Opportunity Information: Apply for 20110202 CZ
Apply for 20110202 CZ
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Challenge Grants for Two Year Colleges" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.130 Promotion of the HumanitiesChallenge Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 6, 2010 and posted on Oct 5, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 2, 2011. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Institutions eligible to apply in this competition are accredited U.S. two year colleges and community colleges that predominantly award associate degrees that can be earned in two years of study. Both private, independent colleges and government supported colleges are eligible. Community college districts and two year college consortia may also apply, in collaboration with at least one two year college. Associate degree granting institutions are encouraged to partner with other institutions to carry out grant oriented activities, but one two year college must serve as the applicant of record.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) offered a special Challenge Grant competition called "Challenge Grants for Two Year Colleges" to help accredited U.S. community colleges and other two-year, associate-degree focused institutions build long-term strength in their humanities programs and institutional resources. The opportunity is rooted in the idea that two-year colleges educate a very large share of postsecondary students, yet their humanities offerings and support structures have often been under-resourced or overlooked. NEH frames the humanities as central to the mission of community colleges because fields like history, philosophy, and literature help students think seriously about cultural difference, citizenship, politics, ethics, and the way societies make meaning. The overall intent is to push two-year colleges toward sustainable, campus-wide improvements that raise the visibility, quality, and staying power of humanities education.
A key emphasis of the program is long-term capacity building rather than short-lived programming. NEH’s stated goals focus on enabling two-year colleges to strengthen humanities programs, with particular attention to the study of the world’s many cultures and civilizations. The grant is also meant to support the development of model humanities curricula that can serve as replicable examples for other institutions, which suggests NEH is looking for strong design, clear learning outcomes, and structures that can be adapted across the community college sector. Another central objective is helping colleges broaden their base of financial support for the humanities, which is typical of NEH challenge grants: the federal award is designed to encourage fundraising, matching support, and institutional buy-in that continues after the grant period.
This is a discretionary grant program in the humanities (CFDA 45.130, Promotion of the Humanities - Challenge Grants) administered by NEH. It carried a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients would be expected to raise or commit non-federal funds alongside the NEH award. The funding opportunity anticipated making about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of $500,000 and no stated minimum (award floor of $0). While the notice does not describe allowable budget categories in detail, the program’s language and challenge-grant structure indicate that proposals would likely need to demonstrate how grant funds and matching funds would be used strategically to create durable improvements, such as strengthening humanities curriculum, building faculty capacity, enhancing humanities-related resources, or establishing sustainable program support.
Eligibility was targeted specifically to accredited U.S. two-year colleges and community colleges that predominantly award associate degrees intended to be completed in two years of study. Both public/state-controlled institutions and private/independent two-year colleges were eligible. The announcement also allowed community college districts and two-year college consortia to apply, as long as they collaborated with at least one two-year college. Partnerships were encouraged more broadly as well, including collaborations with other institutions to carry out grant activities, but the rules required that one eligible two-year college serve as the official applicant of record. The eligible applicant categories listed also included certain nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, though the eligibility statement makes clear the competition is specifically for two-year, associate-degree oriented institutions and related consortia/districts meeting the accreditation and mission criteria.
Administrative details from the posting show the opportunity number as 20110202-CZ, with the opportunity posted on October 5, 2010 and a closing date of February 2, 2011 (later archived March 4, 2011). NEH provided a program web link for full guidelines and directed applicants needing assistance accessing the announcement to the Office of Challenge Grants at NEH in Washington, DC, with phone and email contact information (challenge@neh.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Challenge Grants for Two Year Colleges" opportunity?
It is a special National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grant competition designed to help accredited U.S. community colleges and other two-year, associate-degree focused institutions build long-term strength in their humanities programs and institutional resources.
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is part of CFDA 45.130, "Promotion of the Humanities - Challenge Grants."
What is the main purpose of this NEH challenge grant competition?
The main purpose is long-term capacity building for humanities education at two-year colleges, aiming for sustainable, campus-wide improvements that strengthen humanities programs and institutional support over time.
Why does NEH focus on two-year colleges in this competition?
NEH notes that two-year colleges educate a very large share of postsecondary students, while humanities offerings and support structures at these institutions have often been under-resourced or overlooked. The competition is intended to address that gap by supporting durable improvements.
How does NEH describe the value of the humanities in this program?
NEH frames the humanities as central to the mission of community colleges. Fields such as history, philosophy, and literature are described as helping students think seriously about cultural difference, citizenship, politics, ethics, and how societies make meaning.
Is the program focused on short-term programming or long-term improvements?
The emphasis is on long-term capacity building rather than short-lived programming, with the intent to create lasting improvements in humanities education and institutional resources.
What kinds of outcomes is NEH trying to encourage through this competition?
NEH emphasizes strengthening humanities programs, particularly supporting the study of the world's many cultures and civilizations, developing model humanities curricula that can serve as replicable examples, and broadening the financial support base for humanities at eligible institutions.
What does NEH mean by developing "model humanities curricula"?
The opportunity states an objective of supporting the development of model humanities curricula that can serve as replicable examples for other institutions, implying NEH is looking for strong design, clear learning outcomes, and structures that can be adapted across the community college sector.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. It carried a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients would be expected to raise or commit non-federal funds alongside the NEH award.
How many awards did NEH anticipate making?
The funding opportunity anticipated making about 10 awards.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $500,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum was stated; the award floor was listed as $0.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was targeted specifically to accredited U.S. two-year colleges and community colleges that predominantly award associate degrees intended to be completed in two years of study.
Are both public and private two-year colleges eligible?
Yes. The opportunity indicated that both public/state-controlled institutions and private/independent two-year colleges were eligible, as long as they meet the accreditation and mission criteria described.
Can a community college district apply?
Yes. The announcement allowed community college districts to apply, as long as they collaborated with at least one two-year college.
Can a consortium of two-year colleges apply?
Yes. Two-year college consortia were allowed to apply, as long as they collaborated with at least one two-year college and met the stated requirements.
Do partnerships have to include a two-year college as the lead applicant?
Yes. While partnerships were encouraged, the rules required that one eligible two-year college serve as the official applicant of record.
Are collaborations with other institutions allowed?
Yes. Partnerships were encouraged, including collaborations with other institutions to carry out grant activities, provided an eligible two-year college is the applicant of record.
Were any other applicant categories mentioned?
The eligible applicant categories listed also included certain nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribal governments; however, the eligibility statement emphasizes that the competition is specifically for two-year, associate-degree oriented institutions and related consortia/districts meeting the accreditation and mission criteria.
What type of grant program is this?
This is a discretionary grant program in the humanities administered by NEH under its Challenge Grants mechanism.
What kinds of activities might proposals support?
The notice does not provide detailed allowable budget categories, but the program language and challenge-grant structure indicate proposals would likely need to show how NEH funds and matching funds will be used strategically to create durable improvements, such as strengthening humanities curriculum, building faculty capacity, enhancing humanities-related resources, or establishing sustainable program support.
What is the opportunity number for this competition?
The opportunity number is 20110202-CZ.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on October 5, 2010.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date was February 2, 2011.
When was the posting archived?
The posting was later archived on March 4, 2011.
Where could applicants find full guidelines?
NEH provided a program web link for full guidelines in the announcement.
Who should applicants contact for help accessing the announcement or for questions?
Applicants needing assistance were directed to the Office of Challenge Grants at NEH in Washington, DC. The announcement included the email address challenge@neh.gov and provided phone contact information.
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