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Grants

Important Update

SCH is not accepting grant applications at this time. Please check back later or sign up to receive quarterly newsletters for grant and program updates (scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe).

Grants

The grants program has always been the foundation of our public support of the humanities. We have funded a variety of projects, from major documentaries broadcast on national public television to small-scale genealogies and oral histories at the local level. South Carolina Humanities awarded its first grant in the spring of 1973 and recently has awarded approximately $200,000 a year in grant monies.

Major
Grants

Awards $5,000 to $15,000

Major Grants are for public humanities programs that are large in scale. As of April 2025, Major Grants are suspended until further notice.

Mini
Grants

Awards $5,000 or less

Mini Grants are to support public humanities programs of modest cost. As of April 2025, Mini Grants are suspended until further notice.

Planning
Grants

Awards $5,000 or less

Planning Grants are awarded to support preliminary work in designing a project. As of April 2025, Planning Grants are suspended until further notice.

Fast Track Literary Grants

Awards $5,000 or less

Fast Track Literary Grants are intended to support new or existing public literary programs such as (but not limited to) writers series, festivals, workshops, or writer’s residencies at schools. As of April 2025, Fast Track Litereary Grants are suspended until further notice.

Student Scholarships

SC Humanities will offer an annual scholarship for one undergraduate and one graduate student who have declared a major or are enrolled in a Master’s degree program in the humanities.

Access
Grants

SC Humanities’ Access Grants are intended to support making public humanities programs and collections more accessible to diverse public audiences. Awards are currently $2,000 or less. As of February 2025, Access Grants are suspended until further notice.

"For a long time, we have never had a civil rights museum. It was with the great assistance of this agency to really help a young museum like ours move a step forward."

Cecil Williams

We are here to help

South Carolina Humanities makes connections and offers technical assistance to prospective grantees every day. We frequently provide advice, referrals and mentoring (at no charge). The goal of the grants program is to build communities, increase the cultural capacity of local institutions and provide local economic impact.

How to Apply

Review our grant guidelines and applications.

Grants Webinar

Watch our free grants writing webinar for tips and techniques.

Draft Review

Our staff will review drafts up to two weeks before the application deadline.

Grantee Support

Review information to help you manage your project and complete a successful grant.
I applied for a grant through South Carolina Humanities and it just laid the building blocks for everything I was able to do moving forward.
Adrienne Burris
Educator

Get Quarterly Grants and Programs Updates

Sign up to receive quarterly newsletters that showcase what SC Humanities has to offer! 

Awarded Grants

The South Carolina Humanities grants program reaches every corner of the Palmetto State. View a list of projects supported by SC Humanities since 2007. 

View Awarded Grants

Frequently Asked Questions

Any non-profit, governmental, or educational organization may apply for funding through SC Humanities. Previous applicants have included local libraries, museums, schools, churches, civic groups, and historical and arts councils.
No.
SC Humanities does not fund costs for administration. However, program costs (telephone, mail, promotion, etc.) are allowable.
You must use our application format. Generic proposal formats or applications for other organizations will not be accepted.
Complete the appropriate application and submit it to SC Humanities staff. Organizations are encouraged to consider submitting drafts for staff review prior to final submission.
Yes. SC Humanities requires a 1:1 match. Match may be divided between cash and in-kind services, as long as the total at least equals the grant award.
If it is donated, it can count as “in-kind services”. Examples would include: volunteer time, project administration, or donations of good or services.
Yes. SC Humanities does not prohibit previous recipients from applying for additional funding. However, repetitive projects are discouraged. Applications from the same sponsor for programs of similar content, staff, format, and audience will not normally be funded more than twice.
More FAQs

Theresa J. Wallace (T.J.)

Assistant Director

For more information about the South Carolina Humanities grants program, contact T.J. Wallace at tjwallace@schumanities.org or 803-771-2477.