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Contact Us About Giving

Claudia Allen, Director of Advancement
(410) 618-5633
Ellie Benedict, Development Specialist
(410) 618-5725

Ways to Give

Maryland Humanities. It all begins with you.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

You can help ensure that the humanities continue to shape Maryland’s future. Your interest, your curiosity and your passion — that’s why we do what we do. And in order to bring enriching humanities programs to every corner of our state, we rely on your commitment, your generosity, and your willingness to engage your colleagues, families, and neighbors.

Please consider helping us create a Maryland where the humanities are understood as central to everyday life. Maryland Humanities can’t be community-led if we’re not community-backed!

Check out all six Ways to Give 

Donate
Through your tax-deductible contribution—in any amount—you enable us to reach more than half a million Marylanders each year.
Advocate
If you have benefited from a Maryland Humanities program or grant, please let your elected officials know the impact we make in your community.
Volunteer
Your time and expertise can help Marylanders of all ages discover the power of the humanities.

Why the humanities?

The humanities help us to reflect on the past, understand the present, and shape the future. We believe in the power of lifelong learning in the humanities to create thoughtful citizens and strengthen democracy. The humanities offer a rich source of knowledge and an invaluable set of skills that promote rigorous thinking, and they challenge us to consider new ideas and alternate points of view.

  • “The humanities allow us to learn about lives and experiences that are different than our own through compelling and engrossing experiences.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “[The humanities] provide us with tools and perspectives to analyze and interpret social phenomena with different lenses; they open up perspectives we may not have thought about and help us look at issues in more empathic ways.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “[Humanities] are the gateway to our souls, and to understanding each other. They enable us to avoid repeating our mistakes, and are a tool for teaching compassion.”

    ​​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “[The humanities] are what allow us to see the beauty of the world. I often think that humans are the only species that can reflect on how beautiful the world is, can step back and take intense delight in the sounds and colors of it all, can record not only the world but our reactions to it. The humanities matter because beauty matters.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “Lifelong learning is continuing to read, listen, learn, share ideas, discuss, and be enlightened by the great ideas and events of the human experience during the course of an entire life.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “Humanities are stories of human endeavor. They are at the root of who we are as human beings. The humanities matter because the better we understand and appreciate each other’s cultural and creative foundations the stronger we all become. We then have the ability to work together to solve the problems we all face.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “Lifelong learning is a philosophy, practice, and lifestyle that I’ve long advocated for in both my professional and personal lives. In the rapid pace, constantly changing, technological, social, and cultural environments we find ourselves in, a continuous adjustment to change is necessary. Lifelong learning is essential to understanding where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go, both as individuals and as a society.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “[Lifelong learning] means that we are forever students, constantly discovering, researching, exploring, and challenging ourselves.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • Humanities help everyone learn about common and universal themes from diverse groups of people. They can help build peace and understanding in the world.

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “Humanities are the core of everything. You cannot be a good scientist or computer programmer, if you cannot communicate clearly with others and understand others. Humanities studies and scholarships are the essential element in learning how to relate to each other AND how to better communicate with one another.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • Humanities matter because humanity matters. The best thoughts, the highest questions, the most profound actions of courage and sacrifice are found in written accounts, art, and creative expressions throughout the ages. To study the humanities is to study oneself in a way that develops cultural literacy, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant
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