Opportunity Information: Apply for 20110223 HD
Apply for 20110223 HD
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digital Humanities Start Up Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.169 Promotion of the HumanitiesOffice of Digital Humanities.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 7, 2010 and posted on Oct 7, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments County governments City or township governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Digital Humanities Start Up Grants program is a discretionary grant opportunity run through NEH's Office of Digital Humanities. It is built to spark new, experimental work in the digital humanities by funding the earliest phases of a project, when teams are still shaping ideas, testing feasibility, and building first versions. The core purpose is to help applicants move from a promising concept to a well-defined plan or prototype that could ultimately strengthen humanities research, teaching, preservation, access, or public engagement through digital methods.
The program specifically targets planning and initial development activities rather than fully mature, large-scale implementations. NEH emphasizes innovation as the defining feature: every proposal must put forward an approach, method, tool, workflow, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. In practice, this means the program is oriented toward experimentation and is explicitly modeled on a "high risk/high reward" funding style more common in the sciences. NEH is looking for projects that are willing to take thoughtful risks in order to achieve genuinely new capabilities or insights for humanities work.
Projects supported under this opportunity can take several forms. Applicants may propose research that introduces new approaches to digital humanities practice or that documents best practices for the field, especially where guidance is still emerging. The grants also support the planning and creation of prototypes for digital tools that preserve, analyze, or broaden access to humanities resources, including digital assets held by libraries and museums. Another eligible direction includes scholarly studies that examine the practical or philosophical implications of emerging technologies in a particular humanities discipline or in interdisciplinary collaborations. The program also welcomes innovative uses of technology for public programming and education, mixing traditional and newer media formats, as well as experiments in new digital publication models that improve how humanities scholarship is disseminated to academic audiences and to learners in both formal and informal educational settings across grade levels.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 20110223-HD) anticipated making about 40 awards. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $50,000, with no stated minimum (floor listed as $0). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which can make the program more accessible for organizations that do not have funds available to contribute. The CFDA listing is 45.169, Promotion of the Humanities. The application window for the specific announcement provided was posted October 7, 2010, with a closing date of February 23, 2011, and an archive date of March 25, 2011.
Eligibility is broad and includes a range of public, nonprofit, and higher education entities. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). In short, the program is meant to serve universities, cultural heritage institutions, and public-sector entities that can credibly plan and test innovative digital humanities work.
For applicants seeking more details or guidance, NEH provided a program link (http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/digitalhumanitiesstartup.html) and directed program questions to the Office of Digital Humanities staff at odh@neh.gov. The announcement also notes that applicants who want to talk with staff by phone should email to request a call and include a phone number and preferred time.
Digital Humanities Start Up Grants (NEH) - FAQs
What is the NEH Digital Humanities Start Up Grants program?
The Digital Humanities Start Up Grants program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), administered through NEH's Office of Digital Humanities. It is designed to spark new, experimental work in the digital humanities by supporting the earliest phases of projects.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to help teams move from a promising idea to a well-defined plan or an early prototype. The program is intended to strengthen humanities research, teaching, preservation, access, or public engagement through digital methods by funding planning and initial development activities.
What stage of project development does this grant support?
This program focuses on planning and initial development rather than fully mature, large-scale implementations. It is aimed at the early phase of work, when teams are still shaping ideas, testing feasibility, and building first versions.
How important is innovation in proposals?
Innovation is presented as the defining feature of this program. NEH states that every proposal must put forward an approach, method, tool, workflow, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities.
Does NEH expect projects to be experimental or risky?
Yes. The opportunity is explicitly modeled on a "high risk/high reward" funding style more common in the sciences. NEH is looking for thoughtfully risky experimentation that could lead to genuinely new capabilities or insights for humanities work.
What types of activities or project directions can be supported?
The announcement describes several supported forms, including:
- Research introducing new approaches to digital humanities practice or documenting best practices for the field (especially where guidance is still emerging)
- Planning and creation of prototypes for digital tools that preserve, analyze, or broaden access to humanities resources, including digital assets held by libraries and museums
- Scholarly studies examining practical or philosophical implications of emerging technologies within a humanities discipline or in interdisciplinary collaborations
- Innovative uses of technology for public programming and education that mix traditional and newer media formats
- Experiments in new digital publication models that improve dissemination of humanities scholarship to academic audiences and to learners in formal and informal settings across grade levels
Is this grant meant to fund full implementation of large-scale digital projects?
No. The program is described as targeting planning and initial development rather than fully mature, large-scale implementations.
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
The announcement anticipated making about 40 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $50,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The floor is listed as $0.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public-sector entities, higher education institutions, and qualifying nonprofits. The announcement lists the following eligible applicants:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
What kinds of organizations is the program meant to serve?
Based on the announcement language, the program is meant to serve universities, cultural heritage institutions, and public-sector entities that can credibly plan and test innovative digital humanities work.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 20110223-HD.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA listing provided is 45.169, Promotion of the Humanities.
When was this specific opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The announcement was posted on October 7, 2010. The closing date was February 23, 2011, and the archive date was March 25, 2011.
Where can applicants find the program guidelines or more information?
The announcement provided this program link for guidelines and details: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/digitalhumanitiesstartup.html
How can applicants contact NEH with program questions?
Program questions were directed to the Office of Digital Humanities staff via email at odh@neh.gov.
Can applicants speak with NEH staff by phone?
Yes. The announcement notes that applicants who want to talk with staff by phone should email to request a call and include a phone number and preferred time.
Does the program support work connected to libraries and museums?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions support for planning and creating prototypes for tools that preserve, analyze, or broaden access to humanities resources, including digital assets held by libraries and museums.
Does the program support public programming and education projects?
Yes. The program welcomes innovative uses of technology for public programming and education, including projects that combine traditional and newer media formats, and it mentions learners in both formal and informal educational settings across grade levels.
Does the program support new models for digital publication?
Yes. The announcement includes experiments in new digital publication models intended to improve how humanities scholarship is disseminated to academic audiences and to learners.
What kind of outcomes is NEH looking for at the end of a Start Up Grant?
Based on the stated purpose, the program aims to help teams reach a well-defined plan or an early prototype by supporting idea-shaping, feasibility testing, and first-version development.
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