About Us
Our Mission
Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.
OUR VISION
An Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.
Founded in 1974, we are the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by state, federal, and private funds. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration. Stay connected with us by subscribing to the Illinois Humanities newsletter and following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @ILHumanities.
Our Strategic Plan
Our new strategic plan outlines what we are going to do and why. Over the next five years, we will work to make the public humanities central to a just, creative, and connected, Illinois. We are committed to being partner-centered, honoring our complex histories and cultures, making space for difficult (and crucial) conversations, and actively promoting equity.
We will champion a statewide humanities ecosystem by creating programs to address timely issues, amplifying statewide public humanities programs and practitioners with support and visibility, connecting organizations with one another and across diverse sectors, and promoting the importance of the humanities for our state’s wellbeing.
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Envisioning Justice partner Renaldo Hudson (left) and Executive Director Gabrielle Lyon at an event cohosted by Illinois Humanities and WTTW.
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A young writer performs their winning poem at the 2023 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards. (Photo by Glitter Guts)
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Graduates of the Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea pose with their certificates at the 2023 graduation ceremony.
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Director of Grants Programs Mark Hallett (left) and Board member Juana Guzman present an award at the 2023 Public Humanities Awards. (Photo by Glitter Guts)
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A 2019 Country and the City event gathers speakers, performers, and audience members in Springfield, Ill.
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Illinois Humanities staff at the 2023 Public Humanities Awards.
Our Impact
For nearly 50 years, Illinois Humanities has worked throughout the state to make the public humanities accessible to all. Through grants, partnerships, and public programs, we have worked with groups of all sizes, disciplines, and stages of development to increase their local and statewide impact and support the state’s cultural ecosystem.
Explore the map to discover our vast network of grantee partners across the state and connect with a public humanities organization near you. Below, see a snapshot of how Illinois Humanities grants and programs provide free and transformative humanities experiences for all Illinoisans.
16,600
Illinoisans served in 76 counties through grants and public programming
85
income-eligible adults were provided free college credit courses in the humanities
183
grants awarded to small, community-based arts and culture organizations
$ 2.4 M
in total COVID-19 relief funding provided in 78 counties and every congressional district
Recent Grantee Partners
Activate History Microgrants
Eve Bridges, Cook County, $750
Haitian American Museum of Chicago, Cook County, $1,000
History On Wheels, Will County, $1,000
Jackson County Historical Society, Jackson County, $1,000
Legacy Training, Pulaski County, $850
The Hub-Arts and Cultural Center, Schuyler County, $750
The Realitea Project Inc., Cumberland County $1,000
Tony Burroughs, Cook County, $950
Community Grants (Action, General Operating, and Vision)
The Community Archive, St. Clair County, $4,250
McLean County Museum of History, McLean County, $4,000
Liberation Journeys, Cook County, $5,000
Black Alphabet, Cook County, $4,250
Congo Square Theatre, Cook County, $4,250
Crossing Borders Music, Cook County, $4,150
Design Trust Chicago, Cook County, $4,000
Lynx Project, Cook County, $4,250
Sonny Speaks, Cook County, $4,250
Arts & Business Council of Chicago, Cook County, $2,000
Hyde Park Art Center, Cook County, $4,000
International Children's Media Center, Cook County, $4,100
Liberation Library, Cook County, $4,000
MAKE Literary Productions, Cook County, $4,250
Nothing Without a Company Inc., Cook County, $2,250
Public Media Institute, Cook County, $4,250
Serendipity Theatre Company DBA 2nd Story, Cook County, $4,100
Youth Network Council, Cook County, $5,000
Strategy for Access Foundation NFP, Cook County, $5,000
National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial, Cook County, $5,000
Bronzeville / Black Chicagoan Historical Society, Cook County, $4,100
Midwest Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Network Group Foundation, Cook County, $4,250
Gilloury Institute DBA Silk Road Rising, Cook County, $4,100
contratiempo NFP, Cook County, $5,000
Cicero Independiente, Cook County, $5,000
Quad Cities Pride in Memory, Inc., Scott County, $4,200
Illinois Heartland Library System, Madison County, $4,000
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Cook County, $5,000
History Center Lake Forest Lake Bluff, Lake County, $4,000
Lawrence County Illinois Historical Society, Lawrence County, $5,000
Western Illinois Museum, McDonough County, $5,000
Understanding Works NFP, Warren County, $4,250
Oregon Public Library District, Ogle County, $5,000
Pana Historical Society, Christian County, $5,000
Edgar County Historical Society, Edgar County, $4,000
Abe Lincoln Project, Pike County, $5,000
Les Amis du Fort de Chartres, Randolph County, $5,000
Royalton Public Library District, Franklin County, $5,000
Garvey Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center, Sangamon County, $4,000
Chicago Workers Collaborative, Lake County, $4,200
Envisioning Justice Grants
Aaron Hughes, Cook County, $4,000
Alex Morelli, Cook County, $4,000
Beyond the Walls The Movement, NFP, Jackson County, $8,000
Chasity Ann Michelle Gunn, Cook County, $4,250
Chicago 400 Alliance, Cook County, $8,000
Chicago Community Bond Fund, Cook County, $8,000
Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation, Cook County, $8,000
Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices, Cook County, $8,000
Faylita Hicks, Cook County, $4,000
FirstFollowers, Champaign County, $8,000
FORCE! an opera in three acts, Cook County, $4,000
India Hilty, Cook County, $4,200
Joseph R Dole, Will County, $4,000
Kirsten Leenaars, Cook County, $4,000
Legacy Training, Inc., Pulaski County, $8,000
Liberation Library, Cook County, $8,000
Mothers Healing Circle, Cook County, $4,250
North Park Theological Seminary School of Restorative Arts, Cook County, $8,000
Piven Theatre Workshop, Cook County, $8,000
Saint Leonard's Ministries, Cook County, $8,000
Sojourner Zenobia, Cook County, $4,200
Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, Cook County, $8,000
Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center, Champaign County, $8,000
Foreground Rural Initiative Grants
Brian "Fox" Ellis, Henry County, $6,000
Cairo Historical Preservation Project, Alexander County, $10,000
Carbondale Community Arts Inc dba Artspace 304, Jackson County, $10,000
Carlinville Winning Communities, Macoupin County, $10,000
Crossroads Cultural Connections, Henry County, $10,000
Dennis Stroughmatt, Edwards County, $6,000
Evans Public Library, Fayette County, $10,000
Fulton County Arts, Fulton County, $10,000
Gallery 510 Art and Framing, an Illinois Art Gallery, Macon County, $10,000
Gin Ridge Music, McDonough County, $6,000
Grundy County Historical Society, Grundy County, $10,000
Here and Again Inc, La Salle County, $10,000
Heterodyne Broadcasting, $10,000
Historic Ellisville Restoration Organization, Fulton County, $10,000
Historic Marbold Farmstead Association, Menard County, $10,000
Illinois Rural Heritage Museum, Perry County, $10,000
Legacy Training and Development, $10,000
Men of Power Women of Strength, Inc., Alexander County, $10,000
Moultrie County Historical & Genealogical Society, Moultrie County, $10,000
Sandra Pfeifer, Pope County, $6,000
Savanna Historical Society NFP, Carroll County, $10,000
Schuyler County Architecture Foundation, Schuyler County, $10,000
Southern Illinois Culture & Arts in Bilingual Education (SI CABE), Jackson County, $10,000
Stephanie Fraction, Alexander County, $6,000
The Hub-Arts and Cultural Center, Schuyler County, $10,000
The Realitea Project Inc., Cumberland County, $10,000
Tri States Public Radio, McDonough County, $10,000
Our Team
Illinois Humanities is powered by a dedicated team of Board and staff members whose care and commitment have helped to increase our impact across the state. Meet the people who make our work possible and browse available opportunities at Illinois Humanities.
Board member John Bracken (left) and Program Manager of Envisioning Justice Tyreece Williams present the Beacon Award at the 2023 Public Humanities Awards. (Photo by GlitterGuts)
Land Acknowledgement
At Illinois Humanities we respectfully acknowledge that the land on which our main office is located is made up of the territories and lands of the people of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa Nations as well as many other tribes who have called this land home including Miami, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee Nations. These Nations were forcefully removed from their traditional territories, however, these lands continue to carry the stories, resilience, and tenacity of these Nations. Despite the federal and local government-enforced policies of genocide of American Indians, Chicago is home to the third-largest urban Indian population representing more than 100 different Tribal Nations.
We also recognize that land acknowledgment statements are most meaningful when coupled with a commitment to programs and actions that support Indigenous rights and cultural equity. We acknowledge that Illinois Humanities is just starting this journey and that we have more work to do, but we are committed to supporting and building sustained relationships with Indigenous organizations throughout Illinois and encourage you to support these organizations and efforts as well. In the Chicago area, these organizations include The American Indian Center, Trickster Cultural Center, American Indian Health Services, and the Center for Native Futures.
Funders
Contact
Suite 650, 125 South Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787
600 Troy Road
N4, Room 207
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618.468.5580
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.
© Copyright 2025 Illinois Humanities