FAQs
- What are the humanities?
- What kinds of organizations receive grants?
- What kinds of projects does Humanities Texas fund?
- What projects are not eligible for funding?
- Who qualifies as a scholar?
- What roles may scholars play?
- What are the types of grants available?
- When are the grant deadlines? When are decisions made public? When can my project begin?
- What is the cost-share requirement? What is the difference between “cash” and “in-kind” contributions?
- How often can an organization apply for funding? Can a group submit more than one proposal in a year?
- Should the budget cover the entire project or only that portion that Humanities Texas is being asked to fund?
- What is a grant period?
What are the humanities?
The humanities include but are not limited to the study of history, literature, modern and classical languages; linguistics;jurisprudence; philosophy; comparative religion; ethics; and the history, criticism, and theory of the arts. Social sciences that employ qualitative approaches such as cultural anthropology, archaeology, and political science are considered part of the humanities, as are interdisciplinary areas such as women’s studies, American studies, and the study of folklore and folklife.
In elementary and secondary education, the humanities are found in social studies and English language-arts courses, as well as in advanced courses in history, literature, foreign languages, art or music history, and related subjects.
Projects may also apply humanities perspectives to current political, social, or economic concerns and issues.
What kinds of organizations receive grants?
Grants are awarded to not-for-profit educational, cultural, and civic organizations. Examples of past grant recipients include:
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What kinds of projects does Humanities Texas fund?
Funded projects take many different forms—lectures, paneldiscussions, and conferences; teacher institutes and workshops; reading and film discussion groups; site interpretations; the development and fabrication of interpretive exhibits; and the production of films, television and radio programming, and interactive media. However, all funded programs have the following characteristics in common.
- They are firmly grounded in the humanities.
- Humanities scholars play an active role in their conception, design, and execution.
- They are conducted in a spirit of open and informed inquiry.
- They are directed primarily to the general public, both adults and young people, outside of the regular school or college classroom. Programs targeting special audiences such as K-12 teachers, ethnic and community groups, or professional groups are also welcome.
What projects are not eligible for funding?
- Projects not grounded in the humanities
- Projects proposed by individuals rather than non-profit organizations
- Theatrical performances, art exhibitions, or other presentations in the arts or media, unless their primary purpose is to provide a focus for humanistic inquiry
- Courses for academic credit
- Capital expenditures for institutional expenses such as equipment, land, buildings, etc.
- Preservation of objects or archival materials, unless directly related to a public program
- Publications and scholarly research, unless directly related to a public program
- Projects that advocate a single point of view, ideology, or specific program of social action
- Projects aimed primarily at audiences outside of Texas
- Scholarships and fellowships
- Fundraisers and profit-making projects
Who qualifies as a scholar?
A humanities scholar is an individual with particular training orexperience in one or more of the academic disciplines in the humanities. The typical qualifications are an advanced degree (M.A. or Ph.D.) in a humanities field of study. However, individuals without an advanced degree may qualify as humanities scholars because of their accomplishments and/or methods of research, inquiry, and teaching.
What roles may scholars play?
Humanities scholars strengthen a project by providing broad humanistic perspectives as well as in-depth knowledge. They play many roles, including but not limited to:
- helping conceive of and design a project
- helping shape the content of an exhibit or other program
- making public presentations or participating in panel discussions
- writing critical and interpretive materials for brochures, script treatments, catalogues, etc.
- performing specific services for the project director, such as reviewing exhibit text, script treatments, or copy for catalogues or brochures
What are the types of grants available?
Formats include mini-grants, community project grants, and media project grants.
- Mini-grants fund up to $1,500 of the costs associated with public programs. These small grants are particularly appropriate for funding a speaker and/or the rental of a traveling exhibit, including those provided by Humanities Texas. An organization might also apply for a mini-grant to pay for the services of a humanities consultant or exhibit designer, or to develop public programming related to an unexpected local, national, or international event.
Community project grants fund comprehensive public programs such as lectures, seminars and conferences; book and film discussions; interpretive exhibits and materials; town forums and civic discussions; and teacher workshops.
- Media project grants fund film, radio, or interactive programming related to the humanities. Applicants may request funds for any phase of the project, including scripting, development, production, post-production, and, in some cases, distribution and free public screenings.
When are the grant deadlines? When are decisions made public? When can my project begin?
Mini-grants |
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Application deadline |
Rolling |
Decision date |
Within 10 business days of application's arrival in Humanities Texas office. |
Project start date |
At least six weeks after application's arrival in Humanities Texas office. |
Major grants |
Fall cycle |
Spring cycle |
Letter of intent/draft application |
August 15 |
February 15 |
Application deadline |
September 15 |
March 15 |
Decision date |
November 15 |
June 15 |
Project start date |
January 1 |
July 1 |
NOTE: Community and media grant proposals must be POSTMARKED no later than midnight of the application deadline. If the deadline falls on a Sunday, proposals will be accepted with the next day’s postmark.
What is the cost-share requirement? What is the difference between “cash” and “in-kind” contributions?
A grantee is required to share at least half of the total project costs. Sponsoring organizations can use cash and in-kind contributions to meet their cost-share requirement. In-kind contributions include donated services and goods, or the use of office space, equipment, telephones, and supplies. Cash contributions are the actual dollars or organizational resources assigned to a project. Put another way, when actual money changes hands and can be documented with receipts and canceled checks (as with salaries, equipment rental, postage, travel, etc.) that expense is considered in the "Cash" column. When goods or services are donated, as in the case of volunteer time, that amount is considered in the "In-Kind" column.
How often can an organization apply for funding? Can a group submit more than one proposal in a year?
We don't limit the frequency or number of applications, but we do try to spread out our grantmaking.
Should the budget cover the entire project or only that portion that Humanities Texas is being asked to fund?
The budget should provide a picture of the entire project, as well as the role of the HTx funds. When necessary, the project description should explain how funds will be raised for the entire project.
What is a grant period?
Your grant period should encompass all aspects of your project, from early promotion to final expenditures and evaluations. Grant periods always begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day. Grant periods may not exceed eighteen months.