America's Historical and Cultural Organizations, Planning and Implementation Grants

What are the humanities? According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and 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 types of projects are typically supported with these grants? Museum exhibitions, library programs, public discussion forums, discussion series based on reading or film-viewing, multi-faceted conferences or symposia, stand-alone Web sites, and other digital projects are all eligible for support. For more information on what we have supported previously, please check the NEH Web site for lists of recently funded projects.

What happened to the old program categories (museums, libraries, special projects)? Those types of projects are still welcome, but we encourage applicants to form new partnerships, try mixes of program formats that might be less traditional, and think creatively and expansively about ways to reach public audiences.

What if I want funding only for a single format, such as a museum exhibition? Will my application be looked on less favorably than one that proposes multiple components and formats? No. Projects with a single format are still welcome and will be judged on their own merits.

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 musical compositions, dance, painting, poetry, short stories, novels, or projects that focus on arts performance or training, then NEA would be a better choice for your application. NEH supports projects that provide an analytical, reflective, or historical perspective on the arts.

What is a humanities scholar? Someone who has an advanced degree in a discipline of the humanities is generally considered a scholar. Scholars can provide context for the project's issues and identify relevant humanities themes and ideas.

When should I start consulting with scholars about a project? The earlier scholars are involved in a project, the better. Projects recommended for funding are ones in which scholars have had a central role in helping to shape the project's conceptual framework.

Is it okay to rely on a single scholar for a project? Projects that depend on input from a single scholar are not competitive. Working with a number of scholars allows projects to explore a diverse range of interpretive possibilities.

How do I find the right scholarly advisers for a project? There are a variety of ways to find scholars for your project. Check with your local college or university to see if any faculty members have relevant expertise or could suggest the names of other scholars. You can also peruse bookstores (either real or on-line) to see who has published on topics related to your project. State humanities councils often maintain lists of scholars who have participated in public programs. You can also contact professional associations or consult published directories of scholars. Finally, ask for samples of funded projects to see what kinds of scholars have participated in other projects.

What do you mean when you say that a project should be guided by themes? Themes are the intellectual or conceptual threads that tie the various parts of a project together. More than a topic, a theme provides a broad conceptual framework that helps audiences approach the material analytically and from a variety of perspectives. Themes are often framed as overarching questions that move a project beyond a simple presentation of facts or topics and encourage audiences both to see things in new ways and to think more deeply about a given subject.

Where should I apply if I want to produce a media project? If you are planning to produce a radio program, film, television series, or podcast for broad regional or national distribution over broadcast media or the Internet, the most appropriate program is America’s Media Makers. America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations is the most appropriate grant program if you are producing media projects for more local distribution to accompany museum exhibitions, library programs, public discussion forums, hands-on learning experiences, discussion series based on reading or film-viewing, multi-faceted conferences or symposia, or stand-alone Web sites.

May I apply for more than one NEH grant for my project? Applicants may apply to the NEH for support for different phases and activities of their projects. For example, an institution may apply to the Division of Preservation and Access for a preservation grant to stabilize its collections, the Office of Challenge Grants for a challenge grant to support a capital improvement program, or to the Division of Public Programs for a grant to support interpretive public programs.

Applicants may apply for planning or implementation grants, either singly or in sequence, but they cannot submit a second proposal for a project if the outcome of the prior application is still pending. For example, if an applicant institution has a planning grant application pending, it cannot apply for an implementation grant for the same project until it has heard the outcome of the planning grant.

Do I need to apply for a planning grant before I apply for an implementation grant? No. Organizations may apply for any type of grant that is appropriate for the developmental stage of their project. Although many applicants find it beneficial to obtain planning funds before applying for implementation, it is not required.

How long do I have to wait to hear the outcome of the application review? The waiting time for planning and implementation applications is normally seven to eight months.

How long a grant period should I request? The grant period for planning grants is normally about twelve months. Implementation projects normally run from two to three years, although this varies depending on the project. Grantees are encouraged not to rush through the planning phases of a project. Instead, they should allow time for the ideas generated during the planning phase to coalesce into coherent, workable steps that will move the project forward.

What are the differences between outright funds, matching funds, and cost sharing? Outright funds are awarded without being contingent on additional fund-raising.

Matching funds require a grantee to obtain gift funds from third parties before federal funds are awarded.

Cost sharing consists of the cash contributions made to projects by the applicant and third parties as well as third-party in-kind contributions, such as donated goods and services. Cost sharing also includes gift money that will be raised to release federal matching funds.

Learn more about different types of grant funding.

If I receive NEH funding, may I also accept funding from other sources? Yes. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding from diverse sources. Submitting proposals to other funders has no bearing on how NEH reviews proposals. We do ask that you tell us about those applications, so that we can better understand the project’s funding situation.

Can K-12 students be involved in Public Programs projects? Although projects should be geared mainly for public audiences, it is common for projects to feature ancillary programs for K-12 students or to prepare curricular packets for use in schools, especially in museum projects.

Are program officers available through phone or e-mail to answer questions? Yes. Applicants are encouraged to contact us to discuss applications prior to their submission. We are also happy to look at drafts of proposals and to share samples of previously funded projects. The staff can be reached at 202-606-8269 or publicpgms@neh.gov.

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. NEH recommends that drafts be submitted six weeks before the deadline to ensure sufficient time to respond. Responses cannot be guaranteed if drafts arrive late.