Endowments for Advancing the Humanities

Funding Opportunity for: Organizations

Maximum award amount: Maximum award amount of $5,000,000; requires a one-to-one match with nonfederal funds

Expected Output: 20-year term endowments for work in the humanities

Period of performance: Up to three years

Application available (anticipated): November 1, 2026

Next deadline (anticipated): January 13, 2027

Expected notification date: June 30, 2027

Project start date: November 1, 2027

Apply Now on Grants.gov

The deadline for this cycle has passed. Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, please use these guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.

About the Program / Application Instructions

At the February 2026 deadline, NEH invites proposals for endowments to build the applicant organization’s capacity in research and teaching of Western civilization, American history and government, and civics.

Endowments for Advancing the Humanities awards provide funds for 20-year term endowments 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. Endowment projects will focus first on fundraising. 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.

Contact

Division of Collections & Infrastructure collections@neh.gov If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Review your application package

Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure you understand the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this grant and are prepared to write the most effective application.

Application Materials

Program Announcement: Endowments for Advancing the Humanities (PDF) Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF) Grants.gov application package

Register for a SAM number and an account on Grants.gov

When you are ready to apply, register for an account with SAM.gov and Grants.gov; both are required. If you already have completed the registrations, make sure they are current.

Register with Grants.gov Grants.gov Applicant Registration Guidance Download Adobe Reader Tips for making PDFs

Complete your application package

Follow the instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Submit your application package on Grants.gov

You will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov when you’ve successfully submitted your application. Subsequently, you will receive up to five more notices confirming different stages in the application process. Verify that you have received all confirmations. Note that email filters may send these messages to your spam or junk folder.