Quick Grants

The Michigan Humanities Council provides support for public humanities programs that fall outside the design and deadline schedules of the major grants. To help meet these requests and to match humanities resources and professionals with local needs, the Council offers Quick Grants and Planning Grants. Quick Grants provide up to $500 and Planning Grants provide up to $1,000 to Michigan-based, nonprofit organizations for public humanities programs or services. Organizations may only receive one quick or planning grant per year.

Eligible expenses include:

Great Michigan Read: Program expenses supporting the Great Michigan Read, such as the cost of books, printing, promotion, video/audio taping, exhibit rental, honoraria and/or travel expenses for humanities professionals leading a book discussion group or speaking on the Great Michigan Read. The Michigan Humanities Council encourages proposals that expose new audiences to literature. Requests for funding to bring the author of Stealing Buddha's Dinner, Bich Minh Nguyen, to your event will not be accepted.
Planning (up to $1,000): Honoraria and/or travel expenses for humanities professionals serving as consultants in developing a public humanities project or program that will result in a nonprofit organization applying for a major grant through the Michigan Humanities Council. The professional(s) are to work with an organization/committee to develop the content, work plan, budget, and project implementation strategy.
Guest Speakers: Honoraria and/or travel expenses for humanities professionals participating in film/video/exhibit events, conferences, lectures; may also cover expenses such as printing, promotion, video/audio taping, exhibit rental, etc., related to the humanities professional participating in or leading the program.
Reading/Discussion Programs: Honoraria and/or travel expenses for humanities professionals leading book discussion groups at libraries or community centers; may also cover expenses such as printing, promotion, video/audio taping, exhibit rental, etc., related to the humanities professional participating in or leading the program.

NOTE: Programs and presenters already supported through the Arts & Humanities Touring Program are not eligible for additional Quick Grant support.

How to apply

1. Complete the application online with our new form (July 10, 2009) or in MS Word.
- If you use the online application, you cannot save your work (it is recommended to review the application first and have all your documentation in order prior to submitting... otherwise, download and use the MS Word application, which you can save).
- When submitting the online application, a copy will be sent to the e-mail address you provide
2. Sign and send via postal mail a copy of the certification with your application.
3. Send via postal mail a proof of your nonprofit status.
4. Send via postal mail a copy of the humanities’ professional’s vitae/resume.
5. Faxed copies will not be accepted.

Submission and Deadlines

The Council must receive applications for Quick Grants or Planning Grants at least four (4) weeks prior to your program or planning date. Retroactive applications will not be accepted.

Funding Criteria

Quick and Planning Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the allocation for the fiscal year (November 1-October 31) is committed. Sponsors are limited to no more than one Quick Grant or Planning Grant award per year. Priority is given to first-time applicants and organizations that do not have another Council grant already in progress.

Notification and Grant Administration

Successful applicants will be notified by mail, usually within four weeks of receipt of the application. They will receive grant contracts, evaluation and financial reporting forms, and instructions for program promotion and acknowledgement of Michigan Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) support for program activities. Once the project is completed, the evaluation and financial reporting forms must be returned to the Council within 30 days. Applicants awarded a grant will receive 60 percent of the funds upon approval; the remaining 40 percent will be provided upon completion of all final reports.