New funding opportunity to support civic life and belonging through the humanities! 

Grant title: Civic Life and Belonging Grants

Grant award: $2,000 

Grant purpose: Grants will be awarded to nonprofits holding a public event that improves civic life by bringing together community members and supports meaningful discussion and perspective sharing through a cultural or humanities lens.This granting process is designed to accommodate organizations that may not have had the opportunity to apply for grant funding in the past, as well as to support established organizations that serve as the anchors of their communities. 

Eligibility: Applicant organizations must be a 501-c3 non-profit, public library or school, or other community organization based in NH or serving a NH audience. Fiscal sponsors are allowed. 

Criteria: 

• The applicant organization should have a plan to foster inclusion, participation, and belonging among its anticipated audience at the public event.  
• The public event should aim to address one (or more) of the following goals: Inspire curiosity; foster civil dialogue; or explore big questions. 
• The public event should seek to promote or improve civic health through a cultural or humanities lens. 
• Funds should be used to support the public event, either through direct costs (ex. venue fee, printing posters, food) or operational costs (ex. staff salaries for event work, stipends for interns, overhead). 
• All funds must be utilized, and programs must occur, between April 1 - August 31, 2026.  
• All events must be free and open to the public.  
• Grant funding cannot be used to lobby or promote political candidates or legislation.   

Timeline: 

January 7  – Applications open

January 14 – Online grant workshop

January – March – Rolling review of applications  

March 2 – Applications close

March 31 – All grants disbursed  

August 31 – All public events completed 

October 31 - All final reports completed

Application process:  

Workshop:

Watch a recording of the January 14 grant info session here: 

How to Apply:

1. Email programs@nhhumanities.org with 3-4 sentences describing your public event, with subject line "Civic Life and Belonging Grant."

 

2. If your event is deemed eligible for this grant, you will be provided with information on completing your application within 1 week of your email.  

• • • You may apply either through an interview or written application. Both formats will be judged by the same criteria and will include the same questions.  
    • Click here to preview the interview/application questions.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants may expect to hear back from NHH staff regarding the status of their application within 2-3 weeks of submitting their application.  

Expectations of awarded grantees: 

• Grantees must share promotional language, imagery, and materials for their event in a timely manner, to allow NHH to cross promote the program in their area. Grantees must share at least 1 photograph (with permission for NHH to use the image publicly) of the event after it occurs. 
• To complete a final report, grantees must either: 
  •  Conduct an exit interview with NHH staff, board, or community members to share the story of their program

            OR 

• • Submit a written impact statement
• Grantees should display a QR code (provided by NHH) at the public event so that participants can submit a survey. 

 

Questions? Email Program Coordinator Katie Malloy at programs@nhhumanities.org.

 

GRANTEE RESOURCES

Publicity Tip Sheet

Participant Evaluation QR Code (please display at your event)

Final Report (coming soon!)

Grant Payment Request

Event Information