Program Overview

Communities around Washington have important stories to tell and issues to discuss. Humanities Washington’s grants program provides the financial resources for people to come together to talk, discuss, debate, feel, think, and tell stories through the lens of the humanities. We support existing efforts as well as new opportunities for grassroots projects conceived and implemented locally.

Humanities Washington’s grants program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effect on Washington’s cultural sector, Humanities Washington has suspended our usual grantmaking and are concentrating on ways to provide urgent support to organizations for relief and recovery. In 2020 we provided CARES Act Humanities Relief grants (view the list of CARES grantees here or read more about the grantees on our blog).  In 2021, following passage of the American Rescue Act, we anticipate offering additional grants for recovery and rebuilding.  Please check back for updates on available grants and deadlines here, or subscribe to our enews.

Humanities Washington typically offers two types:

Opportunity grants: Available to small or rural organizations for public humanities presentations. Opportunity grants do not require a funding match, and organizations may request up to $1,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, and until all funds are distributed.

Learn more about Opportunity Grants.

Washington Stories Fund grants: Awarded once per year to projects that highlight and share the little-known stories of a person or group whose contributions add to the cultural richness and health of Washington State.

Learn more about Washington Stories Fund Grants.

Apply for a grant or access an existing application here.

Learn how to log-in to our grant application system here. 

For more information, please contact our grants mailbox at grants@humanities.org.