National Endowment for the Humanities: Media Projects
Active
- Assistance listing
- 45.036
- Grant awards
- 1 $700,000 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 59-0200-0-1-503
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Endowment for the Humanities is accepting applications for Media Projects (CFDA 45.036) to fund development, production, and distribution of humanities-grounded radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and television projects with a due date of June 25, 2026.
The program supports both development awards that yield scripts or detailed treatments and production awards that result in completed media projects ready for national or regional distribution. Projects must attract broad general audiences and may include supplementary components such as discussion programs or websites. Film and television projects may be stand-alone documentaries or series; radio and podcast projects may be single programs, series, or segments within ongoing programs. Recipients may request a one-year no-cost extension 30 days before the period of performance ends.
Recent activity is sparse. The portfolio shows one Project Grant award obligating $700 thousand as of August 1, 2023. The funded project, "Canada Lee, Native Son," is a documentary film exploring the life and legacy of the mid-twentieth-century actor, collaborator of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, and civil rights advocate. That award was the sole grant recorded in the portfolio, with an ultimate completion date of October 31, 2026. No prior-year awards appear in the data. The National Endowment for the Humanities is the sole funding source for the program.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, accredited institutions of higher education (public or private), state or local government agencies, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments. The program operates through a formal peer-review process with expert reviewers in relevant fields. The NEH Chairman holds sole authority to make final funding decisions. Announcements are made approximately 9 to 12 months after the application deadline.
The June 25, 2026 opportunity represents an active solicitation. Award economics remain opaque from the single recent award, making typical funding magnitude difficult to discern. This program shows minimal recent activity and warrants close monitoring of the 2026 cycle results before committing significant pursuit resources.
Objective and description
- Objective
Under this program, development awards should result in a script or detailed treatment. Production awards must result in the production and distribution of radio, podcast, television, or documentary film projects.
- Description
The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and television programs. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship, attract a broad general audience, and should be for national or regional distribution. Film and television projects may be stand-alone documentaries or a series of programs. Radio and podcast projects may be single programs, a series, or segments within an ongoing program. Projects may include supplementary components such as discussion programs or websites.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
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 .
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
See Review Criteria in the relevant Notice of Funding Opportunity.
- Award procedure
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 established review criteria. 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 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.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Announcements are made approximately 9-12 months after the application deadline.
- Renewals
Recipients may request a one-year no-cost extension 30 days before the end of the period of performance.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Projects | Closed |
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada LEE, native SON [canada LEE (1907?1952) was a luminary of the stage, screen, and radio who fought for racial and… | Documentary Educational Resources Inc. | $700,000 |
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Documentary Educational Resources Inc. | $700,000 | 100% |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 45.036?
Assistance Listing 45.036 is National Endowment for the Humanities: Media Projects, a federal grant program run by National Endowment for the Humanities.
What is the CFDA number for National Endowment for the Humanities: Media Projects?
Its CFDA number is 45.036: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 45.036 awarded?
1 grant award under 45.036 have obligated $700,000 in federal funds to 1 recipient.
Who receives the most funding from 45.036?
The recipients obligated the most under National Endowment for the Humanities: Media Projects are Documentary Educational Resources Inc. ($700,000).
Are there open grant opportunities under 45.036?
No opportunity listed under 45.036 is open now. The latest, Media Projects, was posted on March 19, 2026.
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