The Vermont Humanities Council, established in 1974, aims to engage all Vermonters in the world of ideas, foster a culture of thoughtfulness, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning. As a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, its mission centers on the belief that engagement in the humanities enriches lives, strengthens communities, leads to a more humane society, and builds a better world. With programs across Vermont, it sponsors events to bring humanities to every community, supporting a culture of learning and reflection.
The Rapid Response Grants program by Vermont Humanities supports small, humanities-focused community projects with quick turnaround times. These grants, up to $1,000 each, fund projects completed within three months of the award and new "pop-up" opportunities that provide humanities experiences. Eligible projects must centralize the humanities, detail the intended audience and how they will benefit, incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, ensure ADA accessibility, have a clear evaluation plan, and demonstrate the organization’s capacity to successfully implement the project.