At CT Humanities, we know that your projects often touch multiple fields beyond the humanities, from house museums doing both interpretation and historic preservation to organizations doing both art performances and cultural contextualization. CTH looks to support public humanities projects through our granting opportunities, which you can learn more about here: https://cthumanities.org/grants/
However, we know that organizations have needs beyond the public humanities. This toolkit is intended to help you explore the funding landscape and other available resources in both the humanities and in other related fields.
This is a living toolkit that will be updated periodically. Inclusion in this toolkit does not demonstrate an endorsement or relationship with CTH.
Funders and Resources Based on Project Type
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for museums and humanities projects:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| CT League of History Organizations (CLHO)/CT League of Museums | State | CLHO is a membership organizations that shares knowledge and experience and promotes best practices among museums, historical societies and all who steward Connecticut’s heritage collections. | Resources: https://clho.org/
Connecticut Collections (Collections Management System): https://clho.org/ctcollections/about |
| Conservation ConneCTion | State | Conservation ConneCTion provides learning opportunities for collecting institutions through site visits, hands-on learning, and webinars/workshops. | Funding and Other Resources: https://ctconservationconnection.org/
View funding opportunities for museums, as well as digitization and archives trainings and resources. |
| New England Museum Association (NEMA) | Regional | NEMA is a community of museums and museum professionals that supplies professional development, advocacy, thought leadership, research, networking opportunities, and other tools. | Resources: https://nemanet.org/
View NEMA’s marketplace of museum products, services, and innovations, insurance discount benefits, and advocacy resources. |
| National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) | National | The NEH is a national funder for the humanities. Their offerings include funding for digital humanities, public programs, education programs, preservation and access, and research. | Funding: https://www.neh.gov/grants/listing
View upcoming grants for both individuals and organizations. |
| American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) | National | AASLH is a national membership organization that offers programs, professional development, conferences, advocacy, and more. | Resources: https://aaslh.org/about/what-we-do/
STEPS Program: https://aaslh.org/professional-development/steps/ The STEPS Program is a self-study, self-paced assessment program designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. |
| American Alliance of Museums (AAM) | National | AAM is a national membership organization that offers professional development, advocacy, conferences, and sets standards and guidelines for museums. | Resources: https://www.aam-us.org/ |
| Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) | National | IMLS advances, supports, and empowers America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.imls.gov/ |
| National Council on Public History (NCPH) | National | NCPH inspires public engagement with the past and serves the needs of practitioners in putting history to work in the world by building community among historians, expanding professional skills and tools, fostering critical reflection on historical practice, and publicly advocating for history and historians. | Resources: https://www.imls.gov/ |
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for arts organizations and artists:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| CT Office of the Arts (COA) | State | The Office of the Arts works to inspire a culture of creativity in Connecticut by supporting arts making and arts participation for all people. | Funding and Other Resources: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Services/Arts-and-Creativity/Funding-Opportunities
Professional Development for Artists: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Professional_Development/PD-for-Artists |
| Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSOs) | State | The role of the Designated Regional Service Organizations is to support Connecticut’s economy by providing arts and cultural leadership at a regional level. These organizations:
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Find your DRSO: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Our-Regional-and-State-wide-Partners/Designated-Regional-Service-Organizations |
| CT Arts Alliance (CAA) | State | CAA advocates for support for the arts, educates decision makers on the value of the arts to our state, and organizes the arts community to speak with a unified voice. | Advocacy: https://ctartsalliance.org/ |
| New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) | Regional | NEFA invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.nefa.org/ |
| Assets for Artists (A4A) | Regional | MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists is a program by artists for artists that provides professional development workshops, coaching, working capital grants, community building, artist residencies and more. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.assetsforartists.org/ |
| Creative Capital | Regional | Creative Capital is a nonprofit, grantmaking organization with the mission to fund artists in the creation of groundbreaking new work, to amplify the impact of their work, and to foster sustainable artistic careers. | Funding: https://creative-capital.org/ |
| National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) | National | The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.arts.gov/ |
For information on funding for historic preservation, please view “Historic Preservation.”
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) | State | The Good to Great granting program is managed by DECD and administered by CTH. Good to Great grants fund capital projects that help organizations develop new means of sharing and telling the stories of our state’s rich history and culture in engaging, meaningful, and relevant ways. | Good to Great Grants: https://cthumanities.org/grants/good-to-great/ |
| National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) | National | The NEH’s Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants are intended to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities by enabling infrastructure development and capacity building through capital purchases or renovations. | Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants |
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for historic preservation:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) | State | SHPO administers a range of federal and state programs that identify, register and protect the buildings, sites, structures, districts and objects that comprise Connecticut’s cultural heritage. | Funding: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Services/Historic-Preservation/Funding-Opportunities
Other Resources and Other Funders: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Services/Historic-Preservation/Other-Resources |
| Preservation Connecticut | State | Preservation Connecticut preserves, protects, and promotes the buildings, sites, and landscapes that contribute to the heritage and vitality of Connecticut communities. | Funding for Capital and Planning projects: https://preservationct.org/fund
Circuit Riders: https://preservationct.org/circuit-riders Circuit Riders can provide immediate, on-site assistance to historical societies, property owners, developers, elected officials, and local preservation commissions across Connecticut. In providing these services, Circuit Riders aim both to ensure that historic places are repair, rehabilitated, and reused, and to increase local capacity for stewardship and good policy-making. |
| National Park Service (NPS) | National | The NPS develops national standards and guidelines for preserving, rehabilitating, restoring and reconstructing historic properties. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservation/index.htm |
| National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) | National | The NEH is the federal funder for the humanities. They offer preservation assistance grants for smaller institutions. | Funding: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/preservation-assistance-grants-smaller-institutions |
| National Trust for Historic Preservation | National | The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places by fostering a deep sense of community, commitment and passion for saving places. | Funding: https://savingplaces.org/grants |
The following organizations provide resources for digital collections and archives:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| Conservation ConneCTion | State | Conservation ConneCTion provides learning opportunities for collecting institutions through site visits, hands-on learning, and webinars/workshops. | Digitization Workshop Series: https://ctconservationconnection.org/digitization |
| Connecticut Digital Archives (CTDA) | State | The CTDA is part of the Digital Preservation Repository Program at the University of Connecticut. They serve the entire state and are dedicated to the maintenance, delivery, and preservation of a wide range of digital resources for educational and cultural institutions and State Agencies in Connecticut. | Explore Collections: https://ctdigitalarchive.org/
Resources: https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CTDA/overview Copyright Guide: https://ctdigitalarchive.org/RS/copyright |
| Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) | Regional | NEDCC is a non-profit conservation center devoted to the conservation and preservation of paper based materials. | Resources on Digitization: https://www.nedcc.org/preservation101/session-7/7digitization
Resources on Digital Preservation: https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/digital-preservation |
| Library of Congress (LOC) | National | The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Preservation is a top priority of the Library of Congress. | Resources on Digitization: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/scan.html
Resources on Digital Preservation: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/ |
| Council of State Archivists (CoSA) | National | The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) is a nonprofit membership organization of the state and territorial government archives in the fifty states, five territories, and District of Columbia. Through collaborative research, education, and advocacy, CoSA provides leadership that strengthens and supports state and territorial archives in their work to preserve and provide access to government records. | Managing Digitization Projects: https://www.statearchivists.org/viewdocument/seri-tools-and-resources-committee
Resources on Archiving and Preservation: https://www.statearchivists.org/viewdocument/state-archiving-in-the-digital-era Digital Best Practices: https://www.statearchivists.org/viewdocument/digital-best-practices-series-02-d Resource Center: https://www.statearchivists.org/research-resources/resource-center |
| National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) | National | The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. | Resources on Digital Preservation: https://www.archives.gov/preservation/digital-preservation |
| National Historic Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC) | National | The NHPRC provides support and funding to preserve and increase the accessibility of archives. | Funding and Other Resources: https://www.archives.gov/nhprc |
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for museums and other organizations related to collections care:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| Conservation ConneCTion | State | Conservation ConneCTion provides learning opportunities for collecting institutions through site visits, hands-on learning, and webinars/workshops. | Funding: https://ctconservationconnection.org/collections-assess-grant
Archives 101 Webinar Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ma2rUm2kl4&list=PLele-1uC1sGCFCVRq5EP5dXa5Hx_B6w_E |
| Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) | Regional | NEDCC is a non-profit conservation center devoted to the conservation and preservation of paper based materials. | Resources: https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-101
Funding: https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/funding-opportunities/overview |
| National Park Service (NPS) | National | The NPS develops Conserve O Grams, short leaflets about caring for museum objects. | Resources: https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/cons_toc.html |
| Library of Congress (LOC) | National | The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. | Resources: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/ |
| National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) | National | The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. | Resources: https://www.archives.gov/preservation |
| Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) | National | The FAIC is a nonprofit associated with the American Institute for Conservation which aims to save cultural heritage for future generations. | Funding: https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/funding/outside-funding-sources
Resources: https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/collections-care |
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for media projects:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) | National | The NEH offers grants for digital and media projects that interpret and analyze humanities content. Digital projects include websites, apps, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual environments. Media projects include radio, podcasts, and documentaries. | Find the Right Fit for your Digital Project: https://www.neh.gov/divisions/odh/resources-for-applicants-to-the-NEH-office-of-digital-humanities |
The following organizations provide funding and other resources for libraries and/or literature-related projects:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| Connecticut State Library (CSL) | State | The mission of the Connecticut State Library is to preserve and make accessible Connecticut’s history and heritage and to advance the development of library services statewide. | Resources: https://ctstatelibrary.org/
Consultant Look-Up: https://consultants.ctlibrarians.org/ The CSL offers various resources, including digital collections, State archives finding aids, Connecticut newspapers and vital records, and more. |
| Connecticut Library Association (CLA) | State | CLA is Connecticut’s professional organization of librarians which serves to improve library service to Connecticut and advocate for the interests of libraries and librarians. | Advocacy: https://ctlibraryassociation.org/ |
| Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) | State | CLC is a membership organization that serves libraries and librarians, providing discounts and other resources. | Discounts and Resources: https://www.ctlibrarians.org/ |
| New England Library Association (NELA) | Regional | NELA is a membership organization that provides professional development for library professionals. | Membership Benefits: https://www.nelib.org/member-benefits-membership |
| American Library Association (ALA) | National | ALA provides grants, scholarships, advocacy, conferences, and other professional development for library professionals. | Grants: https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/browse/grnt?showfilter=no
Scholarships: https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/browse/sclp?showfilter=no Other Resources: https://www.ala.org/ |
CT Community Foundations
Community foundations typically fund non-profit entities and may be a resource for your project.
| Organization | Service Area | Learn More |
| Connecticut Community Foundation | Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills | https://conncf.org/ |
| Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation | Northwest CT | https://www.yournccf.org/ |
| Community Foundation of Middlesex County | Middlesex County | https://middlesexcountycf.org/ |
| Hartford Foundation for Public Giving | Greater Hartford | https://www.hfpg.org/ |
| Community Foundation for Greater New Haven | Greater New Haven | https://www.cfgnh.org/ |
| The Community Foundation of Eastern CT | 42 communities in New London, Windham, and Tolland counties | https://cfect.org/ |
| Main Street Community Foundation | Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott | https://www.mainstreetfoundation.org/ |
Resources for Grant Writers
The following organizations offer tips and resources on grant writing:
| Organization | Org Type | About | Learn More |
| Cultural Coalition | Southeastern and Northeastern CT | The Cultural Coalition’s Funding Booster Program provides monthly drop-in grant clinics, workshops, consulting, online resources, peer-to-peer resource sharing, and technical support to improve our region’s arts and cultural sector’s ability to capitalize on local, state, New England and federal grant opportunities. | Funding Booster Program: http://culturesect.org/funding-booster-program/ |
| Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County | Fairfield County | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County’s Funding Booster program is free and open to all members. The program is designed to help all grant writers, from beginners to seasoned veterans, learn new skills, and burnish old ones, in order to be as successful as possible in all their grant writing ambitions. | Funding Booster Program: https://culturalalliancefc.org/programs/funding-booster/ |
| Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) | Regional | NEDCC provides webinar recordings on YouTube that provide useful tips on fundraising and the granting season, from searching for grant applications to writing a grant narrative. These resources are focused on preservation. | Fundraising and Grant Writing Tips (re: Preservation): https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/funding-opportunities/fundraising-tips |
| Candid | National | Candid is a nonprofit organization that provides research, collaboration, and training to other nonprofits. For access to Candid’s Foundation Directory, check with your public library. | Resources: https://candid.org/
Trainings in Fundraising, Organizations Sustainability, and Leadership & Management: https://learning.candid.org/training/ |
