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

The Black Press badge Red Bank, (Action / $15,000)
T. Thomas Fortune is having a moment—one that's long-overdue. The influential 19th- and early 20th-century civil rights leader, journalist, and publisher was one of the leading voices of his time, but his story is under-told in today's world. Read more

Meet all of our grantees

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On July 17, 2024, NJCH announced $216,319 in Grant Awards to 18 NJ Organizations Meet them »

Events

News

Julia Meriney

From the classroom to the newsroom: Student finds passion and purpose in community journalism program

August 28, 2024

“J-Lab students aren’t necessarily going into journalism as a career. It’s about giving people hope and giving people confidence to write about things that are important to them and their communities.”

Resource Roundup Header

Resource Roundup August 2024

August 26, 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.

Dignitaries and civil rights veterans unveil a new historical marker on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Freedom Summer Commemoration Featured in the New York Times

August 22, 2024

Millions of readers experienced the historic events of the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, 60 years after the fact, through the pages of the “New York Times.”

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

Tony Iacono, Ph.D.

As a first-generation college student, community college alumnus, trained historian, and community college president, Tony Iacono believes that communities and nations grow when the invest in the education of their citizenry.

Meet Tony »

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!