COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council supports innovative, community-based projects that align with a humanities discipline. We welcome proposals from a wide range of nonprofit, educational, private and governmental organizations, ad hoc committees, and individuals. The Community Grant Program encourages projects that cultivate thoughtful community engagement, build new audiences for the humanities, innovate new methods in the humanities, and advocate for the importance of the humanities in maintaining a robust democracy. The Council encourages projects to reach diverse audiences through a variety of methods – exhibitions and installations, discussion programs, oral history projects, and interpretive tours – that enable audiences to engage in critical reflection and preservation of human histories, cultures, values, and beliefs.
application deadlines:
March 15, 2025 and SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
Planning Grant
Planning Grants are awards of up to $1,500 and are for planning and developing a project.
Regular Grant
Regular grants are awards of up to $15,000, however, award amounts will be contingent on available funding and the number and quality of other applications being considered.
Key Requirements
- Must have a humanities discipline central to the project;
- Must involve a humanities scholar in project planning, execution, and evaluation;
- Must have a humanities discipline central to the project;
- Whenever possible, they should be in a format that provides opportunities for active public public participation;
- The applicant must provide at least one half of the total project cost. Detailed application instructions, application forms, and submission deadlines are set forth in the Community Grants Guidelines and Application Package.
Humanities projects that are eligible for the 2024 Community Grant include, but are not limited to: lectures, seminars, conferences, workshops, film or book discussion series, panel discussions, interpretive exhibits, permanent and traveling fairs, festivals and tours, and media productions including publications, radio and television programming, and film and video. The Northern Marianas Humanities Council encourages applicants to design innovative program formats and programs that stimulate discussion between diverse groups.
The humanities include but are not limited to the study of history, modern and classical language, literature, law, philosophy, comparative religion, ethics, and the history, criticism and theory of the arts.
COMMUNITY GRANT TIMELINE
| MARCH 15 | CYCLE I APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| JUNE | APPLICATION INFO SESSION SAIPAN |
| JUNE | APPLICATION INFO SESSION ROTA |
| JUNE | APPLICATION INFO SESSION TINIAN |
| JULY | PROJECT DESIGN WORKSHOP SAIPAN |
| JULY | PROJECT DESIGN WORKSHOP ROTA |
| JULY | PROJECT DESIGN WORKSHOP TINIAN |
| SEPTEMBER 15 | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| OCTOBER | APPLICATION REVIEW |
| OCTOBER | APPLICATION REVIEW AND ACTION |
| NOV 1- NOV 15 | NOTICE OF AWARDS |
E-MAIL NAOMI LIZAMA AT GRANTS@NMHCOUNCIL.ORG
PAST GRANTS AWARDED
| Name | Start Date | End Date | Amount from Council | Amount of Grantee Cost Share | Humanities Scholar |
| Domestic Violence & CNMI Culture | 05-01-21 | ongoing | $1,824.00 | $2,068.00 | Catherine Perry |
| Legends of Rota | 07-24-21 | ongoing | $6,900.00 | $18,888.00 | Crispin Ogo |
| Inafa’Maolek Manhoben Marianas | 05-01-21 | 08-31-21 | $19,142.00 | $56,794.00 | Eva Aguon Cruz |
| Exploring Latte in the Marianas: Alamagan | 04-01-21 | ongoing | $8,724.45 | $17,261.00 | Dr. Ignacia Demapan |
| Perpetuating Refaluwasch (Carolinian) Beading Custom | 11-02-21 | ongoing | $12,126.12 | $12,121.12 | Cinta Kaipat |
| Adibina Adibina | 11-01-20 | ongoing | $5,000.00 | $22,000.00 | Ray Barcinas |
| Memoirs Pasifika | 11-01-20 | ongoing | $20,000.00 | $36,200.00 | Anne Perez Hattori, PhD |
| The Origins and Evolution of Racism in America | 09-01-21 | 01-31-21 | $10,775.00 | $15,875.00 | Ambrose M. Bennett |
| Early Resettlement of the Marianas | 07-30-20 | 11-30-20 | $6,100.00 | $6,350.00 | Father Francis X. Hezel |
| 500 Sails Canoe Building Instructional Videos | 08-01-20 | ongoing | $13,247.00 | $13,270.00 | Peter Perez |
| Documentary of the Ada Gym | 05-01-20 | 02-28-21 | $4,350.00 | $7,850.00 | Shayne Villanueva |
| Na’lala i Taotao Tano! | 06-01-20 | ongoing | $3,246.00 | $9,380.00 | Andrew Gumataotao |
| Multicultural Music Mini Unit | 05-01-20 | 11-01-20 | $3,926.41 | $7,072.41 | Melanie Hangca |
| Young Author’s Book Publishing | 02-01-20 | 12-30-20 | $6,600.00 | $6,600.00 | Diann Torres |
| Ketungu Chamorro Season 2 | 01-30-20 | 04-18-20 | $5,775.00 | $15,400.00 | Jennie Magofna |
| Sacrificing Sovereignty for Citizenship | 01-01-20 | 09-05-22 | $3,130.00 | $3,542.42 | Anita Hofschneider |
| Rekindling Marianas Narratives: Write Your Novel | 10-01-19 | 12-31-19 | $175.00 | $175.00 | Jane Mack |
| Sharing the KPV Collection with the Northern Mariana Islands | 05-04-19 | 12-01-19 | $12,288.00 | $21,770.00 | Kit Porter Van Meter |
| Journalism to Empower Communities | 05-24-19 | 05-31-19 | $850.00 | $2,310.00 | Thomas Manglona |
| Tip of the Spear | 05-04-19 | 06-30-20 | $2,104.00 | $3,850.00 | Cinta Kaipat |
| Let’s Learn Refaluwasch | 09-28-18 | 12-29-18 | $5,775.05 | $15,400.00 | Gloria Rasiang |
| Tinian and the Turning Point | 10-13-18 | 11-15-21 | $9,460.00 | $10,000.00 | Don Farrell |
| Preserverence and Grit: The Contributions of Agnes Manglona McPhetres to Education in Micronesia | 08-01-18 | 12-01-18 | $2,869.00 | $5,100.00 | Ivan Probst |
| Chief Judge Gustavo Gelpi on US Constitutional Rights in the Territories of the CNMI | 05-07-18 | 07-07-18 | $1,555.00 | $1,800.00 | Chief Judge Gustavo Gelpi |
| Exploring the Indigenous Experience in Saipan during World War II | 05-04-18 | 12-31-18 | $6,641.00 | $9,085.00 | Dr. Jennifer McKinnon |
| Latte in the Marianas | 07-30-18 | 07-30-19 | $9,470.00 | $96,750.00 | Multiple |
| 500 Sails – Training the Trainers of Traditional Sailing | 01-25-18 | 01-24-19 | $11,942.00 | $10,305.00 | Cecilio Raiukiulipiy |
| E-Publishing Doctora Thesis + New Media Workshop | 01-25-18 | 01-24-19 | $14,423.00 | $36,900.00 | Dr. Sylvia Frain |
| Rota: Conversations across Generations | 08-01-17 | 11-01-18 | $17,056.00 | $22,055.00 | Lynn Michael |
| Ketungu Chamorro | 07-20-17 | 12-20-17 | $5,775.00 | $15,400.00 | Ana A. Lizama |
| A Community of Believers: Specialties of Healers and Testimonials of Patients | 05-01-17 | 05-01-18 | $17,790.00 | $18,000.00 | Dr. Trisha Lizama |
| Rota: Conversations across Generations | 08-01-2017 | 11-01-18 | $17,056.00 | $22,755.00 | Lynne Michael |
| Five Pillars (Utt) of the Carolinian Community | 12-23-16 | 08-01-18 | $1,200.00 | $16,820.00 | n/a |
| Rota Conversations across Generations | 12-23-16 | 03-15-17 | $420.00 | $920.00 | Lynne Michael |
| Before We Began Counting Years | 08-20-16 | 04-01-18 | $11,000.00 | $28,600 | Multiple |
| 500 Sails – Restoring Indigenous Maritime Traditions in Saipan | 08-11-16 | 07-31-17 | $12,000.00 | 211,040 | Pete Perez |
| The Hayi Hit, Ghiisch Iyo Project | 08-10-16 | 10-15-16 | $1,100.00 | 1,142 | Multiple |
| Documenting the Saipan Beach Pathway | 05-18-16 | 02-18-17 | $10,415.00 | $20,830 | Evelyn J. Tenorio |
| CNMI ABC (Anti-Bullying Comic) | 05-18-16 | 05-17-17 | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 | Merced A. Ada |
| Where is the Village Blacksmith? | 05-18-16 | 05-17-17 | $8,500.00 | $7,000.00 | Dr. Michael Bavacqua |
| Ta Ketungo Chamorro | 11-16-15 | 04-16-16 | 900.00 | 900.00 | Jenny P. Megofna |
| A History of Coca Cola in the NMI | 11-01-15 | 03-15-16 | $1,900.00 | $1,950.00 | Samuel F. McPhetres |
| Preservation of KPV Mariana Islands Collection | 11-16-15 | 05-27-16 | $11,800.00 | $30,197.00 | Kit Porter Van Meter |
| What do you think Wednesday | 09-01-15 | 11-30-15 | $3,000.00 | $3,000.00 | Jose Limes |
| Researching and visually documenting the community’s response to the Military buildup | 09-01-15 | 02-29-16 | $1,500.00 | $1,800.00 | Dr. Michael Bevacqua |
| Illuminating the Essentials for Bridging the Island Global Divide | 12-01-14 | 01-15-15 | $11,328.00 | $16,802.00 | Dr. Laura T. Souder |
| Examining the History and Role of the Suruhanu | 12-01-14 | 06-01-16 | $12,500.00 | $30,650.00 | Dr. Tricia Lizama |
| I Sunidon CNMI: The Sound of the CNMI | 08-16-14 | 04-15-16 | $7,724.00 | $14,246.00 | Dr. Michael R. Clement Jr. |
| The Peace Corps Goes to Paradise | 08-16-14 | 02-15-15 | $500.00 | $1,000.00 | Brooke Nevitt |
| The Archaeology of WWII Karst Defenses | 08-16-14 | 12-31-16 | $5,659.00 | $13,096.00 | Julie Mushynsky |
| 33rd PIBBA Conference | 05-16-14 | 08-26-14 | $2,000.00 | $22,100.00 | Multiple |
| Kiosku Presentations | 05-20-13 | 08-31-13 | $1,500.00 | $5,000.00 | Multiple |
| Pagan Island Website | 05-01-13 | 04-30-14 | $280.00 | $955.00 | Jessica Jordan |
| Micronesian Youth Services Network | 04-13-13 | 04-22-13 | $2,400.00 | $13,600.00 | Melvin Borja |
| McPhetres’ History Collection | 02-11-13 | 07-31-13 | $6,950.00 | $10,080.00 | Jessica Jordan |
| Slings and Slingstones Lecture | 08-27-12 | 10-31-12 | $600.00 | $4,273.00 | Robert York |
| Saipan Southern HS Pacific Collection | 12-01-11 | 08-31-13 | $2,000.00 | $2,156.00 | Florence Calvo |
| Sports Legends of Micronesia | 10-19-11 | 10-18-13 | $5,000.00 | $11,373.00 | Dr. Kurt Barnes |