The Illinois Humanities Multiplier Project Grants provide funding to nonprofit organizations engaged in partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits, humanities-focused groups, or directly with their audiences and communities. The goal of this grant is to support projects that impact underfunded and underserved communities while fostering collaboration in the public humanities. Through these projects, Illinois Humanities aims to highlight overlooked historical narratives and broaden community engagement in humanities-based initiatives.

Organizations applying for the Multiplier Project Grant must be nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations in good standing or have a fiscal sponsor. The project must be Illinois-based and rooted in the humanities, as defined by Illinois Humanities. Priority is given to organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or less, and applicants must be up-to-date on reporting for any previous Illinois Humanities grants. The application also requires clear buy-in from all participating partners before submission. Preference is given to projects that directly serve communities that have historically been underfunded or underserved.

This grant provides funding of up to $10,000 per project. In addition, applicants can request optional stipends to support accessibility and media-related expenses. The Accessibility Fund provides an additional $150 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning, while the Media Fund offers a $100 stipend for documentation, photography, or videography. Funding will not be issued for activities and expenses outside the scope of the grant, as outlined in the program guidelines.

Applications for the 2025 funding cycle open on January 21, 2025, at 9:00 AM, and the deadline for submissions is March 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The grant review process typically takes approximately eight weeks, with funding notifications sent to applicants afterward. Awarded grants are issued two to three weeks after a signed grant agreement is received. Project activities should not begin until ten weeks after the application deadline. Grantees are required to submit a final report within 30 days of completing their project or grant period.

Illinois Humanities, which administers this grant, is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Illinois General Assembly through the Illinois Arts Council, and private contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization is committed to expanding public humanities initiatives throughout Illinois and ensuring equitable access to cultural and historical programming.

For more information, applicants can contact Mark Hallett, Director of Grants Programs, via email at communitygrants@ilhumanities.org or by phone at (312) 422-5586. Additional inquiries can be directed to Illinois Humanities at their Chicago office at Suite 650, 125 South Clark St., Chicago, IL 60603, or their Edwardsville office at 600 Troy Road, N4, Room 207, Edwardsville, IL 62025.