PROGRAMS
Overview
As a grant-making agency, SDHC provides educational public programming in history, literature, philosophy, civics, archaeology, and other humanities disciplines.
SDHC delivers programs across the state of South Dakota and works with:
- Schools
- Museums
- Libraries
- Cultural, educational, and community-based organizations
Programming opportunities are available to organizations wishing to host their own program or presentation

Program Opportunities
We provide and host several programs – Take a look!
Program Requirements
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Programs must be hosted in South Dakota, open to the public, and be free to attend with no admission or other fee, including a suggested donation. (Should your overall event include a paid portion, such as a meal, publicity must include a notation that the SDHC scholar presentation segment is open and free to the public.)
- Any organization is eligible to apply. Typical applicants include libraries, museums, historical societies, book clubs, tribal entities, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, as well as community centers and agencies that are open to the public
- Programs hosted at a facility must provide comfortable accommodations
- Program fee of $50 ($25 if a virtual event) is required prior to grant approval; payment options are listed in the online application
- Sponsoring organizations must not have any open grants with SDHC. An open grant entails missing paperwork or grant fees from previously approved or completed programs. Based on new program limits, this can change per organization but will need prior approval
- Based on availability, organizations may apply for an unlimited amount of One Book, Young Readers One Book, and ¹Book Club to Go programs
¹Some books in our Lending Library have limited availability. Please contact us beforehand to determine if we have the number of books you require.
SDHC SCHOLAR-LED PROGRAM REQUIRMENTS
- Presentation/program must be a minimum of 45 minutes long, with additional time for Q&A
- A good-faith effort in promoting the event beyond the hosting organization’s members (consult SDHC promotional guidelines)
- Acknowledgment of SDHC’s sponsorship
- For scholar/speaker programs, contact an SDHC scholar directly and agree on a presentation and ²date for the event
- For scholar/discussion leader programs, contact an SDHC scholar directly, select One Book South Dakota, Young Readers One Book, or Book Club to Go (select a title from the SDHC Lending Library), and agree on a ²date for the event
- SDHC suggests a limit of two programs per month for an organization, up to a total twelve per year (Nov. 1-Oct. 31). However, we also realize the importance of having the option of several programs for a single festival or event, keeping in mind an annual total. Please reach out to the Programs & Data Coordinator, deb@sdhumanities.org, for consideration.
²Applications must be submitted a minimum of four weeks prior to the proposed event date
How to Host a Program
Once you have decided which SDHC program you would like to host (and made arrangements with an SDHC scholar, if applicable):
- Submit an online application a minimum of 4-6 weeks prior to the event date
- Pay the program application fee
- Promote the event
- Day of the event:
• Distribute audience evaluations to attendees to complete and return
• Thank SDHC and NEH for sponsoring the event - Complete and return assigned paperwork according to instructions, including audience evaluations
- Return books to SDHC (if applicable)