Spring 2026 Grant Round
AMOUNT
Up to $4,000
FOR
Nonprofit
Organizations
based in WI
DEADLINES
March 16, 2026
at 5:00 PM
AWARD NOTIFICATION
By April 15, 2026
Priorities: All proposals are welcome, but two priorities have been identified.
- • Wisconsin and America at 250
- • Converse and Connect
Applications accepted as of January 5th, 2026
Note: Currently excludes all Universities of Wisconsin institutions due to funding source
“When Rubber Hit The Road: The Loss and Legacy of Uniroyal,” a documentary film funded in 2023
Spring 2026 Grant Priorities
Wisconsin and America at 250
The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to renew our commitment to the common cause of civic dialogue and the founding ideals that animate our complex and democratic society.
WH seeks to fund public humanities projects that engage Wisconsinites in learning about the histories of all the people who have made a home in the land that became the United States and the state of Wisconsin to help today’s Wisconsinites create a better future. Projects should contribute to a broader awareness of the complexity of our state’s and nation’s history and spark public conversations that encourage all Wisconsinites to engage in the civic life of their communities.
Strong applications will address one or more of the following themes, developed by the American Association of State and Local History (NOTE: These themes are described in detail in pages 12-15 of their "Field Guide"). You can describe your project’s connection to the theme(s) in your application’s project description.
Themes for 250th Applications
- Unfinished Revolutions
- Power of Place
- We the People
- American Experiment
Converse + Connect
We believe conversations between people from all backgrounds and beliefs can strengthen our civic infrastructure, our democracy, our communities, and even our individual discoveries and stories about ourselves. Conversations awaken us to hidden connections, cultural traditions, powerful stories, and histories that shape who we are and how we build our future.
Converse + Connect projects will:
- facilitate fruitful conversation around a particular cultural tradition, history, public policy, community challenge and/or opportunity, or other identified topic of community and civic interest
- bring the public together either face-to-face or virtually
- provide a concrete strategy to gather people with varying backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs if applicable
How to Apply
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
If you are a returning or first-time applicant, it is important that you understand the eligibility requirements below. If you are a first-time applicant and have additional questions, schedule a consultation with our Grants Director: meghan.dudle@wisconsinhumanities.org
As of January 15th, 2024, WH can award organizations a maximum of two grants in a 24-month period. After being awarded this maximum, the organization must take a one-year break before applying again.
Applicants from organizations such as city departments, academic departments at institutions of higher education, and departments/branches of organizations with multiple locations are considered separate organizations. Please consult with WH staff if you have questions.
Requirements
This specific 2026 Grant Cycle excludes all Universities of Wisconsin institutions due to the funding source. Wisconsin Humanities grants are for nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education; state, local, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments that have a Wisconsin-based EIN/Tax ID Number. Some examples are historical societies, libraries, colleges, schools, civic organizations, and museums. We do not fund individuals or for-profit organizations. An ad hoc group or for-profit organization must have a programmatic partner and fiscal sponsor.
Wisconsin Humanities does not fund:
- Projects that don’t engage the humanities
- Direct social services or mental health services
- Projects primarily for college or university campus audiences
- Book production projects
- Strictly archival projects
- Building construction or renovation
- Projects whose main purpose is advocacy
- Projects with ineligible expenses—review these in the Grant Instructions PDF
- Projects with activity timelines of more than 2 years (with limited exception)
Advocacy is defined by the NEH as: Promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view; Advocacy of a particular program of social or political action; or Support of specific public policies or legislation.
Wisconsin Humanities does not fund:
- Capital expenditures
- Expenses related to fundraising
- Expenses related to an archival project
- Museum acquisitions
- Re-granting of WH funds
- Book productions
As defined by Wisconsin Humanities, capital expenditures are funds used to purchase equipment or materials that will have a significant working life after the end of the grant project period. For example, a camera for filming a documentary or a laptop computer for editing and organizing digital materials. Rental of these types of items may be considered for funding if doing so makes economic sense. If you have questions about the eligibility of a particular item, you are encouraged to consult with WH staff before submitting your proposal.
As of April 4, 2022 the federal government requires a 12-character UEI (Unique Entity Identification) for all Wisconsin Humanities grant recipients.
Organizations that have an active or inactive registration in the federal government's "System for Award Management" already have been assigned a UEI (SAM) and that ID is viewable on the organization's registration record at https://sam.gov/content/home.
All other applicants will need to go to https://sam.gov/content/home to request a UEI (SAM). For more information on how to get a UEI (SAM) please see this quick guide.
To get a UEI on SAM.gov you must provide your entity’s legal business name and physical address. A post office box may not be used as your physical address. The system may also ask for your organization’s date and state of incorporation for validation. Some organizations (entities) may be asked to provide additional business documents to establish their identity.
All grants require matching funds or in-kind effort from applicants equal to or greater than the amount requested from Wisconsin Humanities. They include any known sources of grants or gifts, any cash or in-kind contributions, and any sources of revenue, such as admission fees. Examples of in-kind match include the dollar value of facilities, services, talents, and time contributed to the project.
Funds cannot be awarded retroactively. To be eligible for a Wisconsin Humanities grant, all expenses and all of the required matching expenditures must occur after the award date of the grant. In this 2026 grant cycle, that award date is April 16th, 2026.
A strong public humanities project involves a variety of people with humanities knowledge and experience relevant to the proposed project. The following are examples of people who could serve successfully as “project personnel" designing, consulting and/or implementing projects that receive WH grants.
- A community or tribal elder: someone recognized by their community as a keeper of cultural knowledge, historical or place-based knowledge or practices
- A person with a humanities degree (BA, MA, PhD)
- A culture bearer: someone with special expertise in the lifeways, traditions and worldviews of a culture
- A person with special insight and expertise from their lived experience
- A practitioner in a humanities field (for example-storyteller, poet, local historian)
- An individual who has worked on public humanities projects for a museum, library or cultural institution
We encourage project personnel to bring experience working with a public audience and a demonstrated ability to encourage empathy, multiple points of view, and shared understanding between people.
Step 2: Application Process
The best way to prepare is to download the Spring 2026 Grant Application Instructions. Please pay attention to all requirements and application sections.
You can also consult with the grants director with your specific questions by emailing Meghan.dudle@wisconsinhumanities.org and using a virtual booking calendar for consultations.
All applications must be submitted through our online portal. We recommend writing your project description first offline. Then you can copy-and-paste it into the online application. You may also want to download and fill out the forms so you are ready to upload them into the online application.
If you need assistance with creating an account if you don’t already have one, see this guide.
To start, you will create an organization identity for the Fiscal Sponsor Organization. This is the organization to whom the check will be written if you are awarded a grant. The Fiscal Sponsor Organization must have a UEI and be based in Wisconsin. (NOTE: Often, the Fiscal Sponsor Organization is the same as the Programming Organization.)
If your organization is NOT able to receive funds on its own behalf, create an account using your Fiscal Sponsor’s information.
This sample PDF is for your information, but should not be used to formally apply. To apply, you must use the online application form at our online grant portal.
Wisconsin Humanities funds digital humanities projects such as short videos, full-length film documentaries, websites, video games, podcasts, and other audio projects. Digital projects may also be part of a larger project such as an exhibit, or the cumulative effort of a larger humanities-based program. A digital humanities project should not be strictly archival. Instead, it must engage the public and be publicly accessible.
If the project you seek funds for is primarily to develop a website, digital game, film, or podcast you should answer the digital humanities questions on the application. These specific questions are detailed in the Spring 2026 Grant Application Instructions. Please read them before applying.
Step 3: Required Forms
You will be prompted to upload forms in the online application. All forms can be downloaded while you are working online or in advance on our Forms & Resources Page.
We require you use our Budget Form to itemize your expenses. You will also be able to describe your budget request in the budget description section in the online application.
The IRS W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number form should match the Fiscal Sponsor Organization that has a Wisconsin EIN.
Both the Project Director and the Fiscal Agent must sign this form. The signed form certifies the participation of project personnel identified in the Project Personnel Forms.
Step 4: Submission & Review Process
CREATE AN ACCOUNT AT THE ONLINE PORTAL & COMPLETE APPLICATION
To apply, select the Spring 2026 Grant Cycle, then respond to all prompts and upload all forms. If you need to collaborate with other team members the “collaborate” button in the upper right-hand corner of the page will allow you to share the application.
SUBMIT
When your application is ready click 'submit.' You need to do this before the deadline, 5 pm on the date the application is due: March 16, 2026 5:00 PM
CRITERIA AND GRANT REVIEW PROCESS
Our grants are reviewed by members of our board using the criteria listed below. Our grant program staff are not involved in funding decisions.
We understand that not every project will address every criterion and that’s ok. But we want applicants to know what reviewers are looking for.
- Aligns strongly with stated priorities: Converse + Connect or Wisconsin & America at 250
- Reflects the interests or needs of the community (cultural, geographic, or other) being served.
- Promotes the formation and strengthening of connections within communities, between community organizations, and/or the larger community.
- Brings people together to explore and share ideas where both commonalities and differences are reflected upon with empathy.
- Fosters observation, inquiry, analysis, and/or reflection.
- Firmly grounded in the public humanities and engages the skills and knowledge of humanities personnel and community members in ways that provide insight and meaning, and that respect local knowledge and ways of knowing.
- Promotes Wisconsinites’ understanding of the character and conditions – past, present, and future – of the places in which we dwell, and the ways in which we live.
- Helps organizations advance their mission by strengthening or extending their capacity.
