To champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change.
Pennsylvania Humanities Council’s recent grantmaking is marked by Wingspan, a multi-year initiative that supports BIPOC-led and serving or rural organizations doing community-based humanities work in Pennsylvania. The program’s larger awards, including $55,000 grants to Rainbow Serpent Inc and Ujamaa Collective in Pittsburgh, show how the council uses its funding to back organizations already rooted in local communities. Alongside that initiative, the council supports public humanities work that centers storytelling, community planning, and civic engagement across the state. Recent grantees range from historical societies and public libraries to arts and cultural organizations, reflecting a field that includes both heritage work and contemporary cultural programming. The council’s youth-related efforts also appear in its grant portfolio through programs that support teen reading and youth-led humanities projects. Across the recent grant list, Pennsylvania organizations receive the full share of grants, underscoring a state-centered funding pattern rather than a broad national one. The council’s approach is organized around community identity, local history, and public-facing humanities projects rather than individual awards.
Community storytelling is a visible theme in the council’s portfolio. The Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center in Chester received a $50,000 Wingspan grant, tying place-based cultural work to a broader effort to support community-centered humanities in Pennsylvania. Local history is another recurring area: the Washington County Historical Society received $50,000 through Wingspan, and the program structure also includes Voices of History, which documents and shares stories of Pennsylvania history through community-centered projects. Youth programming appears in the grant menu as well. Rain Poetry grants support youth-serving organizations to develop public humanities projects that center young voices and bring poetry into public spaces, with each award set at $4,000. The council also runs Youth-Led Humanities project funds for Teen Reading Lounge sites and other humanities-based youth programming.
Typical awards in the recent grant list are fixed at $50,000 or $55,000 for Wingspan, while the council’s broader typical grant size is $14,280 at the 25th percentile and $16,000 at both the median and 75th percentile. Wingspan is a multi-year program, so the same recipients can appear across 2024 and 2025, including repeat awards to organizations such as Ujamaa Collective and World Affairs Council of Harrisburg. The council is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund. Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including PA Heart & Soul, Chester Made, Voices of History, and Rain Poetry.
$33K
$1.7M
$2.9M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $14K and $16K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$16K
LAURIE ZIERER
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Grantmaking is entirely Pennsylvania-based in the recent data, with 100% of grants going to recipients in PA. Pittsburgh appears often, including multiple Wingspan awards, and other recipient cities include Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Chester, State College, Uniontown, Meadville, and Tunkhannock. The distribution also reaches smaller communities such as Shamokin, Knox, and Selinsgrove, showing a statewide pattern rather than concentration in one metro area. While the headquarters is in Philadelphia, the grant geography extends across the state.
The council funds community-based humanities, youth development, storytelling, public programming, advocacy, and local history work. In the recent grant list, recipients include historical societies, public libraries, arts organizations, cultural centers, and community groups across Pennsylvania.
Yes, for some programs. PA Heart & Soul, Chester Made, Voices of History, and Rain Poetry accept unsolicited requests. Other opportunities in the portfolio, including Wingspan and Youth-Led Humanities project funds, are listed as not accepting unsolicited applications.
The typical grant size is $14,280 at the 25th percentile, $16,000 at the median, and $16,000 at the 75th percentile. In the recent grant list, Wingspan awards are much larger, commonly $50,000 and $55,000.
Yes. The geographic scope is local, the top state by grant count is Pennsylvania, and 100% of recent grants went to recipients in PA. Recent recipient cities include Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chester, State College, and Uniontown.
Yes. Wingspan is described as a multi-year initiative, and the recent grant list shows recipients appearing in both 2024 and 2025, including Ujamaa Collective and World Affairs Council of Harrisburg.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Pennsylvania Humanities Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: For PA small cities, townships, and boroughs with populations of 2,500 to 30,000; grants are provided to resident-led groups implementing the Community Heart & Soul model.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis until grant funds are exhausted.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County Community Foundation | Honesdale, PA | $22,500 | 2026 | PA Heart & Soul |
| Johnsonburg Borough | Johnsonburg, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | PA Heart & Soul |
| Ujamaa Collective | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Rainbow Serpent Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Keystones Oral Histories | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Jefferson County Historical Society | Brookville, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| World Affairs Council of Harrisburg | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Knoxville Public Library | Knoxville, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Community Theater Project Corporation dba Kelly St | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Washington County Historical Society | Washington, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| 3 Dots Downtown | State College, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library | Shamokin, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc | Tunkhannock, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Adams County Arts Council | Gettysburg, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Crawford County Historical Society | Meadville, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| The Cooperage Project | Honesdale, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Susquehanna Valley Mediation | Selinsgrove, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| National Road Heritage Corridor | Uniontown, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Twelve Gates Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Friends of the Tanner House | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Community Partnerships RC&D | Lewistown, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| The Legacy Arts Project | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center | Chester, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Mansfield Borough | Mansfield, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | PA Heart & Soul |
| Port Allegany Borough | Port Allegany, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | PA Heart & Soul |
| Presente Media | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Venango Area Chamber of Commerce | Oil City, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | PA Heart & Soul |
| Cambodian American Girls Empowering of CultureTrus | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day Philly Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | Wingspan |
| Borough of Etna | Pittsburgh, PA | $22,500 | 2025 | PA Heart & Soul |
| KEYSTONES ORAL HISTORIES | NEW CUMBERLAND, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| UJAMAA COLLECTIVE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| ADAMS COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL | GETTYSBURG, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| COMMUNITY THEATER PROJECT CORP DBA KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY MEDIATION INC | SELINSGROVE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| WYOMING COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER INC | TUNKHANNOCK, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| FRIENDS OF TANNER HOUSE CO PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| 3 DOTS DOWNTOWN | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| NATIONAL ROAD HERITAGE CORRIDOR | UNIONTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| TWELVE GATES ARTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| KNOXVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY | KNOXVILLE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| CRAWFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MEADVILLE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| SHAMOKIN-COAL TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY | SHAMOKIN, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| CHESTER CULTURAL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER | CHESTER, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| RAINBOW SERPENT INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS RC&D | LEWISTOWN, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | BROOKVILLE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| THE COOPERAGE PROJECT | HONESDALE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
| WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF HARRISBURG | HARRISBURG, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | WINGSPAN |
Johnsonburg Borough
$10,000PA Heart & Soul
Rainbow Serpent Inc
$55,000Wingspan
Keystones Oral Histories
$50,000Wingspan
Jefferson County Historical Society
$50,000Wingspan
World Affairs Council of Harrisburg
$50,000Wingspan
Knoxville Public Library
$50,000Wingspan
Washington County Historical Society
$50,000Wingspan
3 Dots Downtown
$50,000Wingspan
Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library
$50,000Wingspan
Wyoming County Cultural Center Inc
$50,000Wingspan
Crawford County Historical Society
$50,000Wingspan
Susquehanna Valley Mediation
$50,000Wingspan
National Road Heritage Corridor
$50,000Wingspan
Twelve Gates Arts
$50,000Wingspan
Friends of the Tanner House
$50,000Wingspan
Community Partnerships RC&D
$50,000Wingspan
Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center
$50,000Wingspan
Mansfield Borough
$35,000PA Heart & Soul
Port Allegany Borough
$35,000PA Heart & Soul
Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
$25,000PA Heart & Soul
Indigenous Peoples' Day Philly Inc
$25,000Wingspan
Borough of Etna
$22,500PA Heart & Soul
KEYSTONES ORAL HISTORIES
$50,000WINGSPAN
SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY MEDIATION INC
$50,000WINGSPAN
WYOMING COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER INC
$50,000WINGSPAN
FRIENDS OF TANNER HOUSE CO PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILA
$50,000WINGSPAN
3 DOTS DOWNTOWN
$50,000WINGSPAN
NATIONAL ROAD HERITAGE CORRIDOR
$50,000WINGSPAN
TWELVE GATES ARTS
$50,000WINGSPAN
KNOXVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$50,000WINGSPAN
CRAWFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000WINGSPAN
WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000WINGSPAN
SHAMOKIN-COAL TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
$50,000WINGSPAN
CHESTER CULTURAL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER
$50,000WINGSPAN
RAINBOW SERPENT INC
$50,000WINGSPAN
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS RC&D
$50,000WINGSPAN
JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000WINGSPAN
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF HARRISBURG
$50,000WINGSPAN
