponsors, how grant applications are reviewed, and much more!
Here are some selected FAQs to get started:
What is a Humanities for All Quick Grant?
Humanities for all Quick Grants, or Quick Grants, support impactful public humanities programming that draws on the ideas and approaches of the humanities to foster greater understanding among people, invite thoughtful reflection, and consideration of topics important to Californians. Quick Grants provide support for short-term public humanities projects that are accessible to members of the general public and foster access, understanding, and engagement with the ideas and approaches of the humanities.
How much can I request?
Applicants may request between $1,000 and $5,000 for program-related expenses ranging from project-related programmatic and administrative staff salaries, supplies and equipment, venue rental fees, evaluation, and travel among several other eligible expenses. For the full list, please take a look at the FAQs on the program page.
When can I apply?
Starting May 1, 2024, applications are now accepted on a rolling basis, and must be submitted at least 10-12 weeks before program start date, and no more than 9 months before program start date. Applicants can expect a review period of 8-10 weeks.
Who is eligible to apply for a Quick Grant?
Quick Grants are now available to organizations with total annual operating budgets under $500,000. Organizations with operating budgets above $500,000 should consider applying to our Humanities For All Project Grants. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations with federal tax-exempt status and nonfederal public agencies. Applicant organizations/fiscal sponsors must be California-based, and proposed Quick Grant programming should serve California-based audiences.
What types of programming is eligible?
Quick Grants are designed to support programming that brings the ideas and approaches of the humanities to the broader public. Eligible projects should include program moderation or facilitation, and can employ a variety of methods from in-person, digital, to hybrid formats. Proposed projects should clearly articulate how the proposed program will draw on the humanities through methods or subject matter. Click here to view a list of past supported projects.
