FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

AUTHORIZATION:

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, Public Law 89-209, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide opportunities for the American public to explore human history and culture through humanities programs in museums, historical organizations, libraries, community centers, and other gathering places, as well as on public television and radio.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grants are made to support consultation, planning and implementation costs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   State and local governments; sponsored organizations; public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations; other public institutions/organizations; Federally recognized Indian tribal governments; Native American organizations; U.S. Territories; non-government-general, minority organizations and other specialized groups; quasi-public nonprofit institutions may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   State and local governments; sponsored organizations; public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations; other public institutions/organizations; Federally recognized Indian tribal governments; Native American organizations; U.S. Territories; non-government-general, minority organizations and other specialized groups; quasi-public nonprofit institutions will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions and OMB Circular No. A- 122 for nonprofit organizations apply.

Pre-application Coordination:   Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to submit to the program a preliminary draft for response by program staff at least six weeks in advance of the application deadline. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. 102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Application forms and guidelines are available online (http://www.neh.gov/grants/grants.html) and upon request from the headquarters office. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Applications are reviewed by subject area specialists, panels of scholars, and other appropriate individuals. Awards are made by the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities after advice from the National Council on the Humanities.

Deadlines:   February 1 for planning, scripting, implementation and production; April 16 and August 26 for consultation grants.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approximately 3 to 6 months.

Appeals:   None, but applicant may reapply.

Renewals:   Renewals may be granted and are processed as new applications.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements. Source: Program Guidelines. Contact: See Headquarters Office below.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Varies, but usually 6 months to 2 years. Funds must be obligated during the grant period.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress reports are required at least annually but no more frequently than quarterly. Cash reports are required quarterly. Final progress and expenditure reports are due within 90 days after completion or termination of the project.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. For nongovernmental recipients, audits are to be carried out in accordance with the provisions set forth in OMB Circular No. A-110, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations Uniform Administrative Requirements" and with OMB Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants are subject to inspection and audits by NEH and other Federal officials.

Records:   Documentation of expenditures and other fiscal records must be retained for 3 years following the submission of the final expenditure report.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   59-0200-0-1-503.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $14,871,765; FY 02 est $13,114,000; and FY 03 est $113,114,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 13 from $40,000 to $600,000; $213,636.

In fiscal year 2001, 534 applications were received and 153 grants were made. In fiscal year 2002, 826 applications were received and 234 grants are anticipated.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 1100 and 1105. Guidelines are available online at http://www.neh.gov/grants/grants.html or by request from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, DC 20506. Available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, is the Endowment's official publication, "Humanities" by subscription (6 issues annually, $24.00 domestic, $30.00 foreign).

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Public Programs, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20506 Email: publicprograms@neh.gov Phone: (202) 606-8269. , Washington, District of Columbia 20506 Email: publicprograms@neh.gov Phone: (202) 606-8269.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.neh.gov/divisions/public

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

(1) A library received a grant for a book and film discussion series, a traveling exhibition, lectures, historic site tours, and curricular materials about the life and works of John Steinbeck. 2) A public television station received a grant for a four-hour documentary series on Reconstruction that tells the story of the aftermath of the destruction of slavery and the defeat of the Confederacy after the Civil War. 3) A museum received a grant for a traveling exhibition, catalog, website, and public programming exploring the artistic and cultural achievements of the Il-Khanids, who ruled parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Iraq during the 13th and 14th centuries. 4) A state-wide organization received a grant for Chautauqua programs, a traveling panel exhibition, a book discussion series, teachers' institutes, and speakers' bureau programs about the Lewis and Clark expedition.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

A successful application will demonstrate national significance or impact, outreach to groups of Americans not often engaged in public humanities projects, collaboration among cultural institutions and organizations as well as other similar or different groups, and use of a broad spectrum of the most effective formats, technologies, and venues for lifelong learning in the humanities. Although every proposal will not be expected to meet all of the criteria outlined above, the Division will give priority to applications that further these objectives.