Promotion of the Humanities Challenge Grants

To strengthen institutional base and organizational capacity for work in the humanities by providing funds that are matched with cash contributions from nonfederal parties. Successful applicants receive awards in federal matching funds intended to stimulate additional private, state, and local support for humanities organizations.

Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, public and 501(c)(3) accredited institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments.

Applicant organizations and users of their humanities resources, programs, or activities; humanities scholars; and the general public.

NEH staff review all applications for eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness. The agency then conducts a peer review process for all applications that pass this initial screening. Peer reviewers are experts in their fields with knowledge and expertise relevant to the activities that the program supports. NEH instructs peer reviewers to evaluate applications according to established review criteria. Peer reviewers must comply with federal ethics rules governing conflicts of interest. NEH program staff supplement the peer reviewers’ comments to address matters of fact or significant points that peer reviewers may have overlooked. They then make funding recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities. The National Council meets at least twice each year to review applications and advise the NEH Chair. By law, the Chair has the sole authority to make final funding decisions.