HCRR advances scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities by helping libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country steward important collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art and material culture, and digital objects. The program strengthens efforts to extend the reach of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible. Awards also support the creation of reference resources that facilitate the use of cultural materials, from works that provide basic information quickly to tools that synthesize and codify knowledge of a subject for in-depth investigation.
Projects may address the holdings or activities of a single institution or may involve partnerships between organizations. Collaboration between humanities experts and information professionals is essential to broaden the scope of, and audiences for, proposed collections or reference resources. You should design a project that facilitates sharing, exchange, and the interoperability of humanities information and products, as well as ensures their long-term availability. Projects should expand participation in cultural heritage and promote engagement with primary sources.
Deadline: July 15, 2025 (anticipated)
To be eligible to apply, your organization must be established in the United States or its jurisdictions as one of the following organization types: • a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code • an accredited institution of higher education (public or nonprofit) • a state or local government or one of their agencies • a federally recognized Native American Tribal government
You may submit multiple applications for separate and distinct projects under this notice. Collaborating organizations may participate in multiple proposals.
You may request up to $50,000 for Foundations awards and up to $350,000 for Implementation awards. In order to enhance access to humanities collections held by smaller institutions, Foundations applicants may request an additional $10,000 (for a total of $60,000) to support inter-institutional planning and pilot activities. Award totals include direct and indirect costs. NEH anticipates awarding approximately $7,500,000 among an estimated 35 recipients.