The NEH Enduring Questions grant program supports faculty members in the teaching and development of a new course that will foster intellectual community through the study of an enduring question. This question-driven course will encourage undergraduates and teachers to grapple with a fundamental concern of human life addressed by the humanities, and to join together in a deep and sustained program of reading in order to encounter influential thinkers over the centuries and into the present day.
What is an enduring question? The following list is neither prescriptive nor exhaustive but serves to illustrate.
- What is good government?
- Can war be just?
- What is friendship?
- What is evil?
- Are there universals in human nature?
- What are the origins of the universe?
Program Statistics
In its first four annual competitions, the Enduring Questions program received an average of 197 applications per year. The program made an average of 19 awards per year, for a funding ratio of 10 percent.
The number of applications to an NEH grant program can vary widely year to year, as can the success ratio. Information about the average number of applications and awards in recent competitions is meant only to provide historical context for the current competition. Information on the number of applications and awards in individual competitions is available from enduringquestions@neh.gov.
Questions?
Contact the staff of NEH’s Division of Education Programs at enduringquestions@neh.gov and 202-606-8380. Hearing-impaired applicants can contact NEH via TDD at 1-866-372-2930.
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