The National Humanities Center’s Institutional Sponsorship Program was initiated as a way to strengthen ties with colleges, universities, and other organizations that share the Center’s commitment to supporting the highest caliber of humanities research.

Sponsoring institutions also make possible a wide range of highly successful public activities intended to deepen the conversation around the humanities and their critical role in our society. The current roster of institutional sponsors includes over 100 leading universities and colleges.

Cost

Sponsorship fees, based on the capacity and size of the institution, range from entry-level sponsorships intended for smaller liberal arts colleges and HBCUs ($2,000) to top-tier sponsorship ($15,000). Average sponsorship is $3,000–$5,000 for the academic year.

Key Benefits

Institutional sponsors have a tremendous impact on the work of the Center, supporting a wide range of public outreach activities, educator professional development, and scholarly research. In recognition of these important contributions, they receive acknowledgment on the Center’s website and at NHC-hosted public events and conferences. In addition, faculty and students from sponsoring institutions are provided exclusive or preferential access to a number of resources and opportunities, including:

Contact

Liz Estrada, Development Specialist
(919) 406-0116

The Center’s popular Summer Residency Program for humanities faculty, intended to assist scholars in jump-starting or making substantial progress on a current project.

Unique research and funding opportunities for faculty members, such as the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Curriculum Design project.

The National Humanities Leadership Council, a select group of undergraduate students chosen to receive mentoring and coaching from major scholars and humanities leaders.

A range of popular summer institutes and professional development programs to support research, teaching, and public engagement.

President’s Circle

The National Humanities Center established its President’s Circle in 2024, to recognize institutional sponsors that have distinguished themselves through exceptional support of the Center and its mission. These institutions lead a group of over 100 sponsors who support the work of the NHC in advancing important humanities research and making humanities insights and methods more readily available for use in the classroom and beyond. NHC sponsors include institutions of all sizes and types, representing 33 US states and the District of Columbia.

Members of the NHC’s President’s Circle gain access to all of the benefits of our institutional sponsors, plus additional sponsorship benefits, including the opportunity to use the Center’s facilities for regional events such as alumni gatherings and receive fee waivers of up to $3,000 per year for a scholar, staff member, or graduate student from their institution to participate in one of the Center’s professional development programs. Those programs include the NHC Summer Residency Program for humanities faculty, the Graduate Student Summer Residency, the Humanities Center Leadership Boot Camp, and others.

For more information about the National Humanities Center’s institutional sponsorship program and program benefits, or President’s Circle membership, please contact Liz Estrada.