National Endowment for the Humanities
State and Jurisdictional Humanities CouncilsGeneral Operating Support Grants
Key facts
- Deadline
- Next round: about Mar 3 – Apr 6, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder ?
- Award size
- Up to $1.7M
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 3
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/28abf13f-ee79-4508-82e0-9cd25cfff2aa · Printed from grantme.click/grants/665573f4-59ce-49c1-8faa-bbee99feef88
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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- National Digital Newspaper Program · Due Jan 13, 2027 · 97 days left
- Awards for Faculty at HBCUs · Next round: about Mar 2 – Apr 22, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
About this grant
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Federal/State Partnership is accepting applications for State and Jurisdictional Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants for NEH’s designated humanities councils. State and jurisdictional humanities councils tailor their grantmaking and programs to the needs, resources, and interests of their state or jurisdiction, while also extending the reach of NEH-funded projects and further strengthening the agency’s connection to local communities. NEH determines annual funding for each state and jurisdictional humanities council according to a statutory formula.
Who can apply, from the official notice
The only eligible applicants are the independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) state and jurisdictional humanities councils.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
3 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 2022. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.2M spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $46K spent that year | 2023 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, Claiborne County | $1,557 spent that year | 2023 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
About the federal program
Promotion of the Humanities Federal/State Partnership
Program number 45.129 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Endowment for the Humanities · Formula grant (amounts set by a formula)
How applications are judged
Each council sets its own guidelines and criteria for assessing proposals, which are widely disseminated within the state. The criteria for state and jurisdictional humanities council funding from NEH are established in the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. Section 950, 956, and by the NEH Office of Federal/State Partnership.
Match
Statutory Formula: Title National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, Part 956, Subpart (f)(4),Public Law Public Law 89-209, 20 U.S.C. �956 (f) (4).As established by the Congressional funding formula, each State and jurisdictional council receives $200,000 of the definite funds appropriated to Federal/State Partnership. The remaining funds are distributed by a formula based on population. State and jurisdictional humanities councils must match the federal award on a one-to-one basis.State and jurisdictional humanities councils must match the federal award on a one-to-one basis.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2022: State and jurisdictional humanities councils offer a wide array of programming that makes the humanities accessible to general audiences. Council-conducted programs and grant making reflect the interests, resources, and diverse experiences of the local communities they serve. Council programs include competitive grants, civic education programs, book festivals, reading and discussion programs, speakers bureaus, educator institutes, Clemente courses, films, traveling exhibitions, and programs for veterans. They also help extend the reach of NEH-funded projects, and ensure NEH remains connected to local and regional communities. Through council initiatives and grant-making, state and jurisdictional humanities councils enrich lives through the humanities�with an emphasis on the specific needs of the communities they represent.
Fiscal year 2025: State and jurisdictional humanities councils offer a wide array of programming that makes the humanities accessible to general audiences. Council-conducted programs and grant making reflect the interests, resources, and diverse experiences of the local communities they serve. Council programs include competitive grants,...