OVERVIEW: NEH is an independent government organization that funds projects to promote research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.
IP TAKE: The National Endowment is a highly competitive funder. Grantseekers should expect to compete with applicants from across the country and in many genres. You may have to apply several times to secure a grant here. Be sure to look over previously funded projects to get a better idea of what NEH is looking for in its grantees. This funder conducts important work, but it is not particularly accessible and tends to be highly bureaucratic. It’s also not particularly approachable, but it is responsive, so contact them with general questions.
Anyone looking for support from the NEH should keep in mind that this is a funder in a state of crisis after staff layoffs, grant terminations, and proposals to eliminate the organization altogether. The Trump administration’s recent Executive Orders have forced the organization to update its priorities and change direction more than once, including eliminating DEI language from its website. It is worth noting that the Mellon Foundation responded to the humanities funding cuts with a one-time, $15 million commitment in emergency funding to the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and other organizations have initiated lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the President’s Executive Orders. Grant seekers should approach the NEH with these considerations in mind. Check their site and this profile often for updates as they occur.
PROFILE: Created in 1965, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the “largest public funder of the humanities” in the United States. It was established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, the same legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts. It seeks to “[serve and strengthen the] republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.” NEH grants support “museums, historic sites, universities, teachers, libraries, documentary filmmakers, public TV and radio stations, research institutions, scholars, and local humanities programming” through nearly 50 grantmaking programs and a handful of strategic initiatives.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The list of available grant programs changes annually, so grant seekers should check frequently to see which programs are active.
- Arts and culture grants have supported Ken Burns’ The Civil War documentary, the Library of America editions of works of literature, The United States Newspaper Project, 16 Pulitzer Prize winning books, and funding for lectures, discussions, and exhibitions throughout the country.
In addition to grant programs, NEH currently offers the A More Perfect Union initiative, which was established to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- It seeks to leverage “the humanities to promote a deeper understanding of America’s history and culture, advance civics education and knowledge of the nation’s core principles of government, and preserve and provide access to the nation’s heritage.”
- Several grant opportunities are housed under this initiative, including the National Garden of American Heroes: Statues and Celebrate America! programs.
Grants for Writing and Humanities Research
Writing grants tend to overlap with humanities research. The NEH overlaps grants for both areas of funding across the following programs, which have highly targeted strategies and details. Current and past writing grant programs include Digital Projects for the Public, Documenting Endangered Languages, Scholarly Editions and Translations Grant, Dialogues on the Experience of War, Collaborative Research Grants, Public Scholar Program.
NEH also supports humanities research through its Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence initiative, which funds “research projects that seek to understand and address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI).” It operates the following subprograms:
- Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence awards up to $750,000 to universities and other institutions to help create “humanities research centers focusing on the ethical, legal, or societal implications of artificial intelligence.”
- Collaborative Research grants support teams of scholars working together on “an international AI research project or scholarly convening about AI.” Grants are up to $300,000.
- NEH also offers support for independent scholars in the form of fellowships, stipends, and other funding opportunities.
The organization provides opportunities for international engagement to support cultural exchange and scholarly research with foreign governments, multilateral organizations, and other international partners. A full list of international opportunities is available here.
Grants for Film
The NEH is invested in supporting ethical journalism projects and preserving languages and narrative histories. Current and past film grant programs include Media Projects: Production Grants, Media Projects: Development Grants, Documenting Endangered Languages, Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
Grants for Music
Grants for music are focused on academic research and preservation rather than performing arts events. Current and past music grant programs include Scholarly Editions and Translations Grant, Public Humanities Projects, Summer Stipends, Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions.
Grants for Theater
Theater funding concentrates on academic research and preservation rather than individual performances. Current and past theater grant programs include Public Humanities Projects, Scholarly Editions and Translations Grant, Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts generally range from just a few thousand up to $1 million.
- NEH supports organizations in 50 states and six U.S. jurisdictions. Grantseekers may view past grantees here.
- NEH accepts applications through grants.gov, the United States federal government’s official grant application portal.
- Applicants should read program pages carefully as eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary significantly between programs.
PEOPLE:
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