NEH Challenge Grants CFDA 45.130

NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds (that is, funds that are invested, with both the income and the principal being expended over a defined period of years) that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Funds may also be used for one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly. Applications are due by May 5, 2009.


Because of the matching requirement, these NEH grants also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support. Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities. Programs that involve collaboration among multiple institutions are eligible as well, but one institution must serve as the lead agent and formal applicant of record. NEH particularly welcomes proposals for programming at America’s historic places (historic sites, neighborhoods, communities, or larger geographical regions).

Activities supported
Challenge grant funds (both federal and nonfederal together) must provide long-term benefits to the humanities. Challenge grant funds should not replace funds already being expended on the humanities, but instead should reflect careful strategic planning to strengthen the institution’s activities in and commitment to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the humanities.
Institutions may use challenge grant funds to meet both ongoing and one-time humanities-related costs, provided that the long-term benefit of the expenditure can be demonstrated. Federal challenge grant funds, as well as funds raised for matching, might be used for purposes such as the following:
- faculty and staff salaries and benefits;
- acquisitions for collections;
- faculty, teacher, and staff development;
- research fellowships;
- lecture or exhibition series;
- visiting scholars or consultants;
- publishing subventions;
- preservation and conservation programs;
- construction, renovation, and maintenance of facilities;
- purchase of equipment and software; and
- fund-raising costs (totaling no more than 10 percent of challenge grant funds).

Expenditures not eligible for support
- Challenge grant funds, federal or nonfederal, may not be used for one-time or
- operating expenditures with minimal long-term impact;
- recovery of indirect costs;
- support for projects eligible for grants from other NEH programs; or
- scholarships or stipends for students below the graduate level.

Document Type: Modification to Previous Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: 20090505-CH
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Feb 19, 2009
Creation Date: Feb 19, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: May 05, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: May 05, 2009
Archive Date: Jun 04, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Humanities (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 10
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $0
CFDA Number(s): 45.130 -- Promotion of the Humanities_Challenge Grants
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

NEH Challenge Grants Modification Full Announcement
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Grants.gov Error Messages and Attachment Names

Well I learned something new about the Grants.gov system today. The meat of any grant applications is a series of .pdf attachments to the application. Attachments containing special characters (example: &,–,*,%,/,#’, - ) or with a file name of longer than "approximately" 50 characters may cause the application to be rejected by the system. Read more about it here: Filename Attachments - Adobe & System-to-System (S2S). >>Read more >>

NEA Preservation Assistance Grants CFDA 45.149

Preservation Assistance Grants help institutions—particularly small and mid-sized institutions—improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections, including special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine arts, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, and historical objects. Institutions such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, arts and cultural organizations, and town and county records offices are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by May 14, 2009.


Applicants must draw on the knowledge of consultants whose preservation skills and experience are related to the types of collections and the nature of the activities that are the focus of their projects. Within the conservation field, for example, conservators usually specialize in the care of specific types of collections, such as objects, paper, or paintings. Applicants should therefore choose a conservator whose specialty is appropriate for the nature of their collections. Similarly, when assessing the preservation needs of archival holdings, applicants must seek a consultant specifically knowledgeable about archives and preservation. Because the organization and the preservation of archival collections must be approached in tandem, an archival consultant should also provide advice about the management and processing needs of such holdings as part of a preservation assessment that includes long-term plans for the arrangement and description of archival collections. Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are especially encouraged to apply.

Outright grants of up to $6,000 will be awarded. All grants are awarded for a period of eighteen months, although a grantee may complete a project in a shorter period of time.

Cost sharing is not required. If eligible expenses are more than $6,000, an applicant may cover the difference and show this as cost sharing in the project’s budget.

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: 20090514-PG
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Feb 09, 2009
Creation Date: Feb 09, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: May 14, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: May 14, 2009
Archive Date: Jun 13, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Humanities (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 30
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $6,000
Award Floor: $0
CFDA Number(s): 45.149 -- Promotion of the Humanities_Division of Preservation and Access
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html
Frequently Asked Questions

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NEA Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants FY2010 CFDA 45.024

An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2010 Grants for Arts Projects categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants, Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development. Partnerships can be valuable to the success of these projects. While not required, applicants are encouraged to consider partnerships among organizations, both in and outside of the arts, as appropriate to their project. Applications are due by May 28, 2009.


The Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted here also must be present. This category, as an essential component of the Arts Endowment's goal of providing wide access to artistic excellence, supports local projects that can have significant effects within communities. These Fast-Track Review Grants: Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below. Are for $10,000 each. Receive an expedited application review. Organizations are notified whether they have been recommended for a grant approximately six months after they apply; projects may start shortly thereafter.

January 1, 2010 is the Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: 2009NEA01CAFT
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Jan 30, 2009
Creation Date: Jan 30, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: May 28, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: May 28, 2009 May 28, 2009, Application Deadline January 1, 2010, Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support If your organization applies to the Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants category, it may not submit another application to either the Access to Artistic Excellence or Learning in the Arts categories.
Archive Date: Jun 27, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Arts (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 400
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $10,000
Award Floor: $10,000
CFDA Number(s): 45.024 -- Promotion of the Arts_Grants to Organizations and Individuals
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

NEA Web Site Announcement

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NEA Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth FY2010 CFDA 45.024

An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2010 Grants for Arts Projects categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants, Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. Projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art. Funded projects apply national or state arts education standards. Applications are due by June 11, 2009.


The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to providing leadership in arts education by inspiring all young Americans through rich arts experiences. A high quality education in the arts opens a critical gateway to a lifetime of appreciation and engagement.

For two reasons, learning in the arts is an indispensable part of American education: 1) children celebrate and participate in their cultural inheritance, and 2) academic and social maturity follow directly from arts education experiences. The Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth category offers funding for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge and understanding of and skills in the arts.

All projects submitted to the Learning in the Arts category must include: Experience: Students and their teachers will have the chance to experience exemplary works of art -- in live form where possible. Study: Through the guidance of teachers, teaching artists, and cultural organizations, students will study works of art in order to understand the cultural and social context from which they come, and to appreciate the technical and/or aesthetic qualities of each work. Where appropriate, study will include the acquisition of skills relevant to practicing the art form. Performance: Informed by their experience and study, students will create artwork. In the case of literature, the primary creative activities will be writing and/or recitation. Assessment: Students will be assessed according to national or state arts education standards. Where appropriate, projects will employ multiple forms of assessment including pre- and post-testing.

June 1, 2010 is the Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: 2009NEA01LITA
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Jan 30, 2009
Creation Date: Jan 30, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: Jun 11, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jun 11, 2009 June 11, 2009, Application Deadline June 1, 2010, Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support
Archive Date: Jul 11, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Arts (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 600
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $150,000
Award Floor: $5,000
CFDA Number(s): 45.024 -- Promotion of the Arts_Grants to Organizations and Individuals
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

NEA Web Site Announcement
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