Kentucky Humanities minigrants offer up to $2,500 to support public humanities programming throughout the Commonweath. Projects which receive funding from Kentucky Humanities are designed for the general public, not the classroom, and may include book discussions, conferences, development of curricular materials, exhibits, interpretive programs, lectures, radio and video productions, teacher training, and more.

The resources on this page will help you prepare and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and then, if invited, a final application.

To discuss proposals or ask further questions, schedule an appointment with Zoe Kaylor here. Zoe is available for appointments from 1-3pm EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or by reaching out directly to zoe.kaylor@uky.edu.

Kentucky Humanities grants support Kentucky based public humanities projects that show well-developed humanities content designed for communities not classrooms and that include close collaboration with humanities scholars.

Kentucky Humanities grants are made using federal funds and thus are subject to all federal regulations as well regulations from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Kentucky Humanities. Grants require a 1:1 cost share.

Applicant Eligibility

• Registered Kentucky nonprofit organization, institution, or group
• Active SAM.gov registration in good status
• Has a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) provided in SAM.gov
• Final Application is submitted at least eight weeks before the start of your grant award period

Not Eligible: For profit organizations; individuals; political or advocacy organizations; current KH grantees

Project Eligibility

• Kentucky based OR project will primary serve Kentucky residents
• Project is humanities based, though it may also include arts and other interdisciplinary components. Examples includelectures, book discussions, conferences, development of curricular materials, exhibit interpretation, community discussion of a performance, radio and video productions, teacher training, and more
• Project is directed primarily at the general public, both adults and young people, outside of the regular school or college classroom. Programs targeting special audiences are welcome as long as there is still a public component
• Project receives guidance from a Principal Humanities Scholar, who plays an active role in the project's design and execution and ensures that the project incorporates the humanities. The Principal Humanities Scholar is an individual with particular training or experience in an academic humanities discipline. Typical qualifications include an advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D), however individuals without an advanced degree or tribal leaders may qualify as humanities scholars because of their recognized expertise and/or methods of research, inquiry, and teaching. The Principal Humanities Scholar must write a letter of support for your grant application.
• Project will generate a 1:1 cost share match for awarded KH grant funds. To meet this cost-share requirement, the grantee may contribute (1) cash and/or (2) in-kind services. See the Grant Glossary and Cost Share Sources for more information. 

Not Eligible: Non humanities programs; creative or performing arts or STEM projects unless the primary goal is to provide a focus for humanistic inquiry; classroom projects; book development and publication; scholarly research projects except when integrated into public humanities programming; fellowships; building or historical site construction, renovation or historical preservation projects; museum or exhibit acquisitions

Allowable expenses

• Honoraria, stipends, travel, per diem, and salaries for the project or project participants
• Professional services such as rentals, graphic design, professional printing, etc
• Marking materials, advertising, duplication, etc.
• Supplies, program materials, books, etc
• Food (given that it is fundamental to the project and the cost is reasonable)
• Other expenses for goods or services that clearly advance the goals of the project during the award period

Unallowable: General operating and indirect costs; equipment purchases; building construction, restoration or preservation; major museum acquisitions; lobbying; alcohol; expenses generated outside of the grant award period; Kentucky Humanities programming (unless approved by KH)

Letter of Intent (LOI)

• You may submit an LOI at any time.
• LOIs are reviewed on a rolling schedule. You can expect to receive feedback and an invitation to submit a full application OR a message that your project is not eligible within 2 weeks.

Application

• Applications are due on the last day of every month AND at least eight weeks before the start of your proposed award period. Grant award periods begin on the first day of the month. 
• Example: You are holding a conference on April 15, so your award period needs to start on April 1 at the latest. Your application would be due January 31.
• Late submissions will be considered with the next month's cohort if they still meet eligibility criteria. Every effort is made to make funding decisions within a month after submission of the application.

Awarded Grants

• Awarded grants may have a maximum award period of 18 months
• Interim reporting is due 3 months after the award date
• Final reporting is due 3 months after the award period end date

You will need a variety of materials to successfully submit an LOI or a full Application. The Application Checklist will help you make sure you've done all the preliminary work and will significantly speed up the application process. You may also find it helpful to preview the questions from the LOI and the Application.

Budgets should reflect expenses that are directly tied to the proposed project. The budget must also show how you will fulfill the 1:1 cost share. Please use the budget template below in your application for a KH grant. The sample budget will give you examples of common line item expenses and cost share sources.

Reach out to Zoe Kaylor