Frequently Asked Questions

JISC/NEH Transatlantic Digitization Collaboration Grants

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."

What is JISC?

JISC is an acronym for the Joint Information Systems Committee, a grant-making organization that supports education and research in the United Kingdom.

May a non-U.S. institution or organization apply for a grant?

This unique NEH/JISC collaborative funding opportunity allows U.S. and English or Welsh institutions to collaborate on an application and request joint funding from both agencies. If your application is successful, funding for the U.S. partner will be provided by NEH, while funding for the U.K. partner will be provided by JISC. NEH does not provide support to foreign institutions or organizations.

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 we understand the project's financial picture.

May I apply for more than one NEH grant for my project?

Yes, you may request additional support in a subsequent funding cycle.

If I intend to request additional NEH funding to continue my project, 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.

Will NEH accept late applications?

No. To be considered, an application must be accepted by Grants.gov at or before the March 26, 2009, deadline.

Who is the audience for my grant application?

Specialists and nonspecialists 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. You should, however explain the goals and procedures in simple terms that nonspecialists will understand.

What should I consider in discussing my project’s significance to the humanities?

Do not assume that the project’s significance to research, education, or public programming in the humanities will be evident to readers. Provide specific examples of important documents or artifacts in the collections and describe how the collections have been used or could be used once they are made accessible. Discuss the need for the proposed reference work or research tool and give examples of studies or activities that could be conducted with the aid of such a resource.

Letters of support from persons who know or have used the collections or who can attest to the need for the proposed reference work or research tool can help make the case for the importance of a project.

What kind of detail should be included in the work plan?

Explain the tasks for the project’s staff and provide a schedule for the completion of the work, which may be presented as a narrative or a chart. Depending on the project, the description of the work plan may be organized by type or duration of activity (e.g., in three-month intervals.) The plan 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. By describing in detail the responsibilities of the project's personnel, you will justify the corresponding allocation of staff time, as shown in the project’s budget, and the qualifications and experience required of the project’s staff, as reflected in résumés and job descriptions.

Should I have consultants and a board of advisers set up and committed before I apply?

Yes. Many projects require early consultation with scholarly advisers and technical experts to plan for the implementation. The collaboration of highly qualified and experienced people makes it more likely that evaluators will endorse an application.

If my project requires continued updating of the content and long-term technical maintenance, what would be considered a viable plan to sustain this effort?

Explain how the applicant institution intends to broaden its base of support beyond NEH funding in order to cover such costs. Strategies may include creating a special fund or an endowment for the project, adopting membership fees in consortial efforts, requiring user licenses, or establishing collaborative agreements to support permanent positions or services. Additionally, you should discuss the commitment of the sponsor(s) to maintain access to the project over time. If your project will yield a digital product, discuss your plans for preserving digital data over the long term.

My previous application was unsuccessful. Is there anything I may do to increase my chances for success next time?

You may request copies of the comments by evaluators. A revised application should take into consideration the issues that they raised. However, a resubmitted application will be reviewed by persons who will not have knowledge of or access to the previous application file.