Connecting people to the history, literature, and culture of Connecticut; encouraging curiosity, understanding, and critical thinking through grants, programs, and partnerships.
Connecticut Humanities Council Inc has used large, repeated awards to keep Connecticut museums open to children and families in the summer, with multiple seven-figure grants tied to free admission programs at institutions such as The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and the Connecticut Science Center. Those awards sit alongside support for historical societies, performing arts organizations, tribal cultural institutions, and public humanities projects across the state. The foundation’s work is centered on Connecticut history, literature, and culture, with grants also used for exhibitions, public programs, and organizational support. In the recent grant list, Sea Research Foundation Inc Dba received $2,700,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for summer museum access, while Mystic Seaport Museum Inc received $1,500,000 in 2024 and 2025 for the same broad program area. Another large grant went to Connecticut Zoological Society Inc, also for summer museum access, showing that the foundation has sustained a state-level strategy around fee-free cultural access for children. Its stated program line also includes planning, implementation, and capacity support for humanities work.
One major thread is museum access for children and families. Connecticut Humanities Council Inc awarded $2,700,000 to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk for CT Summer at the Mus, and $1,500,000 to Connecticut Zoological Society Inc for the same program area. A second thread is general operating support for cultural institutions. The Connecticut League of History Organizations received $800,001 for CT Cultural Fund Ope, while the Goodspeed Opera House Foundation received $390,000 for the same operating-support line. The foundation also backs public humanities and media projects: Connecticut Public received $500,000 for How Housing Policy, and Connecticut Public Affairs Network received $250,000 for Kid Governor and CT. In addition, it has supported DEAI-related process work, including $500,000 to Mystic Seaport Museum Inc for DEAI: External Proc.
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures: p25 is $6,100, median is $9,100, and p75 is $17,900. The recent list also shows that the foundation makes both small program grants and very large strategic awards, including multi-million-dollar funding for museum access. Grants recur across years for some recipients, with several organizations appearing in both 2024 and 2025. Connecticut Humanities Council Inc is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and the active programs listed accept unsolicited applications.
$1.1M
$2.8M
$3.7M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $6K and $18K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$18K
JASON MANCINI
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Grantmaking is entirely in Connecticut, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grantees are spread across the state, including Hartford, Norwalk, Mystic/Stonington, Bridgeport, New Britain, East Haddam, Ridgefield, Greenwich, Stamford, and Mashantucket. Hartford appears frequently among recipient cities, while coastal museum and cultural institutions also receive substantial support. The recipient-country distribution is exclusively U.S.-based.
The foundation supports museums, historical organizations, libraries, cultural nonprofits, and public humanities groups in Connecticut. Recent awards include museum access funding, operating support for cultural nonprofits, and grants for exhibitions, public programs, interpretive digital media, and planning work.
Yes. The active programs listed for Quick Grants, Planning Grants, Capacity Grants, Implementation Grants, and CT Culture Lab all say they accept unsolicited applications.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small for many awards: p25 is $6,100, median is $9,100, and p75 is $17,900. The foundation also makes much larger awards for selected statewide initiatives, including multi-million-dollar grants.
Its giving is local and entirely in Connecticut. The data shows 100% of grants to recipients in CT, with recent grantees in cities including Hartford, Norwalk, Mystic/Stonington, Bridgeport, Stamford, and Greenwich.
Active programs include Quick Grants, Planning Grants, Capacity Grants, Implementation Grants, and CT Culture Lab. The program descriptions point to humanities projects, project planning, capacity building, leadership development, and public humanities work, all in Connecticut.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Connecticut Humanities Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Connecticut for at least one year and governed by a regularly meeting board, a Connecticut municipality, or a Connecticut-based federally or state recognized tribe.
Deadline: October 1, December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1
Who can apply: Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Connecticut for at least one year and governed by a regularly meeting board, a Connecticut municipality, or a Connecticut-based federally or state recognized tribe.
Deadline: November 1, 2026; May 1, 2027
Who can apply: Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Connecticut for at least one year and governed by a regularly meeting board, a Connecticut municipality, or a Connecticut-based federally or state recognized tribe.
Deadline: November 1, 2026; May 1, 2027
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT MUSEUM OF CULTURE AND H | HARTFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM OF ART | HARTFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| HARTFORD STAGE COMPANY INC | HARTFORD, CT | $75,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| CONNECTICUT LEAGUE OF HISTORY ORGAN | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $70,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F |
| CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR | KENT, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| CONNECTICUT PUBLIC AFFAIRS NETWORK | HARTFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F |
| CONNECTICUT HERITAGE FOUNDATION INC | HARTFORD, CT | $32,500 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR | KENT, CT | $30,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F |
| TOWN OF MANCHESTERMANCHESTER ARTS | MANCHESTER, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| BOOTHE MEMORIAL RAILWAY SOCIETY | STRATFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| CONNECTICUT MUSEUM OF CULTURE | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| 102ND INFANTRY REGIMENT MUSEUM | WEST HAVEN, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | FY2025 ARPA CT CORON |
| CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING IN | HARTFORD, CT | $24,195 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDA | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $22,500 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOUNDATIO | MANSFIELD, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F |
| DISCOVERING AMISTAD | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIETY 024 | HAMDEN, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY | FAIRFIELD, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | STONINGTON, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| CONNECTICUT MUSEUM OF CULTURE | HARTFORD, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F |
| FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM | OLD LYME, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| INDIA CULTURAL CENTER OF GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $18,300 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYFAIRFIELD UNIV | FAIRFIELD, CT | $15,497 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| HARRIET BEECHER STOWE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $15,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| NSCDA-CT WEBB-DEANE-STEVENS MUSEUM | WETHERSFIELD, CT | $13,925 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| SHARON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SHARON, CT | $10,829 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| CONNECTICUT COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL | MILFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS |
| CITYWIDE YOUTH COALITION INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANT |
| GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| THAMES RIVER HERITAGE PARK FOUNDATI | NEW LONDON, CT | $9,999 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| DENISON PEQUOTSEPOS NATURE CENTER | STONINGTON, CT | $9,999 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT CULTURAL C | NORWICH, CT | $9,950 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| CONNECTICUT STORYTELLING CENTER | NEW LONDON, CT | $9,500 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| KULTURALLY LIT INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $9,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| WINDSOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WINDSOR, CT | $7,562 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| JAMES MERRILL HOUSE FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $7,000 | 2026 | PLANNING GRANTS FY20 |
| COVENTRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCORPO | COVENTRY, CT | $5,652 | 2026 | CAPACITY GRANTS FY20 |
| SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC DBA | STONINGTON, CT | $2,700,000 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK | NORWALK, CT | $2,700,000 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $1,500,000 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| CONNECTICUT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $1,500,000 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM INC | STONINGTON, CT | $1,500,000 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN | NORWALK, CT | $192,358 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| CONNECTICUT LEAGUE OF HISTORY ORGAN | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $135,000 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS |
| THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC | WEST HARTFORD, CT | $128,976 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| CONNECTICUT AERONAUTICAL HISTORIC A | WINDSOR LOCKS, CT | $87,006 | 2025 | CT SUMMER AT THE MUS |
| CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR | KENT, CT | $62,500 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP GRANTS |
WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM OF ART
$100,000FY2025 ARPA CT CORON
CONNECTICUT LEAGUE OF HISTORY ORGAN
$70,000PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F
CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR
FY2025 ARPA CT CORON
CONNECTICUT PUBLIC AFFAIRS NETWORK
$50,000PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F
CONNECTICUT HERITAGE FOUNDATION INC
$32,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR
$30,000PARTNERSHIP GRANTS F
TOWN OF MANCHESTERMANCHESTER ARTS
$25,000FY2025 ARPA CT CORON
BOOTHE MEMORIAL RAILWAY SOCIETY
$25,000FY2025 ARPA CT CORON
102ND INFANTRY REGIMENT MUSEUM
$25,000FY2025 ARPA CT CORON
DISCOVERING AMISTAD
$20,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIETY 024
$20,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
$20,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$20,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$20,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
INDIA CULTURAL CENTER OF GREENWICH
$18,300IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE CENTER
$15,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
NSCDA-CT WEBB-DEANE-STEVENS MUSEUM
$13,925PLANNING GRANTS FY20
SHARON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,829PLANNING GRANTS FY20
CONNECTICUT COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL
$10,000PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
CITYWIDE YOUTH COALITION INC
$10,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANT
GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
THAMES RIVER HERITAGE PARK FOUNDATI
$9,999CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
DENISON PEQUOTSEPOS NATURE CENTER
$9,999CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT CULTURAL C
$9,950CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
CONNECTICUT STORYTELLING CENTER
$9,500CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
KULTURALLY LIT INC
$9,000PLANNING GRANTS FY20
WINDSOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$7,562CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
COVENTRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCORPO
$5,652CAPACITY GRANTS FY20
SEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC DBA
$2,700,000CT SUMMER AT THE MUS
CONNECTICUT LEAGUE OF HISTORY ORGAN
$135,000PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC
$128,976CT SUMMER AT THE MUS
CONNECTICUT AERONAUTICAL HISTORIC A
$87,006CT SUMMER AT THE MUS
CONNECTICUT ARTS ALLIANCE INCORPOR
$62,500PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
