Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a nonprofit dedicated to activating the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities aimed at fostering reflection, sparking conversation, building community, and strengthening civic engagement. Focused on providing high-quality humanities experiences in Illinois, especially for marginalized communities such as communities of color, low-income individuals, rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and those impacted by mass incarceration.
The Activate History Micro-Grants Program, offered by Illinois Humanities, provides $750 project-based grants targeting individuals and entities maintaining local collections (archives, texts, photos, stories, etc.). These grants aim to engage community members with local history, celebrate amateur/local historians, and enhance the outreach of local collections, thereby strengthening community identity. The program features accessible application processes, quick turnaround times, and additional support for making events accessible and for project documentation.
Priority is accorded to entities that operate on yearly budgets not exceeding $400,000.