Collaborative Research
🏛 National Endowment for the Humanities
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for groups of two or more scholars conducting collaborative humanities research. Applicants must be pursuing significant research questions leading to an interpretive product. Eligible projects include manuscript preparation for print publication, creation of scholarly digital projects, or planning of international collaborations. This year's competition is limited to American history and culture or Western civilization projects.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The program supports groups of two or more scholars increasing humanistic knowledge through the preparation of a manuscript for print publication, the creation of a scholarly digital project, or the planning of an international collaboration. Projects must pursue significant research questions and lead toward an interpretive product. This year’s competition is limited to projects on American history and culture or Western civilization.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal grant application form)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum vitae for each team member
- Letters of commitment from collaborators
Program contact
- 👤 National Endowment for the Humanities
- 📧 collaborative@neh.gov
- 📞 202-606-8204
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 45.035 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 45.035). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,824,819 | |
| 2025 | $73,502 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,308,932 |
FAQ
Who can apply?
Groups of two or more scholars working collaboratively. Individual researchers cannot apply alone.
What types of projects are supported?
Manuscript preparation for publication, scholarly digital projects, and planning of international collaborations. All must address significant research questions.
Are there geographic or subject limitations?
Yes. This competition year focuses only on American history and culture or Western civilization projects.
What is the typical award range?
Awards range from $1 to $250,000 depending on project scope and complexity.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is September 16, 2026. NEH recommends submitting well in advance of this date.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Form a collaborative team early. NEH values genuine intellectual partnership, not token co-investigators.
- Frame your research question clearly. Show why it matters and what new knowledge you'll produce.
- Specify your deliverable. Be precise about whether you're writing a book, building a website, or planning meetings.
- Review NEH's humanities framework. Your project must advance humanistic understanding, not primarily serve other disciplines.
- Budget realistically for collaboration. Account for communications, meetings, and coordination across your team.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak collaboration design—teams appear assembled for funding rather than genuine scholarly partnership. Unclear interpretive products—applications don't explain what the final scholarly contribution will be or how it advances knowledge. Scope creep—projects attempt too much within budget and timeline constraints.
Similar grants
- OPEN Scholarly Editions and Translations — National Endowment for the Humanities
- OPEN Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams — National Institutes of Health
- ROLLING Multilateral Partnerships Leveraging Excellence — U.S. National Science Foundation
- ROLLING Economics — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN Archaeometry — U.S. National Science Foundation