Office of Challenge Grants Internship

NEH Challenge Grants are large, institution-building grants that seek to strengthen the long-term ability of humanities institutions to carry out their programs. Grants are made to the full range of humanities institutions: colleges, museums, historical societies, libraries, etc. Challenge grants involve a “challenge” because they must be matched with three or four nonfederal dollars for every NEH dollar offered. Grant applications come in at two deadlines each year, and peer review panels meet to assess the proposals. The competition is quite keen, and staff must make careful judgments about the quality of the applications, so as to recommend the best to the National Council on the Humanities, which in turn makes funding recommendations to the Chairman of NEH.

An intern in the Office of Challenge Grants will have the opportunity to undertake a wide range of substantive duties, including research relevant to NEH Challenge Grants policy and history, recruitment of panelists, tracking of budgets, and other duties as assigned. This internship is definitely not one in which the intern will spend his or her time at the copy machine; instead we expect that the intern will participate fully in the substantive work of the office, such as the review cycle for challenge grant applications: reading and assessing applications, observing and evaluating peer review panels, helping formulate the slate of proposals to be recommended for awards

The Office of Challenge Grants is a small office of four staff members who work collaboratively. The intern would have his or her own work station, with telephone and computer, and a full-sized desk.

We seek a graduate student in the humanities, or an undergraduate (at least a rising junior or senior) humanities major. Basic computer skills—especially Microsoft Excel and Word—are required. The duties will include keeping and analyzing statistics, so familiarity with statistical analysis and databases are especially welcome. And, of course, we seek candidates with strong speaking and writing abilities, as the intern will be called upon to help represent NEH to public audiences..

Please submit a resume and cover letter indicating where in the NEH you wish consideration for an internship and the time period for which you are available (including the number of hours/days of the week if you will not be available for a full-time work schedule). A writing sample and copy of your transcript, if applying for a student internship, is requested but not required. Also, for student applicants from colleges or universities that grant academic credit for internships, please indicate if you are seeking an internship for academic credit.

Please allow at least four to six weeks prior to the date you wish to intern to allow proper consideration of your application.

If you have any questions, please call the NEH Office of Human Resources Volunteer/Intern Coordinator at 202 606-8415. We look forward to hearing from you.

National Endowment for the Humanities is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a year-round internship program.