Media Projects

Background
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for the Media Projects program. This program aims 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. The NEH seeks to deepen public understanding of humanities through projects grounded in sound scholarship.

Grant Details
The Media Projects program offers two levels of funding: Development and Production. Development awards can be up to $75,000 and are intended for film projects only, resulting in scripts or detailed treatments. Activities supported include meetings with scholars, preliminary interviews, and outreach planning.

Production awards can be up to $700,000 for documentary films and $350,000 for radio programs or podcasts. These awards must result in the production and distribution of a media project and may support activities such as archival research, script development, production (filming/recording/editing), and outreach efforts. All proposals must demonstrate potential for broad audience engagement and involve humanities scholars throughout the project phases.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include 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, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments. Individuals and other organizations such as foreign entities are not eligible.

Period of Performance
For Development awards, the period of performance is six to twelve months; for Production awards, it is one to three years. Projects must start between March 1, 2027, and September 1, 2027.

Grant Value
NEH anticipates awarding approximately $6 million in total funding across an estimated 15 grants. Individual award amounts are up to $75,000 for Development projects and up to $700,000 for Production projects.

Place of Performance
The specific geographic locations where the grant activities will take place must be within the United States or its jurisdictions.