Mass Humanities Grants
Find out about new 2021 grant opportunities for digital programs here!
Updates to this page for grant opportunities like Reading Frederick Douglass Together, Local History, and more coming soon!
Communities around Massachusetts have important stories to tell and vital issues to discuss. Mass Humanities funds the development of thought-provoking public humanities projects for Massachusetts audiences, bringing people together to explore the history, culture, values and beliefs that matter to communities in our state.
The primary goals of our grants program are to:
- Ensure the humanities are part of the Bay State’s social fabric. The humanities thrive in Massachusetts because of its incredible diversity, innovative institutions, and ingenious people. Our grants tease out that excellence, helping nonprofits reach their potential and catalyzing projects that help Massachusetts residents better understand each other, think critically, and bring the wisdom of the humanities to bear when planning for the future.
- Uncover new stories and new perspectives. We believe that the humanities are for everyone, but only a limited slice of the population usually engages with humanities programs. To help change that, we prioritize funding projects that engage people with limited access to humanities programming.
- Build capacity in small nonprofits and government organizations. Our grantees include community organizations, libraries, town offices, historical societies, museums, and others. Our program officers will work with you closely on project design, planning, and grant writing, helping bring your ideas to fruition.
Mass Humanities grants are made possible through the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Mass Cultural Council, and the generosity of our donors.
Recent Grant Priorities
The Vote: Exploring voting rights in America (now closed)
Fall 2019 Project Grants and Winter 2019 Discussion Grants that explore the subject of voting rights in America from a humanities perspective are eligible for priority funding.
Engaging New Audiences
We give precedence to projects that reach communities in Massachusetts whose access to the humanities has been limited due to social, economic, educational, or geographic circumstances. The Engaging New Audiences priority is year-round.
Click here to read more about The Vote and Engaging New Audiences.