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GRANTS
The Delaware Humanities Forum provides financial support for public humanities programs through its Grant Programs. Public programs that are sponsored by non-profit organizations in Delaware are eligible for funding. Institutions that are eligible to apply to the DHF for grant funding include: colleges and universities, libraries, historical societies, museums, educational television and radio stations, research institutes, professional associations, agencies of state and local government, labor unions, and other community and service organizations.
Grant recipients may use any presentation format to stage their programs—provided the program promises to bring the humanities to a wide public audience. Acceptable formats include, but are not limited to, lectures, conferences, radio and television broadcasts, interpretive exhibits, book and film discussions.
Funding is limited and not all applications are approved for funding. Feel free to contact the Forum's staff well in advance of any application deadline to discuss your project with them. Call (302) 657-0650 ext. 14 or email Program and Grant Officer Catherine Homsey, programofficer [at] dhf [dot] org . (E-mail addresses are spelled out to reduce spam. To send an e-mail, simply change the “at” and “dot” to "@" and "." when you copy the address.)
Use the list of links below to access details of the DHF Grants Program.
Types of Grants
The DHF provides financial support for two levels of grants. Parties interested in applying must make a formal application using forms provided on this website. Use the links below to view and print, or download PDF files of, the needed form(s).
Regular Grants applicants must observe deadlines when requesting funding of $3,000 - $15,000 for projects in any topic and format. Extensive planning and preparation, and a draft application outlining the intended project are required.
Opportunity Grants can be requested at any time throughout the year. These grants, for up to $1,500, can be used to fund smaller projects or to assist with long-range planning for larger projects.
Funding for Opportunity Grants is extremely limited and therefore we recommend you contact us prior to completing an application.
NEW FOR 2010
DHF is pleased to continue providing funding to organizations in support of making humanities programs available to the public, especially in our current economic climate. In a time when requests for funding far outweigh available funds, and everyone is forced to do more with less, DHF has put into place some additional criteria for grantees. We believe these changes will ensure our funding supports the best and broadest humanities programming possible and will enable DHF also to do more with less. The new policies are highlighted below.
Fewer Grant Categories: DHF has eliminated the Mini Grant in favor of Regular Grants. Regular Grants constitute those requests ranging from $3,000 to $15,000. They are reviewed by our Application Review Committee (ARC) twice a year in two cycles, spring/summer and fall/winter. The Opportunity Grant category is now expanded to those requests of less than $3,000. Opportunity Grants are reviewed year-round by the ARC Chairman, one ARC member from the county in which the project will occur, and our Executive Director. Opportunity Grants are meant to be a one-time, one-year only obligation.
Revised Sponsor Cash Cost-Share Requirement: Because in-kind contributions are difficult to document, the National Endowment for the Humanities requires that we account for the cash cost-share of our grant recipients. The Sponsor Cash Cost-Share Contributions must match the DHF funds you are requesting. Your cash contribution alone must be equal to or greater than the amount you request and receive from DHF. Our former policy only required that the combination of cash and in-kind contributions be equal to or greater than the DHF Funds provided. Waivers will be given under special circumstances. This policy will take effect for all grants awarded after January 30th, 2010.
Time-Out Period: After four years of grant funding, an organization must take a hiatus of two years before applying again for DHF funding. This policy is meant to encourage new applicants as well as former grantees to develop new projects and form partnerships with other funding sources.
If you have any questions about these changes or our grant program, feel free to call us at (302) 657-0650 ext. 14.
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Grants FAQs
 What's the average size of DHF grants?
The average DHF grant award is $5,500. Grants vary in size from a few hundred dollars up to $10,000.
- What's the number one reason why proposals are rejected?
Insufficient humanities content. This means either that the role of the humanities disciplines in the proposal idea or project activities is not clearly understood and described in the application narrative, or that the speakers selected are not humanities specialists.
- What's the best way to insure that my proposal has the best chance of being approved?
Contact the staff of the Humanities Forum well in advance of the deadline and discuss a draft application with them.
- I've read all the guidelines and application instructions. Can you give me a tip that will make my application stand out among the others?
Yes. Write a clear, unambiguous proposal narrative so that someone without prior knowledge of your organization or the project will easily see the "fit" among your organization's goals, the humanities, and the project activities. Put your best foot forward by ensuring that your project is original, and presents a new interpretation or point of view of your topic.
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Deadlines for 2010 Grants
Act NOW! The deadline is sooner than you think.
- 2010 Regular and Grant Application Deadlines
Draft Proposal By (Required) |
Final Proposal By |
Decision By |
| April 1 |
May 15 |
June 30 |
| October 1 |
November 15 |
January 30 |
- 2010 Opportunity Grants may be applied for at any time of year.
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Funding Criteria
- Humanities Content
The content and method of the humanities must be central to all aspects of the project. Projects must foster an understanding of the humanities disciplines or apply the humanities to topics of public concern. Teachers and scholars in the humanities must be involved in planning, presenting, and evaluating the project. Humanities scholars are persons who by reason of graduate education, teaching, research, or publications are deemed to be professionals in humanities disciplines.
- Balance of Perspectives
Project activities should avoid bias and provide for a diversity of views and perspectives. The topics may be controversial, but their treatment must be even-handed.
- Project Organization
- Humanities
The proposal should reflect a planning process, format, and promotional strategy designed to insure the centrality of the humanities and broad public accessibility.
- Planning
The project should have a planning committee that contains both humanities scholars and members of the intended audience. A timetable for project implementation should demonstrate that the sponsor has thoroughly considered all aspects of the project.
- Format
Program formats should promote discussion and the exchange of ideas and perspectives. They should offer an educational experience that fosters understanding, attempts to clarify issues and priorities, explores alternatives, and encourages participants to draw their own conclusions.
- Promotion
The proposal should indicate the nature and size of the audience anticipated and how the sponsor intends to build that audience.
- Evaluation
Program evaluation and assessment in terms of the guidelines and objectives of the Delaware Humanities Forum and the sponsoring organization should be a part of every project.
- Access
All programs must conform to the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other Federal regulations regarding non-discrimination and eligibility for Federal funds.
- Project Budget
Every proposal must contain a budget summary and detail of the total costs for the project. Budgets should reflect proposed activities accurately and in sufficient detail so that reviewers can easily relate specific budget items to project activities. The Delaware Humanities Forum awards matching grants. That means that all grant funds must be matched equally by the sponsor. This match is often referred to as cost-share. Sponsor cost sharing takes the form of cash contributions to the project.
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Funding Restrictions (What we do not support)
The Delaware Humanities Forum cannot fund the following kinds of, or portions of, projects:
- Publications and creative or performing arts, unless integral to a public humanities program
- Public information campaigns
- Advocacy programs for a specific social or political action
- Training programs or courses for academic credit
- Museum or library acquisitions
- Construction or restoration of buildings or equipment
- Receptions, food, or entertainment
- International travel
- Projects that discriminate against individuals or groups because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, or age
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