Major Grants
Major Grants Update
Humanities Texas's federal funding was significantly cut earlier this year, and our mini-grants program remains paused. However, we are striving to continue our support for humanities programs across the state.
The major grants fall cycle is now open for programs that take place on or after January 1, 2026. Major grant funding is entirely contingent on future federal funding, specifically funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities in the FY 2026 federal budget. While Humanities Texas is prepared to review and consider proposals for upcoming major programs, we cannot guarantee that funding will be available at this time.
If your organization is seeking major grant funding, please submit a letter of intent (LOI) form via the grants portal by September 30, 2025. Eligible LOIs will be invited to submit final applications by our new working deadline of October 3, 2025.
Our staff understands that this change to our typical major grants cycle calendar may present challenges for your organization. If you have any questions about this update, please contact our grants team at grants@humanitiestexas.org.
The Humanities Texas major grant is a competitive grant for eligible organizations to conduct public humanities programming. On average, Humanities Texas awards sixty-five major grants annually.
Major Grants At-a-Glance
- Awards of up to $20,000
- Average award ranges from $8,000 to $12,000
- Requires one-to-one cost-share
- Available twice a year, in the spring and fall
Major Grants Subcategories
Major grants for community programs
Major grants for community programs fund up to $20,000 of the costs for comprehensive public programs such as lectures, seminars, and conferences; book and film discussions; interpretive exhibitions and materials; town forums and civic discussions; and teacher workshops. Programs should reflect substantial participation by both humanities scholars and members of the target audience(s).
Major grants for media projects
Major grants for media projects fund up to $20,000 of the costs for film, radio, television, or interactive programming related to the humanities. Applicants can request funds for any stage of the project, including scripting, development, production, post-production, and in some cases, distribution and free public screenings. Humanities scholars should play an integral role in determining the content and approach of the project.
Major grants for planning
Major grants for planning projects fund up to $20,000 of the costs for community and media programs that are in an initial planning/development stage. The application must include both planning details and expected outcomes.
Eligible Organizations
Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, museums, libraries, cultural centers, historical associations, city governments, county judge offices, community colleges, and school districts. Applicants must have an active, publicly searchable System for Award Management Unique Entity ID (SAM UEI). Visit www.SAM.gov to check your registration status. Refer to our applicant help document for assistance with the SAM UEI.
Eligible Programming
Major grants support public programs in the humanities. Humanities content, themes, and topics include, but are not limited to, the following: history, literature, heritage, art history, philosophy, social sciences, and contemporary society and culture.
Eligible programs can take many different formats, such as book discussions, conferences, lectures and panel discussions, exhibitions, festivals, film screenings, living history, media productions, oral history, workshops, and educational digital and web media.
All funded programs are firmly grounded in the humanities and are directed 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.
Eligible Costs
Major grants can cover many categories of program expenditures, including personnel, consultants, honorarium, travel, promotion, program evaluation, and other related program costs.
Apply
Humanities Texas has transitioned to an online application system. All applicants must submit their applications via the grants portal. If you cannot access the portal, please contact our grants team. If you do not have reliable internet service or have other accessibility needs, please email our team or call us at 512.440.1991. Please read the grant guidelines document for more information on our grants program.
- Grant guidelines
- Major grant detailed budget template
- Major grant model detailed budget
- Major grant LOI transcript
- Major grant application transcript
- Grant ranking rubric
Major Grant Calendar during a Typical Fiscal Year
Major grant applications are accepted twice each year. The spring deadline for applications is March 15, and the fall deadline is September 15. Major grant applicants must submit a Letter of Intent one month prior to submitting a final application. The spring deadline for letters of intent is February 15, and the fall deadline is August 15.
| Fall major cycle | Spring major cycle | |
| Letter of intent available | July 1 | January 1 |
| Letter of intent deadline | August 15 | February 15 |
| Final application due | September 15 | March 15 |
| Estimated decision date | December 1 | June 1 |
| Estimated notification date | December 15 | June 15 |
| Project must begin on or after | January 1 | July 1 |
Please note: Estimated dates are subject to change without notice. If the deadline falls on a weekend, then the deadline extends to the following Monday.
Application Best Practices
To ensure your application is competitive, grants staff recommend the following considerations when crafting your proposal:
- The program should be an impactful activity for your local, regional, or statewide audience.
- If there are multiple events within one program, the events should be cohesive.
- Include letters of support. These can come from a variety of sources, including board members, community members, and partnering organizations.
- Convey thoughtful outreach to target audiences.
How Funding Decisions Are Made
The Humanities Texas Board of Directors reviews major grant proposals. Projects are evaluated based on Humanities Texas's organizational mission and grants guidelines. Of particular importance are the quality of each project's conception and design, the strength of its humanities component, and the extent to which it will meet the specific intellectual, cultural, or professional needs and interests of its target audience(s) in Texas. Priority is given to applications from Texas-based organizations, organizations located in underserved counties, and organizations that have not received funding in the past ten years. Refer to the grant ranking rubric for more information on how grant applications are scored.
Log Into the Grants Portal
Meet with a Grants Team Member
Upcoming Application Deadlines
- Letter of intent (LOI) form deadline:
September 30, 2025 - Final application deadline:
October 3, 2025 - Programs must begin on or after January 1, 2026
Questions about Grants
Call 512.440.1991 (press 1) or email grants@humanitiestexas.org.