The Delaware Humanities Forum provides financial support for public humanities programs through its Grants Program. 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.

We encourage you to utilize our on-line application for applying for the Regular, Mini, and Opportunity Grant. Follow these instructions and suggestion to ensure that your application will be processed.

1. Create a user name and password by clicking on the Register link under the Login Option. This registration will allow you access to our online application found under the Grants link.
2. When filling out the application, please provide as much detail as possible, including full dates. Error messages will pop if a field is not filled-out correctly.
3. Refrain from using commas in numerical figures. For example, instead of keying $3,000.00, try $3000.00. Commas, however, can be recognized in the narrative portions of the application.
4. The application will only accept PDF formatted attachments. If added material is needed for the application and cannot be converted into PDF, please contact the Grant Management office at DHF for alternative solutions.
5. Please save your application-you may return to it at any point.

OR

1. Download the PDF version of the application unto a Word document and send the application via email to jvh@dhf.org.
2. Print the document and mail the draft to 100 West Tenth St., STE 1009 Wilmington, DE 19801 care of Grants Management Office.

Use the list of links below to access details of the DHF Grants Program.

• Types of Grants
• Grants FAQs
• Deadlines
• Funding Criteria
• Funding Restrictions

Types of Grants

The DHF provides financial support for three 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). The Adobe Reader program is required to view a PDF file. This program can be downloaded direct from Adobe for free.

• Regular Grants
  Complete the online Regular Grant Application form, or download it as a .PDF file (right click, and 'save target as').

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.

• Mini-Grants
  Complete the online Mini-Grant Application form, or download it as a .PDF file (right click, and 'save target as').

Mini-Grant applicants must observe deadlines when requesting funding of up to $3000 for projects of any topic and format. Mini-Grants are often more local in focus than Regular Grants, serving the population of a single town, for example.

• Opportunity Grants
  

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.

We will be awarding Opportunity Grants to specific organizations associated with our Smithsonian Exhibition in 2008.

Please contact us for more information.

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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 is 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.

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Deadlines

Act NOW! The deadline is sooner than you think.

• Regular and Mini-Grant Application Deadlines
  

• 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 or in-kind contributions to the project. Examples of in-kind cost-share include the use of facilities and equipment, the donated time of people participating in the project, or other donations for which a fair market value can be determined. Most organizations match our grants with documented contributions of volunteer time and organizational services.

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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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