SHARP Grants| Democracy, Journalism, and the Informed Community | Major Grants | Mini Grants
Arts & Humanities Grants

2016 grant “Art in Exodus” at Maine College of Art. Photo by Kyle Dubay.

Special Grants

1. SHARP Grants

More than $580,000 of funding to assist non-profit humanities and cultural organizations as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Funding for these grants is made available through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) initiative Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021 

Project Support Grants:  

• Up to $7,500 
• Application opens: October 4, 2021 
• Applications due: November 1, 2021 
• Review: Guidelines | FAQs | Application Preview
• Register: Info session
• Complete: Application

Standard Grants

1. Major Grants: $1,001 – $7,500

Offered once per year

Funding to non-profit organizations in Maine for larger humanities programs and projects – things like exhibits, films, conferences, initiatives – that have broad public outreach. We are excited to support programs and projects with rich, well-developed humanities content, strong participation from a scholar or topic expert, and robust support from partners in the community.

Upcoming deadlines: Applications open November 8, 2021; Proposals due January 31, 2022

• Review: Grant guidelines | Grant FAQs
• Complete: Application, Excel budget form and Major Grant narrative
• Projects must begin no sooner than 8 weeks after the deadline.
• Applications reviewed by committee of MHC board members.
• Notification: Within 8 weeks of final submission.
• Final Report: Complete

2. Mini Grants: up to $1,000

Offered 3 times a year

For projects that use the humanities to connect people across physical distance, whether they make use of digital technologies or use ways of connecting those without access to digital tools.

Upcoming deadlines: Applications open February, 2022; Proposals due March, 2022

• Review: Grant guidelines | Grant FAQs
• Complete: Application and Excel budget form.
• Project must begin no sooner than 8 weeks after the deadline.
• Applications reviewed by MHC Grants Committee.
• Notification: Within 8 weeks of submission.
• Final Report: Complete

3. Arts & Humanities Grants: up to $1,000

Offered in the spring and fall

Arts & Humanities grants, a partnership between the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Arts Commission, support innovative community projects that have BOTH arts and humanities components.

Upcoming Deadlines: Proposals due October 14, 2021

• Before you apply please speak with Lizz Sinclair from the MHC (207-773-5051) and Kerstin Gilg from the MAC (207-287-2724)—to make sure their project fits the guidelines.
• Please apply through the Maine Arts Commission.
• Review: Applications reviewed by committee from MHC and MAC.