The Alabama Humanities Foundation has some relief in store for state nonprofits, which might come as welcome news amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

The AHF has announced its guidelines for $500,000 in relief grants to Alabama nonprofits that have demonstrated a commitment to public humanities programming. AHF is administering the grants funded by the CARES Act via National Endowment for the Humanities.

For two weeks, AHF compiled information from nonprofits across Alabama through a needs assessment survey. The guidelines for the grants are based upon those needs.

Applications are online at https://www.alabamahumanities.org/ahf-cares. Applications will be open for a first round through May 15, and additional applications will be taken on a rolling weekly basis until all funds are expended.

“Now, more than ever, the humanities are essential to our ability to adapt and thrive during difficult times,” said AHF executive director Lynn Clark. “We are thankful to NEH for including humanities councils throughout the country in this funding, and we intend to dedicate our CARES grant program to helping keep humanities organizations open – even while their doors are closed.”

According to the grant announcement, AHF plans to award grants of up to $15,000 to nonprofit organizations statewide that provide humanities programming as a significant part of their missions. An applicant must also:

• Be a registered nonprofit organization with a federal DUNS number
• Be physically located in Alabama and have Alabama residents as its primary audience
• Be experiencing financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic

Grants are for general operating expenses, including salaries, rent, property maintenance, utilities, supplies and equipment. No matching funds are required.

“These funds are critical for the museums, cultural and community centers, libraries and historic sites across Alabama that are hard hit by the pandemic,” Clark added. “Our goal is to reach statewide into areas that might receive few other cultural resources.

“We strongly encourage everyone to apply, even if they have not done so before now.”

Full guidelines can be found online at www.alabamahumanities.org/ahf-cares.