Media Projects 2026 NOFO.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Media Projects

Funding Opportunity Number: 20260625-TD-TR

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Federal Assistance Listing Number: 45.036

Application Deadline: June 25, 2026

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current.

It may take several weeks to register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov.

NEH will not grant deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Division of Lifelong Learning Email: learning@neh.gov

OMB control number 3136-0134, expiration date October 31, 2027 mailto:learning@neh.gov

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Executive Summary The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for the Media Projects program. The purpose of this program is to support the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides application information unique to Media Projects, including program-specific requirements, allowable activities, review criteria, and formatting instructions. You must refer to NEH’s General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations for standard instructions that apply to all NEH funding programs for organizations.

Together, this NOFO and the general guidelines provide all the information you need to complete and submit your application to NEH.

Funding Opportunity Title Media Projects Funding Opportunity Number 20260625-TD-TR Federal Assistance Listing Number 45.036 Application Deadline June 25, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Anticipated Award Announcement December 2026 Anticipated Funding Approximately $6,000,000 Estimated Number and Type of Awards Approximately 15 grants Award Amounts Development: up to $75,000; Production: up to

$700,000 Cost Sharing/Match Required No Period of Performance Development: six to twelve months; Production: one to three years

Projects must start between March 1, 2027, and September 1, 2027.

Eligible Applicants • nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

• accredited institutions of higher education (public or nonprofit)

• state and local governments and their agencies

• federally recognized Native American Tribal governments

See C. Eligibility Information for additional information.

Program Resource Page https://www.neh.gov/program/media-projects Published Published March 19, 2026 https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf https://www.neh.gov/program/media-projects

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Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Purpose

2. Funding Restrictions

3. Background

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

2. Summary of Funding

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Other Eligibility Information

D. Application Contents

1. Application Component Table

2. Application Elements

3. Budget Instructions Specific to this Program

E. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria

2. Review Process

3. Intergovernmental Review

F. Submission Information

1. Application Package

2. Submission Instructions

G. Award Notices

1. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

2. Federal Award Documents

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Specific to this Program

H. Annual and Final Reporting

I. Agency Information

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A. Program Description

1. Purpose The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and incorporate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. Proposals must demonstrate the potential to attract a broad general audience and should be intended for national or regional distribution. Film projects may be stand-alone documentaries that are at least a broadcast hour in length, or a limited series of programs with episodes of any length.

Radio and podcast projects may be single programs, a limited series, or segments within an ongoing program. Projects may include supplementary components such as discussion programs or websites.

All Media Projects proposals must:

• build on sound humanities scholarship to deepen public understanding

• approach a subject analytically, presenting a variety of perspectives

• involve humanities scholars from outside your organization in all phases of development and production

• involve appropriate media professionals

• employ appealing and accessible formats that will actively engage the general public

• demonstrate the potential to attract a large public audience

To gain a sense of the types of projects that fulfill these requirements, view the list of funded projects at the Development and Production levels.

Funding categories Media Projects offers two levels of funding: Development and Production.

Development awards of up to $75,000 Awards should result in a script or detailed treatment(s). You may also use a Development award to plan outreach and public engagement.

Development awards are available only for film projects. Radio and podcast projects cannot apply for Development awards; they may apply only for Production.

The goal of Development awards is to enable film producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content and other program elements. Development awards may support activities such as:

• meetings with scholars

• preliminary interviews

• preparation of detailed program treatments or scripts

• production of a work-in-progress or trailer

• creation of partnerships for outreach activities and public engagement

• archival and other scholarly research https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx?q=1&a=0&n=0&o=0&k=0&f=0&s=0&p=1&pv=258&d=0&y=1&yf=2020&yt=2024&prd=0&cov=0&prz=0&wp=0&pg=0&ob=year&or=DESC https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx?q=1&a=0&n=0&o=0&k=0&f=0&s=0&p=1&pv=259&d=0&y=1&yf=2020&yt=2024&prd=0&cov=0&prz=0&wp=0&pg=0&ob=year&or=DESC

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Are you ready to apply for a Development award? While these awards support earlier stages of projects than are supported by Production awards, the application requires that you demonstrate the alignment of your project with the goals of this grant program. As a result, before you apply you should have:

• assessed the major humanities scholarship related to the subject

• identified humanities themes and consulted with humanities scholars to discuss the project’s interpretive goals

• assembled a group of humanities scholars and identified other experts who will advise the project moving forward

• formed a media team to see the project through its development period

• identified resources (such as archival materials and potential interviewees)

Production Awards for up to $700,000 for documentary films and $350,000 for radio programs or podcasts.

Production awards must result in the production and distribution of a radio program, podcast, or a documentary film. Production awards may support activities such as:

• archival research and rights clearances

• meetings with scholars

• additional script development

• production (including filming, recording, and editing) and distribution

• development of related resources that explore the humanities content and themes central to the project (e.g., websites and curriculum materials)

• outreach and public engagement

Are you ready to apply for a Production award? Applications at this level require explanation of well-considered scholarly themes, demonstration of your ability to begin production, and clear plans for audience reach. To be able to articulate these areas of the project, before you apply you should have:

• conducted extensive research on your subject, including archival work and preliminary interviews

• fully developed the humanities themes

• involved humanities scholars in creating and interpreting the project’s content

• drafted the script or detailed treatment(s)

• designed your plans for distribution, outreach, and partnerships

Program outputs and outcomes Program outputs are the tangible products that result from the award. The outputs of a successful Development award may include, but are not limited to:

• script(s) or detailed treatment(s)

• scholarly advisory convenings

• preliminary distribution and outreach plan

Outcomes of a successful Development award may include a strengthened humanities framing, production readiness, and clearer pathway to wide distribution.

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The outputs of a successful Production award may include, but are not limited to:

• final cut for film/TV or produced podcast/radio episodes ready for broadcast/streaming/theatrical/festival distribution

• digital component(s)

Outcomes of a successful Production award may include broad public engagement with humanities ideas and improved public understanding and discourse.

You must describe your outputs and how they would support the project outcomes in the application Attachment 1: Narrative. If you receive an award, NEH will assess your performance by comparing the outputs proposed in the application against those reported in your performance reports. See H. Annual and Final Reporting.

2. Funding Restrictions You may not use funds made under this notice for the following purposes:

Restricted activities:

• promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view

• promotion of gender ideology

• promotion of discriminatory equity ideology

• support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives or activities

• environmental justice initiatives or activities

• advocacy of a particular program of social or political action

• support of specific public policies or legislation

• lobbying

Programmatic exclusions:

• fictional films and audio projects, including historical dramas, dramatic adaptations of literary works, and other projects with characters or scenes for which there is not historical documentation or a clear foundation in other relevant humanities scholarship that supports the scene and any included dialogue

• films that are 40 minutes or shorter

• outreach and engagement events and other distribution activities for productions completed before the proposed start date of the period of performance

• distribution of recordings of lectures or stage productions

• activities that satisfy requirements for educational degrees or formal professional training

• projects intended primarily for students in a formal learning environment (though projects may include components that can be used in classrooms)

• costs associated with post-doctoral, graduate students, or undergraduate students, including tuition remission

• general operations, renovation, restoration, rehabilitation, or construction of station or production facilities

• obscene, libelous, indecent, or defamatory content (including hate speech, personal attacks, or material constituting harassment)

• publication costs

• projects that fall outside of the humanities

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• the creation or performance of art

• creative writing, autobiographies, memoirs, and creative nonfiction

• policy studies

• social science research that does not address humanistic questions and/or utilize humanistic methods

Unallowable costs:

• costs for activities performed by federal entities or personnel

• fiscal agent and fiscal sponsor fees

• fiscal agent activities alone without substantive involvement (e.g. proposal submissions, reporting, financial oversight, maintaining IRS status)

See 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles for other unallowable costs.

If your application includes unallowable costs or activities, NEH will deem it to be nonresponsive and reject it.

3. Background NEH offers this funding opportunity under the authority of 20 U.S.C. § 956. Awards are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations.

Under Section 3(a) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, “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 the 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.”

Use the Funded Projects Query Form to find examples of NEH-supported projects.

Learn more about NEH.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award NEH seeks new applications in response to this notice. NEH will provide funding in the form of grants.

2. Summary of Funding Award Amounts You may request up to $75,000 for Development of a film project, up to $350,000 for Production of radio and podcast projects, and up to $700,000 for Production of a documentary film, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title20-section956 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-grants-after-oct-2024 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-grants-after-oct-2024 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-1998-title20/pdf/USCODE-1998-title20-chap26-subchapI-sec952.pdf https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx https://www.neh.gov/about

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inclusive of both direct and indirect costs. Refer to NEH’s General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations for information about indirect costs.

NEH anticipates awarding approximately $6,000,000 in total funding to an estimated 15 recipients.

When the cost of a Production award exceeds the amount of the NEH award, you must have funding commitments in writing for your entire project budget before NEH will release all awarded funds. However, prior to securing funding commitments, you may request up to 20% of NEH funds for immediate, essential activities, such as conducting time-sensitive interviews or creating a demo reel.

NEH will not determine the funding available each fiscal year until Congress enacts the agency’s final budget. Accordingly, NEH issues this NOFO subject to the availability of appropriated funds, and it does not obligate NEH to make any awards.

Period of Performance The period of performance is the time during which you may incur expenses to carry out the work under the award. It must start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month.

You may request a period of performance of six to twelve months for Development, and of one to three years for Production. Your project must start between March 1, 2027, and September 1, 2027.

Cost Sharing NEH supports projects with outright funds, federal matching funds, or a combination of the two.

Learn about the types of funds NEH offers. Cost sharing refers to project costs that are covered with non-NEH funds. Additional information on cost sharing is available in NEH’s General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations.

NEH will award successful applicants outright funds, which do not require cost sharing. NEH will not award matching funds in this program.

You must maintain auditable records documenting the source and use of cost share, consistent with 2 CFR § 200.306.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants To be eligible to apply, your organization must be established in the United States or its jurisdictions as one of the following:

• a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

• an accredited institution of higher education (public or nonprofit)

• a state or local government or one of their agencies

• a federally recognized Native American Tribal government https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/types-funding https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.306 https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-tax-exempt-organizations https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-tax-exempt-organizations https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/28/2022-01789/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of

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Individuals and other organizations, including foreign and for-profit entities, are ineligible.

NEH does not provide financial assistance to foreign institutions or organizations.

NEH does not issue awards to other federal entities. If your project is so closely intertwined with a federal entity that the project takes on characteristics of the federal entity’s own authorized activities, it is ineligible.

The recipient may not function solely as a fiscal agent but should make substantive contributions to the success of the project. Fiscal sponsors applying on behalf of an ineligible organization are not eligible to apply.

Eligible domestic organizations may partner with independent producers and other skilled professionals or with foreign organizations to carry out programmatic activities. Under this arrangement, the lead applicant submits the application on behalf of the partnership(s). If NEH makes an award, the lead applicant is considered the recipient of record and assumes all programmatic, financial, and legal responsibilities associated with the award, including adherence to, and compliance with, federal regulations and the terms and conditions of the award. However, the applicant institution must not engage solely in fiscal sponsorship activities (e.g., proposal submissions, reporting, fulfillment of contractual obligations, maintaining IRS status). By contrast, applicant organizations must make substantive contributions to the success of the project.

2. Other Eligibility Information You may submit multiple applications for separate and distinct projects under this notice. An individual may serve as project director for multiple proposed projects under this notice.

You may revise and resubmit an application not selected for funding. Resubmissions must meet the application requirements and review criteria of the current competition.

If NEH has previously made an award in support of your project, you may apply for a new or subsequent stage of the project, which NEH will assess using the review criteria of the current competition.

If you submit multiple applications for the same project, NEH will accept only your last validated submission prior to the deadline under the applicable Grants.gov funding opportunity.

D. Application Contents You must apply using Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution. You can find this funding opportunity in Grants.gov under number 20260625-TD-TR. There is also a link on the program resource page.

See the Application Component Table below to learn what a complete application entails, and the sections following it for information about the content of those components.

See NEH’s General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations for application component designations, page limits, formatting requirements, and submission rules, as well as instructions for the Grants.gov forms in your application package (SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Programs, Project/Performance Site

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Location(s) Form, Attachments form, lobbying forms, and the Research and Related Budget form and accompanying budget justification).

NEH will not review applications missing any required documents or relevant conditionally required documents.

If you include application elements other than those listed in the table, NEH will reject your application.

If your application exceeds mandatory page limits or deviates from formatting instructions, NEH will reject it.

1. Application Component Table

Application Component File Name Designation Page Limit Attachments 1: Narrative narrative.pdf Required 15 (mandatory) 2: Work plan workplan.pdf Required 4 (suggested) 3: Script or detailed treatment script.pdf or treatment.pdf Required Varies, see instructions (mandatory)

4: Work sample sample.pdf Required 2 (suggested) 5: Bibliography bibliography.pdf Required 2 (suggested)

6. Biographies and letters of interest and commitment biographies.pdf Required 2 paragraphs per person (suggested)

7: Digital design design.pdf Conditionally required for Production only

10 (suggested)

8: Images images.pdf Optional 10 (suggested) 9: Subrecipient budget(s) subrecipient.pdf Conditionally required

10: Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement agreement.pdf Conditionally

11: Explanation of delinquent federal debt delinquentdebt.pdf Conditionally

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Application Component Designation Grants.gov Forms SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational

Required

Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Grant Programs

Required

Project/Performance Site(s) Location Form

Required

Research and Related Budget and Budget Justification

Required

Attachments Form Required Certification Regarding Lobbying Conditionally

Standard Form-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”

Conditionally

2. Application Elements Attachment 1: Narrative (required) Compose a comprehensive description of your proposed project. Your narrative should be succinct, well organized, and free of technical terms and jargon so that peer reviewers can understand the proposed project. Per the Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for NEH Grant Proposals, you must acknowledge (by use of footnotes or other marginal notations) when you have inserted AI-generated text into your proposal.

You must limit the narrative to 15 single-spaced pages. Do not include an executive summary, cover page, or table of contents. You may include images, charts, diagrams, footnotes, or endnotes if they fit within the page limit. Name the file narrative.pdf.

Organize your narrative using the following headings. Each section aligns with one or more review criteria NEH will use to evaluate your proposal.

A. Nature of the request (aligns with all review criteria) In one or two paragraphs, state the subject and format of the project (including length of the program or length and number of episodes in a series), the intended outcome and outputs of the award and how they would support the overall purpose of the Media Projects program, and the amount of funding requested from NEH.

B. Program synopsis (Production only) (aligns with review criterion 1) Provide a brief synopsis (approximately 500 words) that describes how the program or series will unfold from beginning to end.

C. Humanities themes (aligns with review criterion 1) Provide a list of thematic statements identifying the most important humanities ideas and the humanities scholarship informing these themes. Expound upon each theme to demonstrate the https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/NEH.AI_.Policy-10.23.24.pdf https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/NEH.AI_.Policy-10.23.24.pdf

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larger critical concepts you want audiences to understand. A typical application identifies the three or four most important themes and provides approximately a half page to a full-page discussion on each theme. If you are applying to produce a podcast series without a coherent set of themes across all episodes, you may wish to identify recurring themes across multiple episodes.

If there are other productions on similar or related subjects, explain how your project will make a new contribution.

D. Creative approach (aligns with review criteria 2 and 6) Describe the program’s audiovisual style and approach. Will the program use narration, a host, interviews, field production, archival materials, dramatic recreations, animation, or other techniques? Identify and describe the most important resources available for the project, including specific interviews, archival collections, and other audio and visual materials.

You may provide visuals, including screenshots and digital components, in Attachment 8:

Images.

E. Rights and permissions (aligns with review criteria 1, 2, and 5) Describe your plans for obtaining permissions and clearing rights to use the proposed materials.

F. Humanities scholars (aligns with review criterion 3) Identify the humanities scholars who will be serving as advisers, and describe the contributions that each will make. Identify any additional experts, if applicable. The scholarly advisory team should help develop humanities themes and may also provide ideas for, and analysis of, the script, treatment(s), and rough cuts of programs. Scholars should be compensated appropriately for their time and expertise. The team’s expertise should reflect the scope of the project and the humanities themes with which it engages. Include short biographies and letters of commitment from each scholar or expert in Attachment 6: Biographies and letters of interest or commitment.

G. Media team (aligns with review criteria 3 and 4) Identify the key members of the media team, including, at a minimum, the director and writer for film projects, or producer(s) for podcast and radio projects. If possible, identify the director of photography (for films), the editor, and, if applicable, the host and the lead digital designer.

Summarize each person’s qualifications, suitability for the proposed project, and expected contributions. Include résumés and letters of commitment in Attachment 6: Biographies and letters of interest or commitment.

H. Progress (aligns with review criterion 5) Describe the work that you have accomplished to date, including research and interviews, if applicable.

I. Distribution plan and audiences (aligns with review criteria 5 and 6) Identify the audiences you will target. Provide distribution and marketing plans detailing how the NEH-funded product might be broadcast, distributed through theaters and festivals, and/or streamed. Describe partnerships that will help publicize the project and any promotional plans.

Development applications should provide an outline of potential plans. Production applications should provide specific strategies and arrangements for distribution. While NEH does not require distribution commitments at the time of the application, if you have received letters of

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interest or commitment from broadcasters or distributors, include them in Attachment 6:

Biographies and letters of interest or commitment.

Estimate the size of the audience, across all platforms, for the completed project. Explain the basis for this assessment. For an ongoing series, describe current distribution practices and, if applicable, provide audience metrics, such as downloads.

J. Fundraising plan and project costs (aligns with review criterion 5) Indicate the total budget for project activities you will conduct during the period of performance, including those costs that you will not cover with NEH funds.

Specify the source and amount of funds you have raised to date for all aspects of the project.

Provide your plans for raising additional funds from other sources, and/or securing in-kind support, to cover costs that will exceed NEH support.

K. Organization profile (aligns with review criteria 3 and 5) Describe the mission and typical activities of the applicant institution and, if different, the production organization. Each profile should be one to two paragraphs.

L. Substantive Involvement (aligns with review criteria 3 and 5) Explain the project responsibilities of the applicant organization and any collaborating organizations. You must demonstrate the substantive involvement of the applicant organization in the proposed project. Most applicants will not engage in all these activities, but some examples of substantive contribution include:

• monitoring the progress of a media project

• contributing to the work plan, research plan, budget, outreach plan, fundraising plan, and/or distribution plan

• contributing to choices of personnel who work on a project, including project scholars and production staff

• contributing to the research, analysis, and interpretation of content

• consulting with other project personnel regarding humanities themes, treatments, scripts, and/or intellectual approaches to the content

• providing direction, advice, and/or mentorship to the production team

• providing input on grant product(s) prior to completion (e.g., reviewing “rough cuts”) participating in engagement, direction, and/or supervision of independent media professionals

• contributing to the development of ancillary resources to support the project

• contributing to outreach and public engagement

If this information appears in other sections of the proposal – such as the media team, work plan, budget, or letters of support – you may reference these sections here.

M. Digital component (if applicable) (aligns with review criteria 2 and 6) If your request includes funding for a digital component, such as a website that will complement the film or audio project, describe its design and humanities content.

Provide information about the digital team responsible for creation of the digital component and content, plus outreach strategies.

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N. Social media, generative AI, and audience-generated content (if applicable) (aligns with review criteria 1 and 6) If your project includes a social media and/or an audience-generated component (for either the primary media product or ancillary digital components), describe how it will enhance the humanities content, and explain the criteria and process for selecting and monitoring it.

Describe your policies and process to prevent the dissemination of obscene, libelous, indecent, or defamatory content (including hate speech, personal attacks, or material constituting harassment).

NEH strongly discourages the use of generative AI and other digital tools and techniques that make it difficult for audiences to distinguish between authentic archival historical materials and those fabricated by the production team to seem authentic. If you plan to use generative AI or other tools, describe your strategy for using these tools ethically, transparently, and responsibly.

Attachment 2: Work Plan (required) Your work plan should reflect the major activities you describe in your narrative, the project dates on your SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational, and your Research and Related Budget.

Provide a detailed, month-by-month schedule of the major work to be done during the period of performance, including the specific people involved in each task. The work plan should clearly demonstrate how the humanities scholars will be involved in reviewing and shaping the project.

Describe the activities that will take place during the period of performance to achieve each of the proposed objectives. Use a timeline that includes each activity and identifies responsible staff. Explain how outcomes from one activity will carry over into the next. For multi -institutional collaborative projects, discuss the distribution of responsibilities across each institution. As appropriate, identify meaningful support and collaboration with key stakeholders in planning, designing, and implementing activities.

Suggested maximum of four pages. Name the file workplan.pdf.

Attachment 3: Script or detailed treatment (required) You may use published humanities scholarship, archival resources, material that you have shot or recorded, preliminary interviews, or other research as the foundation for your script(s) or treatment(s).

Development For stand-alone documentary films, include a preliminary treatment describing how the film would unfold from beginning to end, including the story structure, audiovisual approach, and humanities themes.

For a film with multiple episodes, submit a preliminary treatment for one episode and brief synopses of others.

There is a mandatory page limit of five pages per hour. Name the file treatment.pdf.

Production For stand-alone films, include a script or detailed treatment describing how the film would unfold from start to finish. Present a clear narrative, provide examples of specific audio and visual

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materials, and illustrate how the film would integrate your humanities analysis and interpretive content.

If you are applying to produce all or part of a film with multiple episodes, include at least one complete script/detailed treatment and shorter treatments (fewer than five pages) for each of the remaining episodes.

If you are applying to produce a radio or podcast series, include two detailed treatments (up to two pages each) and shorter descriptions of the other programs (a half page each). The detailed treatments and descriptions should identify the subject of each episode, the main humanities ideas, and the expected content resources, such as potential interviews, field production sites, and archival materials. Each detailed treatment should also present a narrative for the episode and describe how the episode would be structured.

For a podcast series, you may wish to include short descriptions of backup stories that you can use in case the proposed story (or stories) cannot be completed.

There is a mandatory page limit of 15 pages per hour. Name the file script.pdf or treatment.pdf.

Attachment 4: Work sample (required) Provide your work sample as a URL link to a safe, established website. NEH recommends Vimeo or YouTube. Ensure the link remains active and that the sample will be accessible through the review period, which can last up to one year from the date of submission.

If your work sample is in a language other than English, please supply a translation for audio programs or include subtitles in film samples.

Do not submit multiple work samples from the same individual or production team/firm.

previously completed work supplemental completed work trailer, rough cut, or work in progress completed digital work maximum samples

Development required optional n/a n/a 2

Production required optional recommended conditionally required 4

Previously completed work: Submit one sample of a completed work that best demonstrates the experience and qualifications of the media team (especially the director or producer) to develop and/or produce the proposed project successfully. Describe the sample and indicate what role(s) the members of the media team played. Your sample must be a complete film or audio program, rather than a demo reel or a segment from a longer project.

Supplemental completed work: You may submit an additional sample of a completed work from a co-director, a website designer, or an on-air host if that person is central to the project.

Trailer, rough cut, or work in progress (Production applications only): NEH recommends submission of a trailer, rough cut, or work in progress for the proposed project as an illustration of the creative approach.

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Completed digital work (Production applications only): If you are requesting NEH support for supplementary digital components in a Production application, include an example of completed work from the digital team. Identify the project personnel who worked on the sample and include additional information on the audience or distribution.

Suggested maximum of two pages. Name the file worksample.pdf.

Attachment 5: Bibliography (required) Include a bibliography focused on the humanities scholarship that most significantly informs the project.

Suggested maximum of two pages. Any standard format is acceptable. Name the file bibliography.pdf.

Attachment 6: Biographies and letters of interest or commitment (required) List the media team and humanities scholars, as well as any other experts, at the beginning of the attachment, using the following format: full name, title, institutional affiliation.

Provide a biography highlighting major professional accomplishments and expertise for everyone listed (recommended two paragraphs per person). You may submit a short résumé, no more than two pages, instead of a biography.

Include letters or emails of commitment from the key persons on the media team and all consultants (including humanities scholars).

Include letters or emails of commitment from all participating organizations, and (if applicable) letters of commitment or interest from broadcasters or distributors.

Elected government officials, NEH staff, and current members of NEH’s National Council on the Humanities may not serve as letter writers.

Name the file biographies.pdf.

Attachment 7: Digital design (conditionally required for Production only) If you are requesting support for an ancillary digital component (such as a website or an app), demonstrate the user experience with sample text, mockups, wireframes, screenshots, or storyboards. Include specific examples of how this digital component will convey the project’s central humanities ideas.

Suggested maximum of 10 pages. Name the file design.pdf.

Attachment 8: Images (optional) Submit images as a single PDF attachment. Identify each image.

Suggested maximum of 10 pages. Name the file images.pdf.

https://www.neh.gov/about/national-council-on-the-humanities https://www.neh.gov/about/national-council-on-the-humanities

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Attachment 9: Subrecipient Budget(s) (conditionally required) If your project includes subawards, you must provide a separate Research and Related Budget form and budget justification for each subrecipient. Name the file subrecipient.pdf.

Attachment 10: Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (conditionally required) If your organization is claiming indirect costs and has a current federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, provide a copy of the agreement. If applicable, provide the indirect cost rate agreements for subrecipients claiming indirect costs. If you and your subrecipients are requesting the de minimis rate of 15%, you do not need to submit this attachment. Name the file agreement.pdf.

Attachment 11: Explanation of delinquent federal debt (conditionally required for recipients) If your organization is delinquent in the repayment of any federal debt, explain why. Provide evidence that you have entered into a repayment agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, if applicable, and that you are current on all payments due. Examples of relevant debt include delinquent payroll or other taxes, audit disallowances, and benefit overpayments. See OMB Circular A-129. Name the file delinquentdebt.pdf.

3. Budget Instructions Specific to this Program See NEH’s General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations for instructions on completing your budget and budget justification.

Costs associated with post-doctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students are not allowed in this program. NEH will disallow student costs.

As a matter of programmatic policy, publication costs are not allowed.

E. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to review applications under this notice:

1. Humanities content and significance: The likely contribution of the project to public understanding of the topic and the humanities ideas the project engages with; the quality of the scholarship and analytical perspectives informing the project.

2. Creative approach, script, and resources: The audiovisual or audio approach and the likelihood that the program will effectively convey humanities content in an engaging manner; the quality of the script or treatment(s), archival materials, and other resources that the applicant would use in the program.

3. Project personnel: The qualifications and potential contributions of the advising scholars, key organizational staff, and any additional experts. The experience of the media team and the quality of the team’s previous work.

4. Work sample: The quality of the work sample and its demonstration of the qualifications of the media team to produce the proposed project successfully.

https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A129/a-129.pdf https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/circulars/A129/a-129.pdf

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5. Work plan, budget, likelihood of success: The feasibility of the fundraising plan and work plan; the likelihood that the applicant will achieve the project’s goals; and the appropriateness of the project’s costs.

6. Audience reach and distribution: The estimated size of the audience, the potential for broad public appeal; the quality of the distribution plan.

2. Review Process NEH staff review all applications for eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness. The agency then conducts a peer review process for all applications that pass this initial screening.

Peer reviewers are experts in their fields with knowledge and expertise relevant to the activities that the program supports. NEH instructs peer reviewers to evaluate applications according to the review criteria in this notice. Peer reviewers must comply with federal ethics rules governing conflicts of interest.

NEH program officers supplement the peer reviewers’ comments to address matters of fact or significant points that the peer reviewers have overlooked. They then make funding recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities and to the NEH Chairman. The National Council meets at least twice each year to review applications and advise the NEH Chairman. By law, the Chairman has the sole authority to make final funding decisions.

Following NEH’s public announcement of funded projects, you may request copies of the peer reviewers’ evaluations of your proposal by contacting learning@neh.gov.

Learn more about the NEH review process.

Apply to be a peer reviewer for NEH.

3. Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity is not subject to intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372.

F. Submission Information

1. Application Package You must apply using Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution. You can find this funding opportunity in Grants.gov under number 20260625-TD-TR. There is also a link on the program resource page.

2. Submission Instructions The deadline for applications under this notice is June 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

When NEH receives your application from Grants.gov, the agency will assign it a tracking number beginning with TD- or TR-.

Under this notice NEH will consider only applications that are complete, comply with length and formatting requirements, and have been validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity prior to the deadline. See the late submission policy for the limited situations when NEH might accept an application submitted after the deadline.

https://www.neh.gov/about/national-council-on-the-humanities mailto:learning@neh.gov https://www.neh.gov/grants/application-process https://securegrants.neh.gov/signup/ https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.neh.gov/grants/policy-on-late-submissions

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G. Award Notices

1. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates NEH will notify you of funding decisions by email beginning in December 2026. Notification of funding does not authorize you to begin performance or incur costs.

2. Federal Award Documents If NEH selects your application for an award, the NEH Office of Grant Management will send award documents to the institutional grant administrator and project director through eGMS Reach beginning in January 2027.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Specific to this Program Refer to the NEH General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations for administrative and national policy requirements that apply to all NEH awards. These are the requirements specific to Media Projects.

Program Income You must report income you or your subrecipients directly generated by NEH-funded activities or earned as a result of the award during the period of performance and for seven years following the end of the period of performance. When NEH funding of a project amounts to $50,000 or more, and the total program income earned after the period of performance exceeds $50,000, NEH reserves the right to make a claim to or to restrict the use of the federal share of income earned during the seven years following the period of performance. The federal share is a percentage based upon the proportion of NEH support of the total project costs. Review the NEH Program Income Policy.

H. Annual and Final Reporting If you receive an award, you must complete these required reports in NEH’s online grant management system, eGMS Reach.

1. Annual Federal Financial Report(s)

2. Annual Performance Progress Report(s)

3. Final Financial and Performance Reports

4. Program Income Report (for seven years following the end of the period of performance)

5. Tangible Personal Property Report (if you purchase equipment)

Learn more about performance reporting requirements and financial reporting requirements.

I. Agency Information If you have questions about the program, contact:

Division of Lifelong Learning National Endowment for the Humanities 400 Seventh Street, SW Washington DC 20506 https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/NEH%20General%20Application%20Guide%2002-24-2026.pdf http://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/neh-program-income-policy https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/performance-reporting-requirements https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/financial-reporting-requirements

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learning@neh.gov

If you have questions about administrative requirements or allowable costs, contact:

Office of Grant Management National Endowment for the Humanities 400 Seventh Street, SW Washington, DC 20506 202-606-8494 grantmanagement@neh.gov

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can contact NEH using telecommunications relay at 7-1-1.

Related funding opportunities You may find related funding opportunities with your state or jurisdictional humanities council.

As mandated by Congress, NEH’s program budget supports these councils, which play a critical role in carrying out NEH’s mission and goals at a local, grassroots level. Contact information for each council can be found here: https://www.neh.gov/about/state-humanities-councils.

mailto:learning@neh.gov mailto:grantmanagement@neh.gov https://www.neh.gov/about/state-humanities-councils

3. Background

3. Budget Instructions Specific to this Program