Humanities Initiatives

Background
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Education Programs is accepting applications for five Humanities Initiatives programs aimed at strengthening the teaching and study of the humanities at institutions of higher education. The goal is to develop new or improve existing humanities programs, educational resources, or coursework.

These initiatives include programs specifically for Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Community Colleges.

Grant Details
The Humanities Initiatives programs support activities such as:
- Curriculum development: developing/revising courses, creating teaching materials, planning/piloting programs.
- Student enrichment: frameworks for sustainable internship programs, hands-on learning opportunities, curricular innovations connecting humanities education to careers.
- Faculty development: shared reading programs, faculty workshops, guest speaker series.
- Partnerships: bridge programs between high school and college, collaborations with museums/libraries for classroom materials, community programming.

Projects must address core topics in humanities areas like history, philosophy, religion, languages and literature. NEH accepts applications for projects that would take between one and three years to complete.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S.-accredited public or 501(c)(3) private institutions of higher education. Each of the five Humanities Initiatives programs has distinct eligibility criteria. Individuals and other organizations (including foreign entities) are ineligible. Institutions may apply on behalf of a consortium but must make substantive contributions to the project.

Period of Performance
Projects may have a performance period ranging from one to three years with a start date between February 1, 2026, and September 1, 2026.

Grant Value
NEH anticipates awarding approximately $3,750,000 across all five Humanities Initiatives programs combined. Applicants may request up to $150,000 per award.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed at U.S.-accredited public or private institutions of higher education.