Hall Center raises NEH Challenge Grant funds 2 years ahead of schedule

LAWRENCE—The Hall Center for the Humanities has raised the required private match of $1.275 million to complete fundraising for its third National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant, two years ahead of schedule. The NEH awarded the Center a grant of $425,000 to seed collaborative faculty research projects in the humanities via two new programs, Scholars on Site and Research Collaboratives.

NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term support for their humanities programs and resources.

Research Collaboratives will support collaborative projects among KU faculty members, graduate students, and outside research partners, while Scholars on Site will support research and program collaborations between KU faculty and community-based organizations, allowing faculty members to work “on-site” with community partners.

Foundations were instrumental for the Hall Center to reach its goal well ahead of the July 2016 deadline. The Hall Family Foundation, the Kemper Foundation, the Ross and Marianna Beach Foundation, and Bank of America made significant donations to the Grant, continuing their long-standing support of Hall Center programs and initiatives.

The Friends of the Hall Center, the philanthropic body of supporters responsible for individual and community involvement and contributions, set and quickly surpassed a fundraising goal of $250,000, providing more than of the total matching funds needed.

The Hall Center’s advisory board, chaired by Charles Battey, provided important strategic guidance for fundraising, creating a Capital Campaign committee from within its ranks to help amass funds. The Center also received pledges from 90 percent of the board, making it the largest contributing body to the grant.

A full listing of Challenge Grant donors can be found in the Hall Center’s 2013-2014 Annual Report.