Opportunity Information: Apply for 20090826 TD
Apply for 20090826 TD
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Americas Media Makers Development Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.164 Promotion of the HumanitiesPublic Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 23, 2009 and posted on Jun 23, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 26, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
Americas Media Makers Development Grants is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity designed to help creators build strong public-facing media projects rooted in serious humanities scholarship. The program supports stories and arguments about culture, identity, history, and related humanistic themes, with an emphasis on work that can spark public dialogue, encourage civic engagement, and foster learning for audiences of all ages. The NEH Division of Public Programs, which runs this opportunity, is especially interested in projects that present humanities ideas in engaging ways and that invite thoughtful reflection rather than simply delivering information. A key expectation is that projects aim for public impact, meaning they should be accessible to general audiences and structured to promote discussion and deeper understanding.
This specific opportunity focuses on the development stage, which is meant to help applicants shape and strengthen a project before full production. Development funding supports collaboration between media professionals and scholarly advisers to refine the humanities content and decide how best to present it. Funded activities can include research; meetings and one-on-one consultations with scholars; early interviews; writing and revising scripts; planning interactive or digital elements; exploring distribution strategies; and building partnerships that support outreach and public engagement. By the end of the development period, the project is expected to reach a clear milestone such as a refined humanities framework, a draft script, or a design document for interactive components, and in many cases a prototype for digital media. In other words, NEH is not just funding brainstorming; it is funding the structured work needed to turn a strong humanities idea into a production-ready plan.
Applicants are expected to come in with substantial preparation already completed. NEH indicates that, before applying, teams should have a solid command of the major scholarship relevant to the topic, a clear sense of the central humanities questions the project will explore, and an identified team of scholarly advisers who can help work through key interpretive and intellectual issues. Applicants should also have made preliminary choices about format and storyline, identified essential source materials, and recruited appropriate media professionals, particularly roles like producer, writer, or interactive designer. This signals that the grant is intended for projects that are past the earliest concept stage and are ready for serious development work that will lead directly to production planning.
While this posting is for Development Grants, the broader Americas Media Makers program also includes Production Grants, which support the final preparation of projects for distribution. Production applications generally require more finished materials, such as a complete script for radio or television, or a prototype or storyboard for a digital project, demonstrating both strong humanities grounding and readiness to produce. NEH also notes a higher-profile option at the production stage called the Chairmans Special Award, intended for unusually complex projects with national visibility and the potential to reach large audiences. These often involve multiple formats, significant collaboration among institutions, and expanded scope and reach. Importantly, applicants do not have to win a development grant before applying for production, but they must choose one track per project per deadline and cannot submit multiple applications for the same project at the same time.
A distinctive feature of this opportunity is NEHs encouragement of multi-format and cross-platform projects. NEH explicitly invites proposals that combine radio or television with complementary digital components and public humanities activities, such as online experiences, museum exhibitions, reading and discussion programs, and other formats that deepen engagement and broaden distribution. Examples of potential outputs include websites, games, virtual environments, streaming and video-on-demand components, podcasts, DVDs, and projects incorporating user-generated content. The underlying goal is to keep humanities ideas at the center while using modern tools to contextualize content, invite interaction, and reach audiences in more than one way, including building new extensions around previously funded NEH projects to add new dimensions and serve new audiences.
Administratively, this is a discretionary federal grant opportunity in the humanities (CFDA 45.164, Promotion of the Humanities - Public Programs) offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The award ceiling listed is $75,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. entities, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); public and private institutions of higher education; and state, county, city or township, and special district governments. The opportunity posted on June 23, 2009, with an application deadline of August 26, 2009, and it was archived on September 25, 2009. For official guidelines and details, NEH provides an information link (http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/AmMediaMakersdevelopment.html) and a contact point at the NEH Division of Public Programs (publicpgms@neh.gov, 202-606-8269).
Americas Media Makers Development Grants (NEH) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Americas Media Makers Development Grants opportunity?
Americas Media Makers Development Grants is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity that supports the development stage of public-facing media projects grounded in serious humanities scholarship. The goal is to help creators strengthen a project so it can move toward full production with a clear plan, strong humanities framing, and a public engagement approach.
What kinds of topics or themes does NEH want to support under this program?
The program supports stories and arguments about culture, identity, history, and related humanistic themes. NEH emphasizes projects that can spark public dialogue, encourage civic engagement, and foster learning for audiences of all ages.
What does NEH mean by a "public-facing" humanities media project?
In this opportunity, "public-facing" means the project is designed for general audiences and aims for public impact. NEH expects projects to be accessible beyond academic specialists and structured to promote discussion and deeper understanding.
Is the focus on teaching information, or on interpretation and ideas?
NEH notes particular interest in projects that present humanities ideas in engaging ways and invite thoughtful reflection rather than simply delivering information.
Is this grant for development or for full production?
This specific posting is for Development Grants. It is intended to help applicants shape and strengthen a project before full production.
What is the main purpose of the development stage in this program?
Development funding supports structured work to refine the humanities content and determine how best to present it. NEH describes this stage as moving beyond early brainstorming toward a production-ready plan with clear milestones.
What kinds of activities can development grant funds support?
Examples of funded development activities include research; meetings and one-on-one consultations with scholars; early interviews; writing and revising scripts; planning interactive or digital elements; exploring distribution strategies; and building partnerships that support outreach and public engagement.
What kinds of deliverables or milestones are expected by the end of the development period?
By the end of development, NEH expects the project to reach a clear milestone such as a refined humanities framework, a draft script, or a design document for interactive components. In many cases, NEH also anticipates a prototype for digital media.
Does NEH fund early concept brainstorming for brand-new ideas?
NEH indicates it is not simply funding brainstorming. Applicants are expected to come in with substantial preparation already completed, and development funds are meant for structured work that strengthens the project toward production planning.
How prepared should an applicant team be before applying?
NEH expects substantial preparation, including: a solid command of major scholarship on the topic; a clear sense of the central humanities questions the project will explore; and an identified team of scholarly advisers to help address interpretive and intellectual issues.
What project planning should be done prior to submitting an application?
Before applying, NEH indicates teams should have made preliminary choices about format and storyline, identified essential source materials, and recruited appropriate media professionals (for example, a producer, writer, or interactive designer).
Who should be involved on the project team?
Development grants are designed to support collaboration between media professionals and scholarly advisers. NEH specifically points to roles such as producer, writer, and interactive designer, alongside scholarly advisers who help shape and test the humanities framing and interpretation.
What is the difference between Development Grants and Production Grants in the broader Americas Media Makers program?
Development Grants support shaping and strengthening a project before full production. Production Grants support the final preparation of projects for distribution and generally require more finished materials, such as a complete script for radio or television, or a prototype or storyboard for a digital project.
Do you have to receive a development grant before applying for a production grant?
No. NEH notes that applicants do not have to win a development grant before applying for production.
Can a team apply for both development and production funding for the same project at the same time?
No. NEH indicates applicants must choose one track per project per deadline and cannot submit multiple applications for the same project at the same time.
What is the Chairmans Special Award mentioned in the program description?
NEH describes a higher-profile option at the production stage called the Chairmans Special Award. It is intended for unusually complex projects with national visibility and potential to reach large audiences, often involving multiple formats, significant collaboration among institutions, and expanded scope and reach.
Does NEH encourage projects that use more than one format or platform?
Yes. A distinctive feature of this opportunity is NEH encouragement of multi-format and cross-platform projects, including proposals that combine radio or television with complementary digital components and public humanities activities.
What are examples of multi-format or cross-platform components that may fit this opportunity?
NEH lists examples such as websites, games, virtual environments, streaming and video-on-demand components, podcasts, DVDs, and projects incorporating user-generated content. NEH also mentions public humanities activities like museum exhibitions and reading and discussion programs.
Can applicants build new digital extensions around previously funded NEH projects?
Yes. NEH notes the possibility of building new extensions around previously funded NEH projects to add new dimensions and serve new audiences.
What is the maximum award amount for this grant opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $75,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What type of grant is this from a federal administration perspective?
This is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity in the humanities offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities, under CFDA 45.164 (Promotion of the Humanities - Public Programs).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. entities, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); public and private institutions of higher education; and state, county, city or township, and special district governments.
Which NEH office runs this program?
The NEH Division of Public Programs runs the Americas Media Makers opportunity described here.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on June 23, 2009. The application deadline was August 26, 2009. It was archived on September 25, 2009.
Where can applicants find the official guidelines?
NEH provides official guidelines and details at: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/AmMediaMakersdevelopment.html
How can someone contact NEH with questions about this opportunity?
NEH lists a contact point at the NEH Division of Public Programs: publicpgms@neh.gov, 202-606-8269.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Americas Media Makers Production Grants Apply for 20090826 TR Funding Number: 20090826 TR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| DFG/NEH Bilateral Digital Humanities Program Enriching Digital Collections Apply for 20091008 HG Funding Number: 20091008 HG Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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| Collaborative Research Apply for 20091029 RZ Funding Number: 20091029 RZ Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Scholarly Editions and Translations Apply for 20091029 RQ Funding Number: 20091029 RQ Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Publication Subventions Apply for SUBVENTIONS 200909 Funding Number: SUBVENTIONS 200909 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| National Digital Newspaper Program Apply for 20091103 PJ Funding Number: 20091103 PJ Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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| Interpreting Americas Historic Places Planning Grants Apply for 20100113 BP Funding Number: 20100113 BP Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| Americas Media Makers Development Grants Apply for 20100113 TD Funding Number: 20100113 TD Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Americas Media Makers Production Grants Apply for 20100113 TR Funding Number: 20100113 TR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Challenge Grants in United States History and Culture Apply for 20100203 CZ Funding Number: 20100203 CZ Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities Apply for 20100217 HT Funding Number: 20100217 HT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Programming Grants to Accompany NEH on the Road Exhibitions Apply for 20101230 MR Funding Number: 20101230 MR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000 |
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