CARES Act Emergency Relief Grants

Grant Funding

• Grants of up to $10,000 for non-profit organizations across Arizona with a history of providing public humanities and cultural programs that are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
• Grants are available for general operating expenses, or to support existing projects affected by COVID-19.
• No funding match is required.

Funding Priorities

• Intended to support cultural organizations with a track record of providing accessible humanities programs, and are facing hardship due to closures and economic impact related to COVID-19.
• Applications are open to all humanities and cultural organizations that meet the stated guidelines, but priority will be given to organizations with an annual budget of $500,000 or less.
• Organizations serving and led by members of communities traditionally underrepresented in the humanities are encouraged to apply. Underrepresented groups may include, but are not limited to, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people who live in rural areas, people with disabilities, people who identify as immigrants or refugees, and people whose first (or only) language is not English. Please note that this is not exhaustive.

Funding Eligibility

• 501(c)(3) organizations based in Arizona with a history of serving Arizona communities through public humanities programs.
• Applicant organizations must have a DUNS number. For more information regarding the DUNS number visit https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/
• Organizations experiencing financial hardship due to the effects of COVID-19. Hardship includes, but is not limited to:
  • Permanent Closure
  • Loss or furlough of Paid Staff
  • Loss of Venue or Workspace
  • Loss of Significant Revenue
• Not eligible:
  • Individuals
  • For-Profit Organizations
  • Organizations Solely Focused on the Arts (please contact the Arizona Commission on the Arts for information on their relief grants, and National Endowment for the Arts)
  • Political or Advocacy Organizations
  • Public, Private, or Parochial Schools
  • Government Agencies, Universities, Colleges, Academic Departments, or Entities with Significant Public Funding.

Funds Cannot Be Used For

• Promotion of a Particular Political, Religious, or Ideological Point of View
• Advocacy of a Particular Program of Social or Political Action
• Support of Specific Public Policies or Legislation
• Lobbying
• Purchase of Land or Facilities, Construction or Renovation
• Organizations that do not have a DUNS Number
• Overlapping Project Costs with any Other Pending or Approved Application(s) for Federal Funding
• Projects that Fall Outside of the Humanities (Including The Creation or Performance of Art; Creative Writing, Autobiographies, Memoirs, And Creative Nonfiction; And Empirically Based Social Science Research or Policy Studies)

Application Timeline and Review

• Applications Open – Friday, April 24, 2020
• Applications Close – Monday, June 1, 2020
• Decision Notifications – The first round of funds will be announced on or before Friday, May 15^th with future rounds announced on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Any eligible applications not funded in the first round will roll over to future review rounds. We expect to exhaust funds quickly. Please keep this in mind and submit your application as soon as possible.
• Final Report Due – 90 days after Grant Award (Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.)

How To Apply

• As required by federal guidelines, applicants must have a DUNS number in order to receive funds. Apply for this early, as a DUNS number can take up to two business days to receive.
• Create an account with the Arizona Humanities Grants and Programs Dashboard if you do not already have one. Contact Arizona Humanities staff if you are unsure if your organization has an account. Samantha Anderson, sanderson@azhumanities.org or 602-257-0335.
• Apply
  • You will apply through a simple application that will take about 30 minutes to complete.
  • You will need the following to complete your application
    • Non-profit IRS Determination Letter
    • DUNS Number
    • Organization’s FY19 Annual Budget or FY20 Projected Annual Budget

NEH CARES: Cultural Organizations – Additional Funding Opportunity

In addition to funds distributed to Arizona Humanities and other state humanities councils, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has received supplemental funding to provide emergency relief to institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been affected by the coronavirus. 

The NEH is offering awards of up to $300,000 to eligible organizations seeking support for at-risk humanities positions and projects that have been impacted by the coronavirus. In keeping with Congress’s intent in enacting the CARES Act, proposed short-term projects should emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff.

Applications for this funding opportunity are due May 11, 2020. For more information visit the NEH CARES website: https://www.neh.gov/program/neh-cares-cultural-organizations

*Please note the Arizona Humanities CARES Act Emergency Relief Grant and the NEH CARES Grant are separate grant opportunities, and require separate applications. Contact the NEH directly with any questions regarding the NEH CARES grant. Contact the Division of Education Programs Team at questions@neh.gov