Grant Resources
Clio is a free platform thanks to our supporters, and hundreds of museums, historical societies, libraries, and other organizations have used Clio to build virtual tours, heritage trails, walking tours, and other resources using existing staff and resources. Numerous organizations have also incorporated these public-facing projects into successful grant applications. Because Clio is free for everyone, 100% of funds from a successful grant can pay researchers, writers, staff, and editors. If the current Clio platform meets the needs of your project, please feel free to utilize this platform to help you secure a grant that could support your staff and provide opportunities for students and recent graduates. If there are additional features you might need, we would be happy to talk with you about a potential grant-funded project that could build these features and also provide funding for your team.
We recommend starting with a local organization in your community or your state or territory humanities council. These organizations usually have grant opportunities throughout the year, and dozens of Clio tours, trails, and virtual museum/site tours have been funded by state humanities councils, county commissions, state preservation offices, tourism organizations, and private charities. The National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services also support these kinds of projects, along with private organizations such as the Knight Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation.
Here are a few links to successful grant applications (personal information has been redacted) for projects that secured grant funding to support researchers and writers who have created walking tours, heritage trails, and immersive virtual tours using Clio:
Materials to help an organization apply for a history, art, or humanities grant using Clio
Materials to help an organization apply for a STEM or Education grant using Clio
Sample two-page idea "pitch" for a Clio walking tour or trail
Link to sample images and logos
Here are links to some of the largest funders in the humanities:
National Endowment for the Humanities
Institute of Museum and Library Services
MacArthur Foundation: Digital Media and Learning
NEH: Office of Digital Humanities
NEH: Division of Public Programs
Organizations have also used Clio as part of grants to connect the public to STEM and the arts.
National Endowment for the Arts
National Science Foundation Advancing Informal Science Learning
Clio is sustained by donations, including funds from speaking engagements and consulting. Our founder, Dr. David Trowbridge, uses all funds from his talks and consulting work to sustain Clio so it stays free for everyone to use. For those looking for something beyond the guides and videos, Trowbridge offers paid consultation, offering help with topics from applying for grants to using Clio and other digital tools, along with creating and editing videos and podcasts. One-on-one consulting appointments are available for $30 for a half-hour or $50 for a full hour.