Guidelines Released for New Jersey Cultural Trust’s FY26 Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History & Humanities Organizations

TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Cultural Trust, in partnership with the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), has released the guidelines for its Fiscal Year 2026 grant program, Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History & Humanities Organizations (IFS History/Humanities).

The IFS History/Humanities program addresses the financial and institutional challenges that threaten nonprofit history and humanities organizations’ stability, helping them build greater operational capacity. Past projects funded through this grant program have included establishing cash reserves and working capital funds, developing strategic plans, and upgrading technology, among many others. The Declaration of Intent to Apply (DOI) will open on April 30, 2025. DOIs will be due on June 11, 2025, and full applications will be due on July 17, 2025.

“History and the humanities help us understand who we are and connect us to one another as individuals and as fellow citizens,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the Cultural Trust and the New Jersey Historical Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State. “By investing in the long-term stability and capacity of New Jersey’s history and humanities organizations, we are strengthening not only the economic vitality of our communities but also the civic fabric of our state.”

In order to apply for an IFS History/Humanities grant, organizations must first be designated qualified by the Cultural Trust. Any history organization whose qualification status is expired or will expire in 2025 must submit a qualification application. Qualification applications must be submitted no later than June 11, 2025. The qualification application is available on the Cultural Trust’s website, along with a list of currently qualified organizations.

Since 2004, the Cultural Trust has awarded over 120 IFS History/Humanities grants totaling nearly $2.7 million to history and humanities organizations, supporting capacity-building projects that are often not eligible for funding from other State agencies.

“The Cultural Trust’s Institutional and Financial Stabilization grants are unique and powerful,” said Isabel Kasdin, Executive Director of the New Jersey Cultural Trust. “Rather than funding a specific history program or providing general operating support, a one-time IFS grant strengthens the underlying infrastructure of a cultural organization. That infrastructure, once established, then supports programming and operations well beyond the initial period of the grant.”

IFS History/Humanities grants are open to New Jersey-based nonprofit history and humanities organizations that have been qualified by the Cultural Trust. No match is required. In FY26, organizations may apply for grants funds up to $40,000 for projects in the following categories:

• Establishing or growing a working capital fund/cash reserve
• Debt/deficit reduction
• Strategic planning/assessment
• Technology upgrade
• Capital equipment purchase
• Staff/board development
• New staff position

"As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, New Jersey's history community is the heart of our state's commemoration efforts," said Sara Cureton, Executive Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission. "One of our key goals for the semiquincentennial is to encourage the growth of organizational capacity at New Jersey's history organizations so that they are better able to attract, engage, and serve visitors. We are thrilled to partner with the Cultural Trust through the IFS History/Humanities program to offer a variety of ways for organizations to build their capacity for the 250th and beyond."

The New Jersey Historical Commission is the Cultural Trust’s recommending agency for the FY26 grant round. As outlined in the Cultural Trust Act, the NJHC, as the recommending agency, will accept applications and oversee the independent panel review process, then determine which applications should be recommended to receive Cultural Trust funding. These recommendations will be submitted to the Cultural Trust Board for final approval.

Cultural Trust staff will host workshops on qualification via Zoom on March 31 and April 23, 2025. The workshop will provide detailed information about qualification and how to apply. Cultural Trust staff will be available to answer questions. The workshops are free, but registration is required. To register online, go to the Cultural Trust website.

A recorded version of the workshop is also available on the Cultural Trust’s website.

Further technical assistance specific to the FY26 grant opportunity and grant application will be offered in May 2025. Details are available in the grant guidelines.

About the New Jersey Cultural Trust

The New Jersey Cultural Trust, an authority in but not of the New Jersey Department of State, was created in July 2000 as a public/private partnership. Through the establishment of a permanent investment fund, the Trust helps to ensure a stable and healthy nonprofit cultural industry in New Jersey that is sustainable even in the toughest of economic times. The Trust provides grants to support capital projects, endowments, and institutional and financial stabilization of arts, history, and humanities organizations in New Jersey. To learn more about the Trust, please visit our website at nj.gov/state/culturaltrust.

About the New Jersey Historical Commission

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy. To learn more about the New Jersey Historical Commission, please visit https://nj.gov/state/historical/