Opportunity Information: Apply for 20130220 CZ
Apply for 20130220 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 23, 2012 and posted on Oct 23, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2013. (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.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The only eligible applicants 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) offered a discretionary grant opportunity called "Challenge Grants for Two-year Colleges" (Funding Opportunity Number 20130220-CZ) aimed specifically at strengthening the long-term humanities capacity of U.S. community colleges and other accredited two-year institutions. The central idea behind the program is that two-year colleges educate a very large share of postsecondary students, yet their humanities programs have often received less attention and fewer resources than those at four-year institutions. NEH positions the humanities as essential to the educational mission of community colleges, emphasizing how fields like history, philosophy, literature, and related cultural studies can deepen students' understanding of cultural difference and shared human questions, including how societies interpret citizenship, politics, ethics, and identity.
This competition was structured as a "Challenge Grant," meaning it required cost sharing or matching funds rather than functioning as a stand-alone federal award. In practice, that design pushes institutions not only to build or improve humanities offerings, but also to use the federal award as leverage to attract and secure additional financial support from other sources, helping campuses create more durable humanities infrastructure over time. The maximum federal award amount listed for the opportunity was $500,000, with no stated minimum award floor. The funding activity category was Humanities (CFDA 45.130, Promotion of the Humanities - Challenge Grants), aligning it with NEH's broader mission to support humanities teaching, learning, and public engagement.
NEH outlined three primary goals for the initiative. First, it sought to help two-year colleges strengthen humanities programs, with particular emphasis on the study of the world's many cultures and civilizations, signaling an interest in curricula and resources that broaden global and cross-cultural understanding. Second, it aimed to support model humanities curricula developed at two-year colleges that could be replicated elsewhere, encouraging projects that could serve as examples for peer institutions rather than remaining purely local improvements. Third, it intended to encourage colleges to broaden the base of financial support for the humanities, reinforcing the challenge-grant concept of building sustained funding through fundraising, partnerships, and other non-federal support.
Eligibility was limited to accredited U.S. two-year colleges and community colleges that predominantly award associate degrees typically completed in two years of study. Both private independent institutions and publicly supported colleges could apply. The opportunity also allowed community college districts and two-year college consortia to apply, as long as they did so in collaboration with at least one two-year college. The announcement was originally posted on October 23, 2012, with a closing date of February 20, 2013, and it was later archived on March 22, 2013, indicating it was a time-limited competition tied to that application cycle.
For applicants needing official guidance, the announcement directed interested parties to NEH's Office of Challenge Grants, with contact available by phone at 202-606-8309 or by email at challenge@neh.gov, and it referenced an additional information link on the NEH website for the full program details and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NEH Challenge Grants for Two-year Colleges (Funding Opportunity Number 20130220-CZ)
What is the "Challenge Grants for Two-year Colleges" opportunity?
"Challenge Grants for Two-year Colleges" was a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). It was designed to strengthen the long-term humanities capacity of U.S. community colleges and other accredited two-year institutions.
Who was this program intended to serve?
The program was aimed specifically at accredited U.S. two-year colleges and community colleges that predominantly award associate degrees typically completed in two years of study. NEH highlighted that two-year colleges educate a large share of postsecondary students and positioned humanities support at these institutions as an important need.
What is the funding opportunity number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this competition was 20130220-CZ.
Which federal agency offered the grant?
The grant opportunity was offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
What is the CFDA number and program area for this funding?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 45.130, "Promotion of the Humanities - Challenge Grants." The funding activity category was Humanities.
What does it mean that this was a "Challenge Grant"?
This competition was structured as a Challenge Grant, meaning it required cost sharing or matching funds rather than operating as a stand-alone federal award. The structure is intended to help institutions use NEH funds as leverage to secure additional non-federal support and build more durable humanities infrastructure over time.
Did the program require matching funds or cost sharing?
Yes. Because it was a Challenge Grant, the opportunity required cost sharing or matching funds.
What was the maximum federal award amount?
The maximum federal award amount listed for the opportunity was $500,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor was stated in the information provided.
What were the primary goals of the initiative?
NEH outlined three primary goals:
- Help two-year colleges strengthen humanities programs, with particular emphasis on the study of the world's many cultures and civilizations.
- Support model humanities curricula developed at two-year colleges that could be replicated elsewhere.
- Encourage colleges to broaden the base of financial support for the humanities.
What kinds of humanities fields did NEH emphasize in describing the program?
NEH emphasized the humanities as central to community college education and referenced fields such as history, philosophy, literature, and related cultural studies. It also underscored the role of humanities in deepening understanding of cultural difference and shared human questions, including how societies interpret citizenship, politics, ethics, and identity.
What types of projects or outcomes did NEH appear to encourage?
Based on the stated goals, NEH encouraged efforts that strengthen humanities programs and capacity at two-year institutions, particularly those that expand global and cross-cultural understanding. The competition also encouraged the development of model humanities curricula that could be replicated at other institutions, and activities that broaden ongoing financial support for the humanities.
Could both public and private two-year colleges apply?
Yes. Eligibility included both private independent institutions and publicly supported two-year colleges, as long as they were accredited U.S. institutions that predominantly award associate degrees typically completed in two years of study.
Could a community college district apply?
Yes. Community college districts were allowed to apply, as long as they did so in collaboration with at least one two-year college.
Could a two-year college consortium apply?
Yes. Two-year college consortia were allowed to apply, as long as they applied in collaboration with at least one two-year college.
Was the opportunity open indefinitely?
No. The competition was time-limited to a specific application cycle. The announcement was originally posted on October 23, 2012, with a closing date of February 20, 2013, and it was later archived on March 22, 2013.
When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was originally posted on October 23, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date listed for the opportunity was February 20, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was later archived on March 22, 2013.
Why did NEH focus on community colleges and other two-year institutions?
NEH noted that two-year colleges educate a very large share of postsecondary students, but their humanities programs have often received less attention and fewer resources than those at four-year institutions. The program was framed as a way to strengthen humanities capacity and support at these campuses over the long term.
How did NEH describe the role of the humanities in a community college setting?
NEH described the humanities as essential to the educational mission of community colleges. It emphasized that humanities fields can deepen students' understanding of cultural differences and shared human questions, including how societies interpret citizenship, politics, ethics, and identity.
Who can applicants contact for official guidance about this program?
Applicants were directed to NEH's Office of Challenge Grants for official guidance.
What phone number was provided for questions?
The phone number provided for the NEH Office of Challenge Grants was 202-606-8309.
What email address was provided for questions?
The email address provided was challenge@neh.gov.
Where could applicants find full program details and requirements?
The announcement referenced an additional information link on the NEH website for the full program details and requirements.
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