Although applicants normally absorb the costs of applying to Mass Humanities, a Proposal Development grant of up to $500 may be requested if the applicant lacks the resources needed to develop a Project grant proposal. The funds may be used to pay humanities scholars and other consultants, travel costs associated with planning activities, duplication expenses, and postage. The use of this grant to pay a professional grantwriter is discouraged. 

Any nonprofit organization that lacks one or more of the resources needed to develop proposals that are eligible for funding. The most important of these resources are humanities scholars who can help to ensure that the proposed project will use the humanities disciplines to illuminate contemporary life in Massachusetts. All applications must have the sponsorship of a nonprofit organization or institution.  Applicants must discuss their proposal with a program officer in order to gain access to the online application.

• Mass Humanities now accepts applications online only. 
• Download and read the Proposal Development Guidelines before contacting a program officer. Instructions on how to apply online can be found on page 2 of the guidelines or here.
• Contact a program officer about your project.  (Note: A program officer must provide the applicant with a code to gain access to the Proposal Development online grant application.)
• Receipt of a Proposal Development grant obligates the applicant to submit a Project grant proposal within one year but does not guarantee its subsequent approval.

Applications may be submitted at any time.  Notification is usually within two weeks.

You should apply for a Proposal Development grant at least 10-weeks ahead of the Project grant proposal deadline (for example, if you wish to submit a project proposal for the November 1 deadline, you should apply for your Proposal Development grant no later than August 15). Proposal Development grants may not be requested as reimbursement for planning already done.

The application process is all online. All the documents listed below are available through links in the online application process.

Guidelines
Application Contract Form
Description Template
DUNS Information Sheet