New York State Council for the Humanities Major Grants & Mini Grants

Any not-for-profit organization or institution with IRS tax-exempt status in New York State is eligible to apply for a grant. All projects must be rooted in one or more of the humanities disciplines, integrally feature humanities scholars, be intended for the general public, and comply with federal nondiscrimination statutes, federal debt status, debarment and suspension requirements, and drug-free workplace requirements. Questions about tax-exempt status may be directed to the IRS non-profit hotline at (877) 829-5500.

An organization will not be awarded more than one Major Grant and one Mini Grant (described below) per calendar year. Do not submit more than one Major Grant application per deadline. It is acceptable for an applicant to have both a Major Grant application and Mini Grant application before the Council for consideration at the same time, but the proposals must represent different projects.

The Council offers matching grants in two categories. “Matching Grant” means that the Council’s award must be equaled or exceeded by the project’s total budget.

Major Grants are for project requests of $2500 or more. Please note that

while there is no upper limit on the amount that can be requested, grants awarded rarely exceed $10,000. Where the Council determines that an application merits support only in part or at a reduced level, the offer will be less than the amount requested. Constraints on Council funding may also affect the amount that can be offered, regardless of merit. Major Grant applications are accepted twice a year, with postmark deadlines on November 1 and March 1. (If the deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the postmark deadline is the next business day.) November Major Grant applicants are notified in late March, and March Major Grant applicants are notified in late June.

Mini Grants are for project requests between $250 and $2500. Most proposals in this category are for single events, for projects that are modest in scope and have a short time frame, or for exhibition planning. (Mini Grant proposals for smaller exhibitions can encompass both planning and implementation). Mini Grant applications may be submitted at any time, and a decision will be made within four weeks. You must submit your application in time to credit the Council in all your publicity, including that of any co-sponsors. To insure inclusion in the State Humanities Month brochure and calendar, Mini Grant applications for an October event must be postmarked no later than May 15.

All awarded grants are paid in at least 2 installments, never as a lump sum. Payments are released upon the completion of the paperwork supplied with each agreement.

Council staff members, including the Grants Officer and the Executive

Director, review all applications. Outside evaluators also review all Major Grant applications. Decisions on Major Grants are made by a committee of the Council’s Board of Directors. The committee’s decisions are based on a review of the applications, as well as on the recommendations of staff and outside evaluators. Decisions on Mini Grants are made by Council staff. All decisions are final.

Please plan ahead before applying. Major Grant applicants must choose a

grant deadline that will allow you sufficient time to credit the Council in all publications and announcements related to the project. If you apply when there is not enough time to credit us, your application will not be considered. “Publications and announcements” include all press releases, advertisements, invitations, posters and flyers, brochures and catalogues, public service announcements, and broadcast and website coverage.

The Council’s Senior Program Officer is available to field questions about planning a project or writing the grant application and can supply examples of successful projects. Call (212) 233-1131 ext. 30, e-mail:

nych@nyhumanities.org, or write: New York Council for the Humanities, 150 Broadway, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10038.