Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants

Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants is sponsored by Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH). These mini-grants support public humanities programming proposals that engage local audiences with Louisiana's significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States.

Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants - LEH Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants Emergency Readiness Grants Louisiana Culture Care Fund Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants Emergency Readiness Grants Louisiana Culture Care Fund Parish America 250 Program Mini Grants In commemoration of the 250 th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the America 250 Louisiana State Commission, the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will be accepting letters of intent (LOIs) for the Parish America 250 Program Mini Grant.

Grants of up to $1,500 will be available to support public humanities programming proposals that engage local audiences with Louisiana’s significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States. Accepting applications on a rolling basis: The Louisiana America 250 Commission is dedicated to commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation and Louisiana’s role in its establishment.

The Parish America 250 Mini Grant program supports projects that engage with Louisiana’s significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States. Programs should engage local audiences with Louisiana history, foodways, folkways, music, and culture as they relate to the larger themes of the American Revolutionary era.

All viable programs are encouraged to include the participation of qualified humanities scholar(s) where applicable. Programs must be free and open to the public. The Parish America 250 Program Mini Grant prioritizes awards to parish governments, local tourism commissions, and school boards operating within the sixty-four parishes of Louisiana.

Also eligible are nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; public-facing organizations operating within accredited institutions of higher learning; state or local government agencies; or state or federally recognized Native American tribal governments in Louisiana. LEH aims to reach all areas of the state and support organizations of all sizes and communities of benefit.

Parish America 250 grants are available as upfront payment awards in advance of grant programs OR as reimbursement grants for projects beginning after January 1, 2026. Upfront grant awards will be issued to grantees that apply by the May 8 priority deadline. After May 8, applications for upfront payment awards will be accepted on a recurring basis through October 31, 2026, while funds are available.

To receive funding in time for your proposed project, projects should occur at least 6 weeks after application submission. Awards will be made monthly. During the rolling application period, applications may not be accepted from parishes that were well represented in the priority submission period.

Reimbursement grant awards will be issued to grantees with projects beginning after January 1, 2026. Any program relating to America 250 that has already occurred or will occur less than 6 weeks after the application submission date, is eligible for a reimbursement grant. Project Activity Timeline Applicants will receive feedback on their Letter of Interest within one week of submission.

Projects in need of further revision will be returned to the applicant for adjustment. Otherwise, your proposal will be assigned an application. If seeking funding in advance of your program, funded project activities should occur no earlier than 6 weeks after application submission.

Applications for reimbursement grants will be accepted at any time, as long as funding is available. All grant activities must have occurred after January 1, 2026, and be completed by December 31, 2026. Applicants may request up to $1,500 and demonstrate a 1:1 matching cost share in cash or in kind.

Eligible project formats include but are not limited to: Lectures (or lecture series) that involve audience participation and discussion; Scholar-led film viewing and discussion; Author/artist talks and discussion; Live historical reenactment Local commemorative events or festivals Artistic or historical exhibit curation Public art or mural production Local historical marker development School field trips, student fairs, or other school events Archival or museum collection acquisitions This grant can support program-related expenses like: Honoraria for scholars, musicians, artists, or other individuals Technical support for in-person or online events; Program-specific publicity Allowable expenses must occur within the period of performance specified in the grant.

Please be aware that payment may take up to 45 days from the date the award is signed. This program encourages proposals that draw from the humanities or bring the analytical potential of the humanities to bear on the commemoration of America 250.

The term “humanities” includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism, and theory of the arts; those aspects of the social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.

To avoid advocacy and bias, programs sponsored by the LEH must provide a balance of viewpoints, especially those projects dealing with controversial contemporary issues. For example, a project addressing the First Amendment’s relation to religion in public schools should provide subject matter for both sides of the issue. Programs must be designed to address the public broadly, rather than exclusively the scholarly community.

The Parish America 250 Mini Grant seeks to support programs designed to address a range of public audiences in local communities across the state of Louisiana. Programs may be designed for the general public or focus on more targeted audiences. Applicants will need to include the following required components Applicants must submit their federal tax identification/EIN number.

Applicants must submit their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). For further information on this component, please visit SAM. gov UEI.

Organizations must submit copies of their IRS determination letter or equivalent documentation confirming tax status (R-1056).

Grant funds cannot be used to support the following: Research, writing, and publication of material targeted exclusively or primarily for a scholarly audience Scholarships and fellowships Course work for academic credit, except for teacher institutes Construction or renovation (capital improvements projects) Social or political action Archival materials without a public component Institutional staffing or any other form of operational support Links to Applicant Resources: PARISH AMERICA 250 PROGRAM MINI GRANT RFP For more information on LEH Parish America 250 Mini Grants, contact the LEH grants office at dowdy@leh.

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