Picturing America
School Collaboration Projects
School Collaboration Projects
Are program officers available by phone or e-mail to answer questions?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to contact NEH to discuss applications prior to their submission. Program
officers are available to comment on draft proposals submitted at least six weeks before the deadline. The staff
can be reached at 202-606-8380 or education@neh.gov. Staff responses to preliminary proposals are not part of the
formal review process.
What are the most important elements of an application for a Picturing America School Collaboration project?
Applicants should ground the project in sound humanities scholarship and draw a close connection between
project activities and the Picturing America portfolio.
Does my institution need a professional grant writer to prepare an application?
No. Successful proposals reflect the direct engagement of humanities experts in the framing of the application.
Does the project need a professional outside evaluator?
No.
We have an existing in-service program for teachers. May a Picturing America
School Collaboration Projects grant be used to fund additional work in the program?
Yes, it may, so long as the program adheres to the
content and organizational requirements addressed in the guidelines and meets the criteria.
How long will the grant program run?
The grant period will be eighteen months.
Am I required to offer CEUs or in-service credit to participants?
No, but participants may seek your support in pursuing credit.
What is a humanities scholar?
Someone who has an advanced degree in a discipline of the humanities
is generally considered a scholar. The disciplines of the humanities include,
but are not limited to: the study of modern and classical languages; linguistics;
literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; religion;
ethics; the history, theory, and criticism of the arts; the history of science;
and humanistic approaches to anthropology, economics, sociology, and political science.
When should I start consulting with scholars about a project?
As a rule, the earlier scholars are involved in a project the better.
Usually projects recommended for funding are ones in which scholars have helped shape the project’s conceptual
framework.
Is it acceptable to rely on a single scholar for a Picturing America School Collaboration project?
No. In this competition, the conference format requires an array of expertise across a range of topics and approaches.
How do I know whether my project is more appropriate for the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) or the National Endowment for the Humanities?
If your project involves the creation of art or focuses on arts performance or training, then you may wish to visit the NEA Web site. NEH supports projects that provide a historical or analytical perspective on the arts.
Is the deadline a receipt or a postmark deadline?
The deadline is a receipt deadline. NEH suggests that you submit
your application no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day of the deadline.
That way, should you encounter a technical problem at that point in the process, you will
still have time to contact the Grants.gov help desk for support.
If my organization is experiencing difficulties submitting our application via Grants.gov, what should we do?
Contact the Grants.gov help desk, which is open Monday to Friday from 7:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and can be reached at 1-800-518-4726. It is closed on federal holidays.
You can also send an e-mail to support@grants.gov.
How long do I have to wait to hear about the outcome of my application?
Applicants will be notified by April 2009.