National Endowment for the Humanities: Endowments for Advancing the Humanities

To strengthen institutional base and organizational capacity for work in the humanities by providing funds that are matched with cash contributions from nonfederal parties. Successful applicants receive awards in federal matching funds intended to st

The purpose of this program is to support long-term work in the humanities. Humanities organizations benefit from consistent funding over an extended period to maintain stability, to flourish, and to continue to offer valuable programs and preserve resources. Applicants may propose up to three years to raise and certify non-federal gifts that will be matched one-to-one with NEH federal matching funds. Once award recipients have certified the required amount of non-federal gifts, they will establish a term endowment and spend its income to advance the work of the humanities at their organizations.

Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, public and 501(c)(3) accredited institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments.

Funding may be used to create 20-year term endowments that advance the humanities.

To reach funding recommendations, NEH asks peer reviewers to evaluate the existing and potential quality of an applicant's contributions to the humanities; its needs, management, and fund-raising capability; and the quality of the proposed project. See review criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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

You may request a single one-year extension to the period of performance if necessary to raise the remainder of your required gifts.