a new grant program by PA Humanities, focusing on BIPOC and rural communities

Wingspan is a grant initiative launched as part of PA Humanities’ 50th anniversary to support BIPOC-led and serving or rural organizations doing community-based humanities work. Its mission is to help them soar and expand their possibilities by providing new resources, amplifying their voices, and cultivating additional space for creativity and connection.

The development of Wingspan was informed by adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy – and our own emergent learning process. We will apply these practices with leaders across the state so they can extend their reach – spread their wings! – and work collectively to bring more equity to the humanities. This grant is a new and exciting extension of PA Humanities’ community-based humanities work and its research confirming BIPOC-led or serving organizations and rural organizations need better access to resources.

Wingspan quick facts

  • 24 grantees: 12 rural, 12 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)

  • $50,000 – $100,000 in funding over two years

  • Support for programming, general operating expenses, marketing and communications, staff development and capacity-building

  • Grantees join PA Humanities’ Wingspan Learning Community kicking off January 2024

What is the Wingspan Learning Community?

About the Wingspan Learning Community

The 24 grantees participate in two learning cohorts: 12 BIPOC, 12 rural. They will meet regularly to discuss topics like equity, building belonging, leadership, and how cultural work can provide space to explore and understand our changing world.

Grantee list

OrganizationRegionCountyBIPOC/Rural CohortAmount Awarded
3 Dots DowntownNCCentre CountyRural Cohort$100,000
¡Presente! MediaSEPhiladelphia CountyBIPOC Cohort$50,000
Adams County Arts CouncilSCAdams CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Cambodian American Girls Empowering of CultureTrust Greater PhilaSEPhiladelphia CountyBIPOC Cohort$50,000
Chester Cultural Arts and Technology CenterSEDelaware CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Community Partnerships RC&DSCMifflin CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Community Theater Project Corporation dba Kelly Strayhorn TheaterSWAllegheny CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Crawford County Historical SocietyNWCrawford CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Friends of the Tanner HouseSEPhiladelphia CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly Inc.SEPhiladelphia CountyBIPOC Cohort$50,000
Jefferson County Historical SocietyNWJefferson CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Keystone Oral HistoriesSCDauphin CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Knoxville Public LibraryNCTioga CountyRural Cohort$100,000
National Road Heritage CorridorSWFayette CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Rainbow Serpent IncSWAllegheny CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Shamokin-Coal Township Public LibraryNCNorthumberland CountyRural Cohort$100,000
Susquehanna Valley MediationSCSnyder CountyRural Cohort$100,000
The Cooperage ProjectNCWayne CountyRural Cohort$100,000
The Legacy Arts ProjectSWAllegheny CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Twelve Gates ArtsSEPhiladelphia CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Ujamaa CollectiveSWAllegheny CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Washington County Historical SocietySWWashington CountyRural Cohort$100,000
World Affairs Council of HarrisburgSCDauphin CountyBIPOC Cohort$100,000
Wyoming County Cultural Center, Inc.NEWyoming CountyRural Cohort$100,000

Thank you to our advisors

Traci Johnson, Director of Grantmaking, Pittsburgh Foundation
Chinwe Onyekere, Program Officer, Strong Start for Kids Vanguard
Caitlin O’Brien, Director of Learning & Community Impact, Scattergood Fund
Leah Margareta Gazzo Reisman, Program Officer, Barra Foundation
Safronia Perry, Independent Consultant
DeAmon Harges, Founder & Facilitator, The Learning Tree
Elizabeth Myrick, Founder & Partner, Myrick & Williams Consulting
Wildstyle (Keith) Paschall, Community artist & facilitator, The Learning Tree
Lita Pardi, Programs & Knowledge Director, PEAK
Sara Frank, Executive Director, Elk County Council on the Arts
Monique Saunders Moreno, Assistant Director of Community Investments, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
Geoffrey Jackson Scott, Co-Founder & Creative Director, PeoplMovr

Materials and Collateral

Questions about Wingspan?

For any questions about Wingspan or any of PA Humanities’ grant programs, please contact Jen Danifo at jdanifo@pahumanities.org.

Funding for Wingspan has been provided by PA Humanities and Spring Point Partners, with additional support from private donors and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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