National Endowment for the Humanities

Public Humanities Projects

Open

In short: National Endowment for the Humanities expects to make 20 awards of up to $2 million. Open to many kinds of groups. See who can apply.

Deadline: Due Dec 16, 2026 · 61 days left
Award size: Up to $2M
Total available: $6M · about 20 awards
Match ?: Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: County government, State government, Private college or university, Public college or university, Tribal government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), City or town government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3)
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

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How this fits you

Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
No match required

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for the Public Humanities Projects program. The purpose of this program is to support projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life in three areas: (1) exhibitions, (2) historic site interpretations, and (3) public lectures and discussions. For 2027, NEH welcomes applications that promote deeper public understanding of the following topics: Western civilization and America’s place in it; great works of literature, history, philosophy, and theology and their relevance to contemporary questions; the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution; civic education; civil discourse; cultural literacy, and the practice of close reading. Public Lectures and Discussion Forums must address one of these interest areas.

Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/502a1727-5555-4ce5-b929-2f3d78a884a9 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/c805ab42-bee8-4afa-849a-0ed54a27556f

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Oct16
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
Nov25
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
Dec9
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
Dec14
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Dec16
Deadline
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See how others wrote it

The agency posted this example. Read them for structure and level of detail. Don't copy their words: funders treat copied text as plagiarism, and requirements change from year to year, so follow the current notice.

Public Humanities Projects (exhibitions, historic places) Funded applications
8 funded application narratives (planning and implementation; some redacted), under "Sample Application Narratives" · Link checked Oct 7, 2026

All sample proposals

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About the federal program

National Endowment for the Humanities: Public Humanities Projects
Program number 45.041 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Endowment for the Humanities · Grant

How applications are judged

In each year's official notice: read this year's.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

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Key facts