Program Purpose

Connecting California supports publicly accessible activities and events that strengthen social connection and cohesion across California’s diverse communities. Funded projects help foster understanding, empathy, and trust by creating opportunities for people to come together across difference and discover shared values, experiences, and aspirations.

Who Can Apply

• California-based nonprofit organizations, including fiscally sponsored entities
• California-based public agencies, including libraries, municipal arts councils, schools, colleges, universities, and tribal governments

Current California Humanities grantees are not eligible to apply.

Grant Amount

Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and require a 1:1 match using non-federal funds and/or in-kind support.

What We Fund

Grants support publicly accessible connection activities that bring people together:

• across difference (such as age, culture, geography, race, gender, faith, politics, values, or lived experience), and
• to discover what we have in common as people who want to live full and rewarding lives.

Activities are ideally in person, but may be virtual when appropriate or when it allows for broader participation.

Project Period

Projects may last up to 12 months from the time of award notification.