Collaborative Research
Funding Opportunity for Organizations
Maximum award amount：Depending on funding category, up to $250,000.
Expected Output：Book, themed issue of peer-reviewed journal, digital publication, website, digital resource
Period of performance：Depending on funding category, up to three years.
Application available：July 7, 2026
Deadline：September 16, 2026
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.
The Collaborative Research program aims to advance knowledge in the humanities by supporting teams of scholars working on a project leading to an interpretive product. Teams may propose research in a single field of study or interdisciplinary work. NEH encourages projects that incorporate multiple points of view and pursue new avenues of inquiry.
Collaborators may come from one or more institutions. NEH encourages partnerships with researchers in the natural and social sciences, but projects must focus on humanistic content and employ humanistic methods. International collaboration is welcome, but scholars at U.S. institutions must contribute significantly to the project.
Proposed projects must lead to a tangible and sustainable output, such as a coauthored book, edited volume, themed issue of a peer-reviewed journal, digital publication, or scholarly website. Project outputs must incorporate collaboration and interpretation to address significant humanities research questions.
New This Year：
- Applications must focus on the history and culture of the United States or Western civilization.
- The program supports three project categories: Planning International Collaboration, Manuscript Preparation, and Scholarly Digital Project
- Planning International Collaboration projects have a maximum award amount of $50,000.
International teams should consult NEH's International Opportunities page for information about possible sources of additional funding from external partners.
Contact Division of Research 202-606-8200 collaborative@neh.gov If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Program Statistics In the last five competitions this program received an average of 134 Applications per year This grant has an 11% Funding Ratio NEH made an average of 14 Awards per year
Review your application package Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure you understand all the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this program and are prepared to write the most effective application.
Application Materials Notice of Funding Opportunity, 2026 (PDF) General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations (PDF) Grants.gov application package
Program Resources Frequently Asked Questions, 2026 List of Recent Awards Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for NEH Grant Proposals
Sample Application Narratives Planning International Collaboration Rutgers University, Unboxing Artificial Intelligence: An International Collaboration Bringing Humanities Perspectives to AI
Manuscript Preparation Marquette University, Spanish Civil War and Visual Culture Pennsylvania State University, Sovereign Kin: A History of the Cherokee Nation
Scholarly Digital Project University of Arizona, Shared Churches in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1800 Purdue University, Mapping London's Theater Districts, 1576-1642
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.
Projects Funded by this Grant Program Notre-Dame in Color