• Grants offer funding for cultural education programs.Cash image by Greg Carpenter from Fotolia.com
  
  Cultural education is an important component of education. Even the most basic understanding of, and appreciation for, the diversity inherent in human cultures can open doors and minds and make life more enjoyable. "Democracy demands wisdom," according to the National Endowment for the Humanities website. Several grants fund cultural educational programs for the betterment of society.
  
  

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship

• The U.S. Department of Education offers cultural-education grants through the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship program. The grant's purpose is to allow "students of superior academic ability --- selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need and exceptional promise --- to undertake study at the doctoral and Master of Fine Arts levels in selected fields of the arts, humanities and social sciences," according to grant guidelines. The grant pays the recipient's tuition and fees, and awards a stipend of up to $43,755 per year for up to four years. U.S. citizens, nationals and permanent residents who are about to enter or who are in their first year of a Master of Fine Arts or doctoral program are eligible to apply.
  
  U.S. Department of Education
  
  Teacher and Student Development Programs Service
  
  1990 K St., NW., room 6013
  
  Washington, DC 20006
  
  202-502-7542
  
  ed.gov
  
  

Picturing America School Collaboration Projects

• The National Endowment for the Humanities offers cultural-education grants through the Picturing America School Collaboration Projects program. Grants fund "local and regional projects that foster collaboration between K-12 teachers and humanities scholars to encourage engagement with the rich resources of American art to tell America's story," according to grant guidelines. Proposals must include a description of how teachers incorporate the "Picturing America" resource book, a collection of cultural and historical images, into their curriculum. The grant funds at least one cultural conference for 30 to 100 participants, including teachers, academics, librarians and museum staff. Grants range up to $75,000 over 12 to 18 months. Nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and tribal governments are eligible to apply.
  
  Division of Education Programs
  
  National Endowment for the Humanities
  
  1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
  
  Room 302
  
  Washington, DC 20506
  
  202-606-8500
  
  neh.gov
  
  

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections

• The National Endowment for the Humanities provides cultural-education funding through Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections grants. The program's goal is "preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting preventive conservation measures that mitigate deterioration and prolong the useful life of collections," according to grant guidelines. Successful grant proposals include plans to use sustainable preservation methods, which include energy-efficient and environmentally sound techniques, so collections of valuable cultural documents and materials can be most accessible to the public through educational programs, publications and exhibitions. Grants range up to $40,000 for planning projects and up to $400,000 for implementation projects. State and local government agencies, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.
  
  Division of Preservation and Access
  
  National Endowment for the Humanities
  
  1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
  
  Room 411
  
  Washington, DC 20506
  
  202-606-8570
  
  neh.gov