Delaware Humanities Opens Applications For Fall Innovation Grant Cycle

The deadline for the Request to Apply for the Action Innovation Grant is Thursday, May 15, 2025.(Photo by Cytonn Photography)

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

WILMINGTON—Delaware Humanities has opened registration for the Fall Innovation Grant cycle, which offers up to $20,000 in funding for eligible nonprofit organizations.

The Action Innovation Grant aims to support projects that foster community engagement and promote the humanities within Delaware.

The application process is structured in the initial Request to Apply phase, followed by the Full Application for selected applicants.

According to Helen Siers, Delaware Humanities grant and operations manager, this process ensures that potential grantees can clearly articulate their project’s goals, target audience, and expected outcomes.

“We are really looking for these applicants to be able to articulate what their project is going to be, who their project is going to reach, what outcomes they are hoping their community will have as a result of the project,” Siers explained.

For first-time applicants, Siers offered advice on how to craft a strong application.

“Make sure that you answer the entire question and all parts of it on the application. Focus on what outcome you want to achieve and what audience you are going to reach,” she advised. “A strong application doesn’t just say, ‘We want 100 people to show up to this event.’ It also explains how you plan to reach them, what you hope they will take away from the event, and how you will measure the impact.”

Past recipients of the Action Innovation Grant have included a variety of impactful projects, such as the Youth Environmental Summit by Plastic Free Delaware, the William Edward Beazell Documentary by the Hagley Foundation, and the Blue Hen Records Documentary by the Greater Harrington Historical Society. These projects have brought attention to historical, cultural, and environmental issues within the state.

Executive Director Michele Anstine highlighted the importance of the grant’s targeted impact.

“Since we are a state Humanities organization, and we’re focusing on Delaware and on humanities projects in Delaware, it does limit the number of grantees who come to us,” Anstine said.

“Every state, every U.S. jurisdiction, has its own Humanities organization that provides funding coming directly from the National Endowment for the Humanities through an appropriation by Congress. So what we are putting out there is federal funding, but basically targeted to our local audience here in Delaware.”

One critical requirement for applicants is that they must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Fall Action/Innovation Grant Cycle is now open. Organizations looking for funding for humanities-centric projects or programs are encouraged to apply. The deadline for the Request to Apply is Thursday, May 15, 2025.

For more details, visit the Delaware Humanities Grants page.