To help people explore what connects us and makes us human.
Focus Areas
Public humanitiesGrants to nonprofits and government entitiesCivic education and democratic engagementCommunity reading and literacy programsHistory and cultural heritagePublic programming and speakersYouth education (e.g., National History Day)
Who They Fund
Nebraska residents and general publicmuseums and cultural institutionseducators and schoolscommunity organizations
Funding Style
About Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities
A defining feature of Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities is that its recent giving includes operating support to the Nebraska Humanities Council in Lincoln, with grants of $65,100 in 2025 and $60,830 in 2023. That pattern points to a funder centered on public humanities infrastructure as well as project activity. The foundation’s stated purpose is to help people explore what connects us and makes us human, and its program list shows that idea translated into support for public humanities, history, literature, culture, civic education, community engagement, and youth education. Grantmaking is aimed at nonprofit organizations and government entities, including museums, schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions. The foundation also runs a Museum on Main Street partnership that brings Smithsonian traveling exhibitions to rural Nebraska communities and supports host organizations. Across its active programs, the emphasis is on public-facing work: programs, exhibitions, speakers, educational projects, and partnerships that connect humanities content with everyday life.
What Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities Funds
In public humanities work, the foundation funds projects that bring history, literature, culture, and philosophy into community settings. Its program grants support nonprofit organizations and government entities, including public-facing humanities activities and community programs across Nebraska. A related emphasis is the Connections Program Grant Emphasis, which prioritizes projects that link traditional humanities topics with non-humanities subject areas or everyday life. The foundation also supports civic education and democratic engagement through humanities-centered programming. Another strand is youth education, including projects such as National History Day, which fits its broader interest in educational work that helps people engage with the humanities in practical settings. Museum partnerships are part of this portfolio as well, especially through Smithsonian traveling exhibitions hosted in rural Nebraska.
How Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities Gives
Typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25 is $61,898, median is $62,965, and p75 is $64,032. The recent grants listed are both to the Nebraska Humanities Council, in 2023 and 2025, which suggests recurring support rather than one-off funding. The structure is grant-based and project-oriented, with active programs for nonprofit organizations and government entities. Several programs accept unsolicited applications, including program grants, major grants, mini grants, and Museum on Main Street support. One program is explicitly sized at $0–$2,000 for mini grants, while major grants are described separately for requests above $2,000.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$192K
Total Assets
$4.4M
Total Revenue
$752K
Total Expenses
$204K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $62K and $64K, with a median of $63K.
25th Percentile
$62K
Median
$63K
75th Percentile
$64K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MIKE HOMA
Deep Analysis
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project-based grantsprogram supportpartnership fundingpublic-facing programmingcapacity building for cultural organizations
Topics
public humanitieslocal/regional historyliterature and literary programmingmuseum partnerships and exhibitionscommunity engagement and public programminghumanities education and workshopscultural heritage preservation
Where Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities Makes Grants
Grantmaking is local and entirely in Nebraska: 100% of grants in the dataset go to recipients in the HQ state. Lincoln appears in the recent grants list, and the Museum on Main Street partnership is built around rural Nebraska communities. The top state by grant count is Nebraska, matching the foundation’s statewide Nebraska focus. The available record does not show out-of-state or non-U.S. recipient activity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities
What kinds of projects does Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities support?
It supports public humanities projects across Nebraska, including history, literature, culture, philosophy, civic education, community engagement, youth education, museum exhibitions, and public programming. Its active programs also include support for projects that connect humanities topics with everyday life or other disciplines.
Who can apply for funding?
The active programs described here are for nonprofit organizations and government entities. The museum partnership program also works with local host organizations in rural Nebraska communities.
How large are its typical grants?
Typical grant size is very consistent: the 25th percentile is $61,898, the median is $62,965, and the 75th percentile is $64,032. Separate program descriptions also identify mini grants from $0 to $2,000 and major grants above $2,000.
Does the foundation fund only Nebraska recipients?
Yes. The dataset shows 100% of grants going to recipients in Nebraska, and the geographic scope of giving is local. The Museum on Main Street partnership also focuses on rural Nebraska communities.
Are grants recurring or one-time awards?
The recent grants list shows repeated support to the Nebraska Humanities Council in both 2023 and 2025, which indicates recurring funding. The grant programs themselves are ongoing and include program grants, major grants, mini grants, and Museum on Main Street support.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 19 days (Sep 1, 2026)Award: $0 – $2K
Mini Grant (Humanities Nebraska)
public humanitieshistoryliterature+4 more
Who can apply: Applicant must be a Nebraska nonprofit or a federal, state, county, local, or tribal government entity, including public schools and libraries, with no overdue HN grant reports. The project must be humanities-centered, public, Nebraska-based or significant to Nebraska, free or low-cost, and include at least a 1:1 match.
Deadline: Jan. 1, Mar. 1, May 1, Jul. 1, Sep. 1, Nov. 1
Who can apply: Applicants must be Nebraska nonprofits with 501(c)(3) or other 501(c) status, or federal/state/county/local/tribal government entities including public schools and libraries; projects must have central humanities content, involve a humanities subject expert, be open to the public, relate to Nebraska or Nebraskans, include a 1:1 match, and not involve advocacy, fundraisers, or ineligible institutional purposes.
Deadline: Mini Grants: Jan. 1, Mar. 1, May 1, Jul. 1, Sept. 1, Nov. 1; Major Grants: Mar. 1 and Aug. 1; Media Grants: Jan. 15 and Jun. 15.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a Nebraska nonprofit or a federal, state, county, local, or tribal government entity, including public schools and libraries, with no overdue HN grant reports. The project must be humanities-centered, public, Nebraska-based or significant to Nebraska, free or low-cost, and include at least a 1:1 match.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
