GrantPostedDiscretionary

Public Scholars

National Endowment for the Humanities
20260422-FZ
Application Deadline
Apr 22, 2026
15 days left
Days Remaining
15
Until deadline
Award Ceiling
$60,000
Total Program Funding
$900,000

Grant Opportunity Analysis

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is offering the Public Scholars program, which provides grants to individual authors for research and publication of nonfiction books focused on American history and culture and Western civilization. This program aims to enhance the engagement of both non-academic and academic writers with the humanities, encouraging them to produce well-researched works that appeal to a broad audience. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens and foreign nationals residing in the U.S. for at least three years, who have authored at least one nonfiction book published by a university or trade press. The program anticipates awarding approximately 15 grants, ranging from $30,000 to $60,000, with a total funding pool of $900,000. Applications are due by April 22, 2026, and must be submitted via Grants.gov, including a narrative, work plan, bibliography, résumé, and writing sample. For further information, interested parties can contact the Division of Research at NEH via email at publicscholar@neh.gov or visit the program's webpage at https://www.neh.gov/grants/research/public-scholar-program.

Eligible Applicants

Individuals

Grant Documents

2 Files
Individual NOFO combined.pdf
PDF528 KBMar 6, 2026
AI Summary
The Public Scholars Program, detailed in this government file, offers grants to individual authors for research, writing, travel, and other activities leading to the creation and publication of well-researched nonfiction books in the humanities for a broad public. The 2026 Awards for Faculty competition specifically targets projects in American history and culture and Western civilization. The program, with an anticipated FY 2027 funding of approximately $900,000 for about 15 grants ranging from $30,000 to $60,000, encourages both non-academic and academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens and foreign nationals residing in the U.S. for at least three years, who have authored at least one nonfiction book published by a university or trade press. Applications are due by April 22, 2026, via Grants.gov, and require a narrative, work plan, bibliography, résumé, and writing sample. The period of performance is 6-12 months, with projects starting between April 1, 2027, and September 1, 2028. Funding restrictions include projects not focused on American history/culture or Western civilization, fiction, anthologies, translations, and digital archives as primary products.
Public Scholars 2026 program announcement.pdf
PDF290 KBMar 6, 2026
AI Summary
The Public Scholars Program offers grants up to $60,000 for individual authors to research and publish nonfiction books in American history and culture and Western civilization for a broad public audience. The program, administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has an application deadline of April 22, 2026, with awards anticipated in January 2027. Approximately 15 grants totaling $900,000 will be awarded for projects lasting 6-12 months. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens and foreign nationals residing in the U.S. for at least three years, who have authored at least one sole-authored nonfiction book published by a university or trade press. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and include a narrative, work plan, bibliography, résumé, and writing sample. Review criteria prioritize public appeal, intellectual significance, applicant's experience, project quality, and feasibility. Certain projects, such as fiction, anthologies, translations, or curriculum development, are ineligible.

Related Grant Opportunities

Project Timeline

postedOriginal Opportunity PostedMar 2, 2026
deadlineApplication DeadlineApr 22, 2026

Funding Details

Award Ceiling
$60,000
Award Floor
$30,000
Est. Total Program Funding
$900,000
Expected Awards
15
No cost sharing required

Agency & Classification

Agency
National Endowment for the Humanities(NEH)
Funding Category
Humanities
Funding Instrument
Grant

Grantor Contact

CFDA Numbers

45.160

Official Sources