Ohio Humanities is a nonprofit organization that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas. They support storytellers across the state, including museums, journalists, and documentary filmmakers. Their mission encompasses connecting Ohioans to better understand each other and engage thoughtfully with the world, envisioning an Ohio where individual stories are heard, the past connects to the present, and a shared, better future is realized collectively.
Ohio Humanities' grant program, established in 1972, aims to ignite public interest and engagement in the state’s history and culture through critical public humanities work. It funds projects that highlight the humanities' role in sharing the human experience, strengthening communities, and bridging divides. This includes supporting research, preparation, production, and presentation of public programs in fields like history, literature, philosophy, and certain social sciences, excluding the direct creation of art. The program prioritizes projects that are accessible to the general public, inviting community engagement and conversation about humanities themes. Specifically, Ohio Humanities seeks to fund initiatives that stimulate civic engagement and foster a sense of place among Ohioans, such as museum exhibitions, oral history projects, and documentary films, especially those exploring under-told stories significant to Ohio's cultural and historical landscape.