Envisioning Justice Grants for Individuals is sponsored by Illinois Humanities. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Illinois Humanities | Envisioning Justice Grants for Individuals We invite you to join us for our America 250 statewide initiative... Envisioning Justice Grants for Individuals These project-based grants support individuals such as educators, organizers, artists, and others who use the arts and humanities to work toward a truly just society.

Research projects, podcasts, grassroots publications, and public performances are just a few of the impactful initiatives we fund to create understanding about mass incarceration and its impact on communities in Illinois. By supporting those doing this important work, we build more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities.

This two-step grant review process typically takes about four months from the LOI deadline until groups are notified about funding. The timeline for activities seeking funding should occur within the grant period: August 1 - July 31 . A letter of intent opportunity (LOI) will be posted online for four weeks.

The “letter of intent” is a short proposal form focused on applicant eligibility and asking for brief program details. Illinois Humanities will send up to 30 invitations for selected applicants to submit a full proposal within 5 weeks of the LOI submission deadline. Those who have not been selected will be notified.

Applicants who have been invited to submit a full proposal will have five weeks to complete their application. Award notifications are sent within five weeks of the full proposal submission deadline. Grant funds are issued two to four weeks after the signed grant agreement is received.

All grant funds must be spent by the end of the grant period. The timeline for activities seeking funding should occur within the grant period: August 1 - July 31. Within 30 days of the conclusion of a project or grant period, grantees must complete a final grant report.

Applicants for this category include, but are not limited to: artists, humanists, community organizers, policy makers, journalists, and community advocates. Based anywhere in Illinois; individuals from the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply: East St. Louis, Decatur, Carbondale, Galesburg, Urbana-Champaign, and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area.

However, applicants from anywhere in Illinois are eligible.

Priority will be given to projects that are: regional or statewide in scope centering impacts of mass incarceration on the following populations: currently or formerly incarcerated individuals people serving long-term sentences young people, particularly those who are justice involved women, particularly women of color and/or impacted by gendered violence migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants Or that focus on communities that are: The site of a prison or jail Experiencing significant incarceration; and/or Experiencing significant demographic change as a result of the criminal legal system Be up-do-date on reporting for any previous grants from Illinois Humanities Questions about your eligibility?

View our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us. Individuals can apply for grants of up to $5,000 . No matching funds are required.

Evaluation & Documentation Evaluation and documentation are important to us, and we are eager to see how grant applicants define success and plan to measure progress toward it. We ask grant applicants to describe in precise terms the project's desired outcome, and how they will know if it was successful. Within 30 days of the conclusion of a project or grant period, grantees must complete a final grant report .

Apply using our online portal . Once you have registered, there will be an option to preview the application questions as a PDF. This document is to help familiarize you with the application and should not be filled out; apply online using the link provided.

Applicants may submit one grant application per cycle. Deadline*: 5:00 p. m.

CST on June 12, 2026 * When the grant deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will move to the next business day. If you are new to the world of proposal writing and would like to conduct an application by interview with an Illinois Humanities staff member, reach out to us at ejustice@ilhumanities. org at least 3 weeks ahead of the application deadline to arrange a time to talk.

We ask that anyone choosing this option come to the interview with developed thoughts on the project they’d like to propose, with details regarding the timeline, budget, audience, etc. Complete your final report via our online grantee portal . Grant Acknowledgement Language: This program was made possible in part by a grant from Illinois Humanities. Resources for grantee partners and grant seekers .

Grantee Partner Communications Toolkit Below is a brief description of a funded project. Artist Vershawn Sanders-Ward performs at an Envisioning Justice event (2018) Artist Mykele Deville addresses a crowd of Envisioning Justice collaborators and partners at an event (2019) ejustice@ilhumanities. org Grantee Partner Spotlight Photo by Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago.

Inside Voices: Finding Freedom in Creativity within Illinois Prisons The Mud Theatre Project and Melissa Amelia Pavlik received Illinois Humanities Grants to support their unique work in promoting the arts as an opportunity to build community and trust, inside and out. Learn more about their work. Photo by Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago.

Frequently Asked Questions What is your definition of the humanities? Broadly, the humanities help us understand and interpret what it means to be human; participating in the humanities equips us to form a diverse society.

In academic settings, the humanities encompass studies of art, art history, communications, culture, ethnic and gender studies, ethics, folklore and folk culture, literature, languages, music, dance, theatre, history, and philosophy. At Illinois Humanities, our focus is on the public humanities that happen (most often) outside of academic institutions.

We create — and support — programs, and modes of engagement that emphasize curiosity, questioning, and dialogue. Public humanities programs feature the following practices: The public humanities create a public. Gathering is designed with intentionality, and the people who gather may not already know each other.

People are talked with, not talked at. People are learning “with,” not just learning “from. ” People are encouraged to ask questions to better understand their own — as well as others’ — experiences and points of view.

Regardless of the mode of practice, public humanities support people to employ capacities we inherently hold as humans — being curious, listening closely, changing our minds, and embracing complexity and nuance.

The public humanities call upon us to use, practice and develop ways of engaging with one another that help us discern our own beliefs, expand our understanding of what is possible, and appreciate that differences make us stronger. These particular human abilities are like any other skill: they get better with practice and, when underdeveloped or underattended, they atrophy.

Does your organization have a working definition of the public humanities? Share it with us–we’re eager to explore how others are addressing this complex question. Can I apply for more than one Envisioning Justice grant?

Applicants can submit proposals to both categories of Envisioning Justice grants for individuals and organizations , but only one award will be given per grant cycle. If you currently have an open Envisioning Justice grant, you must submit your final report form for your current grant prior to submitting a new proposal. You may not submit more than one application for the same Envisioning Justice grant category.

You may apply for an Envisioning Justice grant while having an open Project, General Operating, or Foreground Rural Initiative grant. Who reviews and selects proposals? Illinois Humanities oversees the review and selection of awards with an advisory committee consisting of staff and advisors from across Illinois, including other grant-makers, past grant recipients, peers in justice work, and board members.

Is this a one-time grants program? Envisioning Justice grants have been awarded since 2017, and we work diligently to ensure that the organization will continue to offer this funding opportunity. What activities and expenses does Illinois Humanities not fund?

Illinois Humanities supports public humanities programs, initiatives, and organizations.

We do not fund: Activities that promote a specific political position or ideology Capital projects (i.e., renovation or purchase of buildings or land) Major equipment purchases (though equipment to assist a specific program is admissible) Out-of-state programs that have no specific relevance or thematic connection to people in Illinois (though technically a grant recipient or fiscal agent can be located elsewhere in the U.S.) Programming that falls outside of the humanities Social services (though a social services agency may apply for funding for a humanities project) Nonprofit organizations in good standing can apply for Illinois Humanities grants.

This includes 501(c)3 organizations and nonprofits under state law, as well as libraries, schools, faith-based organizations, and universities. We do not accept grant applications from individuals (unless otherwise indicated) or for-profit companies. If you are unsure about whether you can apply, reach out to us .

Why does Illinois Humanities have a grant-making program? Illinois Humanities has been making grants since its inception in 1973, with over 3,000 awards given, totaling over $22 million. We are proud to have supported dozens of documentary films, conferences, exhibits, training programs, oral history projects, and scores of other activities.

We are firm believers in the many organizations and individuals throughout the state of Illinois that value the humanities, culture, and dialogue as community-building activities, and wish to help them fulfill their missions, carry out high-quality programming, and grow their organizations. We are indebted to the Illinois General Assembly for the support that allows this grantmaking program to exist.

Donate to Illinois Humanities Suite 650, 125 South Clark St. Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Illinois Humanities respects the privacy of its audiences and will at no time sell or distribute personal information to any party not directly affiliated with Illinois Humanities and its programs. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations, or our funders.