We explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.

What that means

We believe humanities fields such as history, literature, and philosophy are the best hope for our state and country's future. It's the humanities that help us break free from the limitations of our individual experience and see both the perspectives of others and the larger social forces that affect us all.

We work to bring the critical thinking and reflection the humanities spur to the Garden State's broad and diverse population, through programs and support for other humanities organizations.

Our programs, grants, resources, and convenings foster appreciation for the public humanities in every district in the state.  Explore our impact >>> 

We help the people of New Jersey explore the humanities through public programs, events, statewide and community-based initiatives, and connections to institutional and non-institutional experts in their fields.

As New Jersey's partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we support NJ humanities organizations of all kinds through grants, sponsorships, professional development, resources, and opportunities to network and convene.

We are the state's leading advocate for the diverse work of the humanities, through legislative outreach, communicating impact, recognizing excellence, and amplifying the voices of NJ communities.

Our Mission

We explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.

Grants & Sponsorships

Through a competitive application process, we award Incubation Grants and Action Grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 to further the impact of the public humanities in New Jersey. Our COVID-19 grantmaking in 2020 and 2021 also helped pandemic-affected organizations recover and reimagine their work at a critical moment. Sponsorships are primarily aimed at greater visibility and access to audiences that are not currently served by NJCH through our grantmaking and other programmatic initiatives.

Grantee Spotlight

Montclair State University logo Montclair, (Incubation / $14,943)
To support the development of an exploration of Indigenous women's roles in preserving cultural and spiritual well-being in New Jersey Native communities. Read more

Meet all of our grantees

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In January 2025, NJCH announced $205,716 in Grant Awards to 17 NJ Organizations Meet them »

Events

News

Map with 17 pinpoints showing grantees in New Jersey

NJCH Announces $205,716 in New Grant Awards

January 24, 2025

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has awarded 17 grants totaling $205,716 in its most recent grant round. These funds will support a diverse array of projects in 10 counties across the Garden State, highlighting NJCH’s ongoing efforts to make the vital work of the humanities available to all New Jerseyans.

3rd cohort of the Ritual4Return Newark performs at Black Box Theater / Photo Credit: Dante Corbett / NJ Advance Media

Katz Prize Recipient Ritual4Return Featured in the Star-Ledger

December 18, 2024

Ritual4Return, the recipient of NJCH’s 2024 Stanley N. Katz Prize for Excellence in Public Humanities, was featured in the New Jersey Star-Ledger after the performance of its most recent cohort’s culminating ritual.

Resource Roundup Header

Resource Roundup November 2024

November 27, 2024

Our monthly email newsletter for the NJ Humanities community with helpful information, including notifications of funding, professional development events, meetings, and conferences from both NJCH and the larger nonprofit community.

Ever wonder: what's the story behind the myth of the Jersey Devil?

The Jersey Devil is a distinctive piece of our state's lore, a mythical creature legendary enough to serve as both a symbol of the Pine Barrens region and the mascot of our NHL franchise. Scholars supported with NJCH funds have traced this strange creature's origins to a mish-mash of political, religious, and capitalist conflict over generations of early America.

Learn more (if you dare!) »

The Jersey Devil

Program Spotlight

Democracy Conversation Project (DCP)

As part of this initiative, NJCH has collected hundreds of responses from individuals throughout the Garden state sharing their thoughts on citizenship, our democracy, the challenges we face, and the importance of voting. These responses are displayed in an interactive interface for exploration and will be archived for future use by historians.

Resource Roundup

Looking for other grant funding sources in New Jersey? Professional development opportunities? Networking? A new job?

Subscribe to the Resource Roundup, our monthly e-newsletter geared toward those working in humanities and nonprofit organizations.

Humanities People

Carin Berkowitz

An accomplished historian, Carin Berkowitz leads all of NJCH’s efforts to explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in communities around the Garden State, with a focus upon diversifying New Jersey’s remarkable cultural sector.

Meet Carin »

Sponsors & Partners

NEH
Mellon Foundation
AMPU
NJCCC logo
Dodge Foundation
NJ Historical Commission
SITES
Journalism + Design

Keep In Touch

Engaging with community members throughout New Jersey is key to our mission. Wherever you are in our circle, we value your partnership and support!