Date posted: July 20, 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 45.164

Questions?

Contact the staff of NEH's Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 and publicpgmsneh.gov. Hearing-impaired applicants can contact NEH via TDD at 1-866-372-2930.

Consultation grants help museums, libraries, historical organizations, or community organizations develop a new public humanities project or chart a new interpretive direction of an existing program. They support the costs of conferring with a team of advisers to help identify key humanities themes and questions during the early stages of a project's development.

Public humanities programs promote lifelong learning for broad public audiences in fields such as history, literature, comparative religion, and philosophy, and other fields of the humanities. They go beyond the presentation of factual information to encourage thought and conversation about humanities ideas and questions. Projects that offer new insights into familiar subjects and use innovative formats and non-traditional ways of engaging audiences are welcome, as are projects with interdisciplinary perspectives. Organizations that have never received an NEH grant are encouraged to apply.

Projects should:

• be based on sound humanities scholarship;
  
  
• involve humanities scholars in all phases of development and implementation;
  
  
• interest broad audiences;
  
  
• deepen public understanding of significant humanities questions;
• approach the subject thematically, analytically, and interpretively through an appropriate variety of perspectives;
• employ appealing and accessible program formats that will actively engage the public in learning; and
• expand the numbers of people reached by taking place at multiple venues, featuring creative collaborations, promoting outreach to new or underserved audiences, or serving as models that can be emulated.

Consultation grants are available to help develop projects in the following three main program categories:

Libraries and Archives projects make collections accessible to the public through programs such as reading or film discussion series, traveling panel exhibitions, and lectures and public symposia. Grants may also be used to develop plans for curriculum materials, brochures, and websites.

Projects in Museums and Historical Organizations include interpretive exhibitions (both long-term at a single venue and traveling to multiple sites), the interpretation of historic sites and houses, and other interpretive project components, such as catalogs, public symposia, and websites.

Special Projects might be public discussion forums, hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom, discussion series, multi-faceted conferences, or symposia. The programs may take place at non-traditional venues, including community centers, places of worship, neighborhoods, parks, workplaces, or other locations. Development of a content-rich website might also be a special project.

Consultation grants may be used for:

• meeting with advisers, program partners, and representatives of target audiences or other groups involved in the project, including reasonable costs associated with these consultation activities (e.g., honoraria, long-distance telephone charges, special research, etc);
  
  
• traveling to relevant collections or sites to learn from other similar projects and consult with advisers;
  
  
• identifying advisers and other collaborating organizations for subsequent stages of the project;
  
  
• developing a preliminary plan for the format and design of a project; or
  
  
• conducting preliminary audience evaluation.
  

Each project should be guided by a team of advisors who have helped to develop the project's concepts and themes. The team's expertise normally complements that of the applicant's staff. The team must include humanities scholars. As appropriate, it may also include museum educators, curators, librarians, experts in public programming, or others with experience and knowledge of the humanities or the project's technical requirements. Most competitive proposals have a range of consultants incorporating a range of humanities perspectives. Projects that rely on a single consultant are not competitive.

Digital products (e.g., websites, DVDs, or CD-ROMs) may be components of a larger project, or be projects in their own right. Projects relying heavily or solely on a digital format should have strong humanities content, be based on sound scholarship, and offer users an interactive and engaging experience. Although the core content might be collections of digitized documents, images, video or audio recordings, objects, or other materials, the project should feature additional content or activities that provide a context and interpretive framework. Applications should identify prospective audiences and describe plans for publicity and marketing. If appropriate, digital projects may also include complementary public humanities programs.

Web sites should be coded in accordance with generally accepted standards and should be designed so as to maximize their accessibility to the general public.

Consultation grants may not be used for:

• single-site temporary exhibitions;
• professional development;
• purchase of art or artifacts;
• expenses for program venues in foreign countries;
• programs primarily for students in formal learning environments;
• general operations, renovation, restoration, rehabilitation, or construction;
• projects whose primary purpose is preservation, cataloguing, or archiving, rather than public programming;
• projects that seek to persuade participants of a particular political, philosophical, religious, or ideological point of view; or
• projects that advocate a particular program of social action.

We the People Grant Initiative

To help Americans make sense of their history and of the world around them, NEH has launched an initiative: We the People. As part of the initiative, NEH encourages projects that explore significant events and themes in our nation's history and culture and that advance knowledge of the principles that define America.

NEH especially invites proposals for public programs in the following areas:

• Family and Youth Programs in American History: These public programs encourage intergenerational learning about and reflection on significant topics in U.S. history and culture. Grants support the development of programming tailored to youth and/or family audiences at museums, libraries, historical societies and sites, parks, and other places in the community.
• Interpreting America's Historic Places: These grants promote public knowledge and understanding of American history through interpretation of significant American places. The "place" to be interpreted might be a single historic site, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a community or town, or a larger geographical region. Please consult the guidelines for Interpreting America's Historic Places consultation grants and planning grants for further information.

Proposals will be evaluated through NEH's established review process and will not receive special consideration.

Rediscovering Afghanistan

NEH invites applications for projects that focus on Afghanistan's history and culture. The special initiative is designed to promote research, education, and public programs about Afghanistan and to encourage United States institutions to assist Afghanistan in efforts to preserve and document its cultural resources. Learn more about the initiative.

Digital Humanities Initiative

NEH is interested in receiving applications for projects that use or study the impact of digital technology. Digital technologies offer humanists new methods of conducting research, conceptualizing relationships, and presenting scholarship. Digital humanities projects deploy these technologies and methods to enhance our understanding of a topic or issue. NEH is also interested in projects that study the impact of digital technology on the humanities--exploring the ways in which it changes how we read, write, think, and learn. Proposals will be evaluated through NEH's established review process and will not receive special consideration. Learn more about the initiative.

Applications for Public Programs that make innovative use of digital technology are encouraged. Applications may include plans to create Web sites, PDA tours and resources, pod casts, virtual imaging, GIS mapping, online scholar-led discussions, video on demand, streaming, games, or other digital components. Digital components for the public must demonstrate sound humanities scholarship and enhance the project's humanities content.

Successful applicants will be awarded a grant in outright funds. Awards of up to $10,000 are normally made for a period of 6-12 months.

Please note that NEH support for a project in an early stage of development does not imply commitment for ongoing support. Proposals for successive phases of a project must be submitted separately and are evaluated independently.

Cost Sharing

Cost sharing is not required for consultation grants.

(Learn more about different types of grant funding.)

Any U.S. nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 tax exempt status is eligible, as are state and local government agencies. Grants are not awarded to individuals.

Individual are not eligible to apply. NEH generally does not award grants to other federal entities or to applicants whose projects are so closely intertwined with a federal entity that the project takes on characteristics of the federal entity's own authorized activities. This does not preclude applicants from using grant funds from, or sites and materials controlled by, other federal entities in their projects.

If an application for a project is already under review, another application for the same project may not be submitted.

Ineligible applications will not be reviewed.

Application advice and proposal drafts

Prior to submitting a proposal, you are encouraged to contact program officers who can offer advice about preparing the proposal, supply samples of funded applications, and review preliminary proposal drafts if they are submitted well before the deadline (usually at least four weeks). These staff comments are not part of the formal review process and have no bearing on the final outcome of the proposal, bur previous applicants have found them helpful in strengthening their application. Draft proposals should not be submitted via Grants.gov.

REGISTER OR VERIFY REGISTRATION WITH GRANTS.GOV

Applications for this program must be submitted via Grants.Gov. Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register with the Web site to create an institutional profile. Once registered, your organization can then apply for any government grant on the Grants.gov Web site.

If your organization has already registered, you may skip this step. If not, please see our handy checklist to guide you through the registration process. We recommend you complete your registration at least two weeks before the application deadline, as it takes time for your registration to be processed. If you have problems registering with Grants.gov, call the Grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PUREEDGE VIEWER SOFTWARE

In order to fill out a Grants.gov application package, you will need to download and install the free PureEdge Viewer software. This software is available at no charge from the Grants.Gov Web site at: http://www.Grants.gov/resources/download_software.jsp#pureedge. Once installed, this software will allow you to view and fill out Grants.Gov application packages for any federal agency.

If you have a problem installing PureEdge Viewer, it may be because you do not have permission to install a new program on your computer. Many organizations have rules about installing new programs. If you encounter a problem, contact your system administrator.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION PACKAGE

To submit your application, you will need to download the application package from the Grants.gov Web site. You can download the application package at any time. (You do not have to wait for your Grants.gov registration to be complete.) Click the button at the right to download the package.

Select the application package that best fits your institution type or focus:

Museums and Historical Organizations
Libraries and Archives
Special Projects

Save the application package to your computer's hard drive. To open the application package, select the file and double click. You do not have to be online to work on it.

You can save your application package at any time by clicking the "Save" button at the top of your screen. Tip: If you choose to save your application package before you have completed it, you may receive an error message indicating that your application is not valid if all of the forms have not been completed. Click "OK" to save your work and complete the package another time. You can also use e-mail to share the application package with members of your organization or project team.

The application package contains three forms that you must complete in order to submit your application:

1. Application for Federal Domestic Assistance - Short Organizational (SF-424 Short) -- this form asks for basic information about the project, the project director, and the institution.

2. Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Grant Programs -- this form asks for additional information about the project director, the institution, and the budget.
3. NEH Attachment Form -- this form allows you to attach your narrative, budget, and the other parts of your application.

HOW TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE SF-424 SHORT FORM

Select the form from the menu and double click to open it. Please provide the following information:

1. Name of Federal Agency: This will be filled in automatically with "National Endowment for the Humanities."

2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: This will be filled in automatically with the CFDA number and title of the NEH program to which you are applying.

3. Date Received: Please leave blank.

4. Funding Opportunity Number: This will be filled in automatically.

5. Applicant Information: In this section, please supply the name, address, employer/taxpayer identification number (EIN/TIN), DUNS number, Web site address, and congressional district of the institution. Also choose the "type" that best describes your institution (you only need to select one).

   If your institution is located in the 5th Congressional District of California, put a "5." If your institution doesn't have a congressional district (e.g. it is in a state or U.S. territory that doesn't have districts or is in a foreign country), put a "0" (zero).

   All institutions applying to federal grant programs are required to provide a DUNS number, issued by Dun & Bradstreet, as part of their application. Project directors should contact their institution’s grant administrator or chief financial officer to obtain their institution’s DUNS number. Federal grant applicants can obtain a DUNS number free of charge by calling 1-866-705-5711. (Learn more about the requirement.)

6. Project Information: Provide the title of your project. Your title should be brief, descriptive, and substantive. It should also be informative to a non-specialist audience. Provide a brief description of your project. The description should be written for a non-specialist audience and clearly state the importance of the proposed work and its relation to larger issues in the humanities. List the starting and ending dates for your project.

7. Project Director: Provide the Social Security Number, name, title, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone and fax numbers for the project director.

   Disclosure of Social Security Numbers is optional. NEH uses them for internal application processing only.

8. Primary Contact/Grants Administrator: Provide the contact information for the official responsible for the administration of the grant (e.g., negotiating the project budget and ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the award). This person is often a grants or research officer, or a sponsored programs official. Normally, the Institutional Grants Administrator is not the same person as the Project Director. If the project director and the grant administrator are the same person, skip to item 9.

9. Authorized Representative: Provide the contact information for the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) who is submitting the application on behalf of the institution. This person, often called an "Authorizing Official," is typically the president, vice president, executive director, provost, or chancellor. In order to become an AOR, the person must be designated by the institution's E-Business Point of Contact. For more information, please consult the Grants.Gov user guide, which is available at: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport.

HOW TO FILL OUT THE SUPPLEMENTARY COVER SHEET FOR NEH GRANT PROGRAMS

Select the form from the menu and double click to open it. Please provide the following information:

1. Project Director: Use the pull down menu to select the major field of study for the project director.

2. Institution Information: Use the pull down menu to select your type of institution.

3. Project Funding: Enter your project funding information. Note that applicants for Challenge Grants should use the right column only; applicants to all other programs should use the left column only.

4. Application Information: Indicate whether the proposal will be submitted to other NEH grant programs, government agencies, or private entities for funding. If so, please indicate where and when. NEH frequently cosponsors projects with other funding sources. Providing this information will not prejudice the review of your application.

   For Type of Application, check "new" if the application requests a new period of funding, whether for a new project or the next phase of a project previously funded by NEH. Check "supplement" if the application requests additional funding for a current NEH grant. If requesting a supplement, provide the current grant number (applicants should discuss their request with a NEH program officer before submitting such an application).

   For Project Field Code, use the pull down menu to select the humanities field of the project. If the project is multidisciplinary, choose the field that corresponds to the project's predominant discipline.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

You will prepare your application for submission via Grants.gov just as you would a paper application. Your application should consist of the following parts:

1. Budget

   Provide a one-page budget. A sample budget (1-page PDF) is available for guidance.

   The budget should include the following information (as appropriate):

   • name of project director;
   • applicant organization;
   • requested grant period;
   • salaries and wages (name and position of project staff, method of calculating salary);
   • fringe benefits;
   • consultant fees (name of consultant, type of consultant, number of days on project, daily rate of compensation);
   • travel (number of people traveling, total days in travel status, per diem costs, transportation costs); and
   • supplies, materials, and services (duplication, printing, long distance, equipment rental, postage).

   Depending on the proposed activities, applicants may not need to use every category. For example, if applicants ask for funding for travel, per diem costs, and consultant fees, then they should only provide information about those activities.

   Cost sharing (i.e., the contribution to a project of cash or of goods or services that have monetary value) is not required.

2. Narrative description

   Narratives should not exceed 5-7 pages single-spaced, with one-inch margins and should be at least 11-point font. It should contain the following information, in this order:

   • The Request

     Summarize in a few sentences the subject of the project, its programming formats, and proposed activities

   • Introduction

     Describe the subject and explain how the project will explore humanities issues and questions. Discuss why the subject would have broad public appeal. Briefly discuss any research completed so far, including any relevant reading or reference materials consulted.

     Applications for institutional interpretive planning should discuss the broad goals of the interpretive plan and the humanities questions the project will address.

     For projects that involve a reinterpretation or reinstallation of existing materials, discuss how the new approaches proposed would differ from what is currently being offered.

   • Description

     Discuss how the project will present the subject to the public. Describe how the format will convey the ideas and themes of the project.

     Projects with oral histories should discuss how the project will adhere to the guidelines of the Oral History Association and include: an outline of proposed topics for the interviews; a list of the people to be interviewed or a description of the criteria for their selection, and the plans for their recruitment; a description of the qualifications of the interviewers; a discussion of how the interviews will complement existing resources; and, a copy of the permission or release form.

   • Project Team

     Identify the principal members of the project team, using one section for the staff of your institution and another section for the consultants. Explain each individual's role, qualifications, experience, and other relevant background information. Explain why the consultants chosen are appropriate for the project and discuss their expected contributions. Limit your descriptions to 3-4 sentences for each team member. Resumés (two pages or less) for each person listed and letters of commitment from consultants should be included in an appendix.

   • The Consultation Process

     Explain how the consultation process will be structured, including meetings, site visits, and follow-up discussions. Indicate who will participate in the meetings and describe the questions that will be used to guide and focus discussions. Describe the expected outcomes of the overall consultation process and how they will contribute to the next stage of the project's development.

   • Work Plan and Project Timeline

     Outline a plan for carrying out the project, including a monthly schedule for the necessary tasks and the individuals responsible for them. It is often helpful to present this in a grid format.

3. Appendices

   The proposal's appendix should include:

   1. a one-page description and history of the applicant organization. This should consist of:
      • a brief profile of the organization, including its mission, origin, and size;
      • annual operating budget;
      • annual visitation;
      • special characteristics and current activities; and
      • humanities resources (e.g., collections or staff).
   2. résumés (two pages or less) and letters of commitment from the project consultants, as well as résumés for all key project staff. Letters of commitment from consultants should confirm their willingness to participate and state briefly in their own words what they hope to contribute to the project.

HOW TO USE THE NEH ATTACHMENT FORM

You will use this form to attach the various files that make up your application.

Your attachments must be in Portable Document Format (.pdf). We cannot accept attachments in their original word processing or spreadsheet formats. If you don't already have software to convert your files into PDFs, there are many low-cost and free software packages available. To learn more, go to http://www.neh.gov/grants/grantsgov/pdf.html.

When you open the NEH Attachment Form, you will find 15 attachment buttons, labeled "Attachment 1" through "Attachment 15." By clicking on a button, you will be able to choose the file from your computer that you wish to attach. You must name and attach your files in the proper order so that we can identify them. Please attach the proper file to the proper button as listed below:

ATTACHMENT 1: To this button, please attach your budget. Please name the file "budget.pdf".

ATTACHMENT 2: To this button, please attach your narrative. Please name the file "narrative.pdf".

ATTACHMENT 3: To this button, please attach your supplementary materials. Please name the file "supplementary.pdf".

ATTACHMENT 4: To this button, please attach your résumés and letters of commitment. Please name the file "resumes.pdf".

Use the remaining buttons to attach any additional materials (if appropriate). Please give these attachments meaningful file names and ensure that they are PDFs.

Do not embed any additional files within any of the attachments.

UPLOADING YOUR APPLICATION TO GRANTS.GOV

When you have completed all three forms, use the right-facing arrow to move each of them to the "Mandatory Documents for Submission" column. Once they have been moved over, the "Submit" button will activate. You are now ready to upload your application package to Grants.gov.

During the registration process, your institution designated one or more AORs (Authorized Organization Representatives). These AORs typically work in your institution's Sponsored Research Office or Grants Office. When you have completed your application, you must ask your AOR to submit the application, using the special username and password that was assigned to him or her during the registration process.

To submit your application, your computer must have an active connection to the Internet. To begin the submission process, click the "submit" button. A page will appear asking you to sign and submit your application. At this point, your AOR will enter his or her username and password. When you click the "sign and submit application" button, your application package will be uploaded to Grants.gov. Please note that it may take some time to upload your application package depending on the size of your files and the speed of your Internet connection.

After the upload is complete, a confirmation page, which includes a tracking number, will appear indicating that you have submitted your application to Grants.gov. Please print this page for your records. The AOR will also receive a confirmation e-mail.

NEH suggests that you submit your application no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on the day of the deadline. That way, should you encounter a technical problem of some kind, you will still have time to contact the Grants.Gov helpdesk for support. The Grants.gov Help Desk is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST at 1-800-518-4726. You can also send an e-mail to support@grants.gov.

HOW TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Applicants may include in their applications supplementary materials, such as slides (up to ten, with brief captions), photographs, CD-ROMs, catalogs, or sample work for presentation at the panel meeting. Please provide 4 copies of each item. If you send supplementary materials, please include a list of the materials that will be mailed separately in your Grants.gov submission.

Mail the materials to:

Consultation Grants for Museums, Libraries, and Special Projects
Division of Public Programs
National Endowment for the Humanities
Room 426
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
(202) 606-8269

Clearly indicate the name of your institution and your Grants.gov tracking number on the envelope.

NEH continues to experience lengthy delays in the delivery of mail by the U.S. Postal Service, and in some cases materials are damaged by the irradiation process. We recommend that supplementary materials be sent by a commercial delivery service to ensure that they arrive intact by the receipt deadline.

If you wish to have the materials returned to you, please include a self-addressed, pre-paid mailer.

DEADLINES

Applications: Must be received by Grants.gov by September 12, 2006. Grants.gov will date/time stamp your application after it is fully uploaded. Applications submitted after that date will not be accepted. Supplementary materials must also arrive at NEH by September 12, 2006, to be considered as part of the application.

Evaluators are asked to apply the following criteria:

1. How well is the proposed project grounded in the humanities?
2. Is the intellectual approach to the topic clear and promising?
3. Will the project have broad public appeal?
4. Will the chosen formats effectively convey the ideas and themes?
5. Are the proposed activities well-conceived and justified for advancing the early stages of the project?
6. Are the people involved in the project (both outside consultants and the applicant organization's own staff) qualified to carry out the proposed tasks?
7. Is the plan of work realistic and clearly outlined?
8. Is the budget reasonable?

Late applications will not be reviewed.

Review and Selection Process

Knowledgeable persons outside NEH will read each application and advise the agency about its merits. The Endowment’s staff comments on matters of fact or on significant issues that otherwise would be missing from these reviews, then makes recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities. The National Council meets at various times during the year to advise the NEH chairman on grants. The chairman takes into account the advice provided by the review process and, by law, makes all funding decisions.

Award notices

Applicants will be notified by mail in April 2007 of the decision. Institutional grants administrators and project directors of successful applications will also receive at that time award documents by mail. Applicants may obtain the reasons for funding decisions on their applications by sending a letter or e-mail to NEH, Division of Public Programs, Room 426, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506 or publicpgms@neh.gov.

Administrative requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review their responsibilities as an award recipient..

Award conditions

The requirements for awards are contained in the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations, any specific terms and conditions contained in the award document, and the applicable OMB circulars governing federal grants management.

Reporting requirements

A schedule of report due dates will be included with the award document.

Interim and final performance reports will be required. Further details can be found in Enclosure 2, Performance Reporting Requirements.

A Federal Cash Transactions Report (2-page PDF) will be due within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter. A final Financial Status Report (2-page PDF) will be due within 90 days after the completion date of the award period. Further details can be found in Financial Reporting Requirements (formerly Enclosure 1).

If you have questions about the program, contact:

Division of Public Programs
National Endowment for the Humanities
Room 426
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
202-606-8269

If you need help using Grants.gov, contact:

Grants.gov: http://www.grants.gov
Grants.gov Helpdesk: support@grants.gov
Grants.gov Customer Support Tutorials and Manuals: http://www.Grants.gov/applicants/applicant_help.jsp
Grant.gov Support Line: 1-800-518-GRANTS (4726)

Privacy Policy

Information in these guidelines is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 956. The principal purpose for which the information will be used is to process the grant application. The information may also be used for statistical research, analysis of trends, and Congressional oversight. Failure to provide the information may result in the delay or rejection of the application.

Application Completion Time

The Office of Management and Budget requires federal agencies to supply information on the time needed to complete forms and also to invite comments on the paperwork burden. NEH estimates the average time to complete this application is fifteen hours per response. This estimate includes time for reviewing instructions, researching, gathering, and maintaining the information needed, and completing and reviewing the application.

Please send any comments regarding the estimated completion time or any other aspect of this application, including suggestions for reducing the completion time, to the Office of Publications, National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, D.C. 20506; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3136-0134), Washington, D.C. 20503. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number.