Institutes for Advanced Topics
in the Digital Humanities
What are the humanities?
According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, “The term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts;
those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of
the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions,
and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”
May a non-U.S. institution or organization apply for a grant?
No, a non-U.S. institution or organization is not eligible to apply.
May an Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities grant support a program that provides opportunities for participants in just one state or at just one institution?
No. Projects must be regional (multi-state) or national in scope.
May non-U.S. citizens participate in my project?
Only foreign nationals who have been living in the United States or its jurisdictions for at least the three years immediately prior to the application deadline are eligible to participate in projects funded under this grant program.
Is it permissible to provide stipends to participants to help defray the costs of attendance at an Institute for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities?
Yes, stipends may be provided to participants.The line for participants’ stipends is on page 3 of the NEH budget form under item 7, Other Costs.
Is there a standard amount for participant stipends? Can you suggest appropriate amounts for compensation for project directors and consultants?
If stipends are to be offered to participants, we recommend that they not exceed $125 per day. Stipends should be commensurate with the time commitment expected of the participants.
Project directors are generally compensated for the time required to oversee all arrangements, recruit and select the participants, and conduct the active portion of the project. For example, the following percentages of the base annual academic salary are recommended as appropriate compensation for multiple-week projects: 13.9 percent for a two-week session, 16.6 percent for a three-week session, 19.4 percent for a four-week session, 22.2 percent for a five-week session, and 25 percent for a six-week session. Codirectors would each receive 80 percent of these amounts.
Generally, the honoraria for visiting faculty and other consultants should be no higher than $500 per person per day or $2,000 per person per week.
I'd like to hold a welcoming reception for the participants in my institute. May I pay for this out of grant
funds?
No. Sometimes a project director’s academic department or the dean's office will donate funds for such events, but NEH grant funds may not be used for social or entertainment activities.
I just found out that my institution is planning on submitting two applications to the Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities program this year. Will only one be funded?
No. It is possible that both would be funded.
May I apply for a grant to pay for my tuition and living expenses while I pursue my graduate degree?
No. Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities grants are made to institutions and organizations that offer regional and national educational programs. Grants are not awarded to individuals.
Who is the audience for my grant application?
Specialists and non-specialists will review your proposal. Show how the project relates to scholarship in the project's field, and describe its methodology with reference to current standards and best practices, but explain the goals and procedures in simple terms that nonspecialists would understand.
What should I consider in discussing my project's significance?
Do not assume that the project’s significance will be evident to readers; be explicit about its importance. Give examples of the ways in which the proposed educational program would provide opportunities to examine uses of digital technology to advance humanities scholarship.
The application narrative should indicate that you are aware of other similar educational
opportunities that currently are available regionally and nationally or that have been offered
in the past. You should explain how your project builds on past work, complements existing
opportunities, or breaks new ground.
What kind of detail should be included in the work plan?
Explain who will do what and when. Depending on the project, the work plan could be organized by
type of activity or by period of time (e.g., three-month periods). It should be presented in
enough detail to demonstrate that you have thoroughly considered each step of the project
and that you are ready to begin. If you describe in detail the responsibilities of the
project's personnel, evaluators will understand the corresponding commitments of time
that are shown in the project's budget and the qualifications and experiences that are
described in the Staff, Faculty, and Consultants section of the narrative.
If I intend to apply for another NEH grant for a second round of funding, do I have to describe the project anew or will evaluators have access to the earlier grant proposal?
NEH treats all applications as new applications. Evaluators will not have access to the previous application;
therefore, proposals for renewed funding must discuss the project anew. Be sure to describe the work
accomplished with previous NEH funding and be clear about the specific activities and products
of the new grant.
If I receive NEH funding, may I also accept money from other sources?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to seek other financial support. We do ask that you tell us about proposals to other funding sources, so that we can understand the project's financial picture.
What are indirect costs?
These are costs that are incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be readily assigned to a specific project or activity of an organization. Typical examples of items that would be considered indirect costs are the salaries of executive officers and the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, local telephone service, office supplies, and accounting and legal services. Indirect costs are computed by applying a negotiated indirect-cost rate to a distribution base (usually the direct costs of the project).
Do indirect costs count as gifts for federal matching funds?
No. Only cash or pledges for cash from non-federal third parties can be matched by the NEH.