About
Illinois Humanities is a nonprofit organization that has been connecting Illinoisans through the public humanities for 50 years. The organization makes the humanities accessible to all through free public programs, grants, and events across the state. Illinois Humanities supports arts and culture organizations, funds community-rooted projects, and fosters reflection, civic engagement, and cultural ecosystem development throughout Illinois. The organization is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly through the Illinois Arts Council.
Funding Opportunities
Foreground Rural Initiative Grants
The Foreground Rural Initiative offers grant funding and capacity-building for partners in rural Illinois communities and small towns. These unrestricted grants support local nonprofits, public institutions, artists, cultural workers, and others who work to keep their communities creative and connected. The program provides funding to organizations and individuals involved in community-building and cultural work in rural regions. Organizations can receive up to $10,000 while individuals can receive up to $5,000 in unrestricted funds. Eligible recipients include nonprofit organizations, public libraries, civic groups, arts collectives, individual civic and cultural workers, educators, artists, and archivists. The initiative emphasizes bringing people together from across generations, ethnic differences, and disciplines to explore history, imagine vibrant civic futures, and experience art and culture together. Grantees must demonstrate a commitment to their community, civic engagement, historically under-resourced groups, and collaboration with partners and peers.
Envisioning Justice Grants for Organizations
These project-based grants support collectives, non-profit organizations, and other groups that use the arts and humanities to work toward a truly just society. Prison education programs, independent media, community dialogues, and conferences are just a few of the impactful initiatives funded to create understanding about mass incarceration and its impact on communities in Illinois. By supporting those doing this important work, Illinois Humanities builds more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities. Priority is given to projects that are regional or statewide in scope, partnership oriented, and centering impacts of mass incarceration on specific populations including currently or formerly incarcerated individuals, people serving long-term sentences, young people, women, LGBTQAI+ community, migrants, elderly populations, people with disabilities, and Indigenous populations. The grant also prioritizes communities that are the site of a prison or jail, experiencing significant incarceration, or experiencing significant demographic change as a result of the criminal legal system.
Envisioning Justice Grants for Individuals
These project-based grants support individuals such as educators, organizers, artists, and others who use the arts and humanities to work toward a truly just society. Research projects, podcasts, grassroots publications, and public performances are just a few of the impactful initiatives funded to create understanding about mass incarceration and its impact on communities in Illinois. By supporting those doing this important work, the program builds more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities. Priority is given to projects that are regional or statewide in scope, partnership oriented, and centering impacts of mass incarceration on populations including currently or formerly incarcerated individuals, people serving long-term sentences, young people who are justice involved, women of color impacted by gendered violence, LGBTQAI+ community, migrants and immigrants, elderly populations, people with disabilities, and Indigenous populations. Projects can also focus on communities that are the site of a prison or jail, experiencing significant incarceration, or experiencing demographic change as a result of the criminal legal system.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 6
- Active Now
- 3
- Source Domain
- ilhumanities.org
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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