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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - NEH Challenge Grants

What is the NEH Challenge Grants program?

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grants program is a capacity-building funding opportunity that helps U.S. institutions make long-term, structural improvements to their humanities work. The program is designed to strengthen an organization’s long-term financial and institutional ability to sustain humanities research, education, preservation, and public programs.

What is the main purpose of a Challenge Grant compared to a typical project grant?

Challenge Grants are intended to support durable, long-term improvements rather than short, one-off programming. NEH expects projects to strengthen an institution over time, improving stability, capacity, or reach, rather than providing a temporary boost.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing/matching is required. A defining feature of the program is that recipients must raise nonfederal funds alongside the NEH award. This match is meant to expand private, philanthropic, and community-based investment in the humanities and deepen the institution’s overall commitment to humanities activity.

What kinds of activities can Challenge Grant funds support?

Challenge Grant funds can be used for several major purposes aimed at durable impact, including establishing or expanding an endowment, creating or enhancing a spend-down fund, and supporting certain one-time capital expenses with lasting humanities benefits (such as construction or renovation, equipment purchases, or acquisitions that strengthen collections and public access).

Can the grant be used to establish or expand an endowment?

Yes. A common use of Challenge Grant funds is to establish or expand an endowment that generates ongoing earnings to support humanities staff, programming, collections care, research activities, or public engagement over time.

What is a spend-down fund in the context of this program?

A spend-down fund is money that is invested and then both the investment income and the principal are intentionally spent over a defined number of years to support continuing humanities activities.

Are construction, renovation, or equipment purchases allowed under this program?

Yes. The program can support certain one-time capital expenses that have lasting humanities benefits. Examples noted include construction or renovation, equipment purchases, or acquisitions that strengthen collections and improve public access to them.

What does NEH mean by “measurable, long-term benefits”?

NEH expects applicants to show that the combined federal and matching funds will produce durable outcomes, such as lasting improvements in capacity, stability, or reach, rather than short-term or temporary gains.

Can this funding replace existing humanities spending at my institution?

No. NEH emphasizes that Challenge Grants are not meant to replace existing humanities spending. Proposals should reflect strategic planning and show how the institution will be stronger at the end of the grant period than it was at the beginning.

Does NEH encourage projects related to historic places?

Yes. The program explicitly welcomes projects connected to America’s historic places, including historic sites and broader historic neighborhoods, communities, or regions, especially when the work enhances public understanding and interpretation of those places through humanities-based programming.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad for U.S. nonprofit institutions and public agencies working wholly or partly in the humanities. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, other nonprofit entities, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Are elementary or secondary schools eligible?

No. The opportunity text explicitly excludes elementary and secondary schools and school districts.

Do nonprofit applicants need to have 501(c)(3) status?

Not necessarily. The opportunity text states that nonprofit applicants do not necessarily need 501(c)(3) status to apply.

Are collaborative or multi-institution projects allowed?

Yes. Collaborative, multi-institution projects are allowed, but one organization must serve as the lead applicant and be the official applicant of record.

If an organization is affiliated with a larger institution (for example, a university museum), can it apply separately?

The announcement notes that affiliated entities such as university museums may need to consult NEH staff regarding whether they can apply separately.

What is the maximum award amount for this listing?

The maximum award amount listed is $1,000,000. No minimum award amount is stated in the provided information.

How many awards does NEH expect to make for this opportunity?

The listing states an expected 10 awards.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this listing?

The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number 20090505 CH under CFDA 45.130 (Promotion of the Humanities: Challenge Grants).

What type of grant program is this?

This is a discretionary grant program.

When was this opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?

The posted date is February 19, 2009. The application deadline is May 5, 2009. The listing is noted as archived on June 4, 2009.

Where can applicants find additional guidance?

Additional guidance is referenced at http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html.

Who administers this program at NEH?

The administering agency is the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Challenge Grants.

Who should applicants contact with access issues or program questions?

The announcement directs applicants to the NEH Office of Challenge Grants: Room 420, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506; phone 202-606-8309; email challenge@neh.gov.