Opportunity Information: Apply for 20160608 MD
Apply for 20160608 MD
- The NEH in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digital Projects for the Public" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.164.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 05, 2016 and posted on Apr 05, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 08, 2016. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
Digital Projects for the Public is a discretionary grant program from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that funds digital efforts designed to deepen public engagement with the humanities. The central aim is to help organizations create digital experiences that bring humanities stories, themes, and ideas to life for broad, nonspecialist audiences. The opportunity is geared toward projects delivered through digital platforms such as websites, mobile apps and mobile tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual or immersive environments. Projects may be entirely digital or may represent a clearly defined digital component within a larger initiative, but the request is expected to focus specifically on the digital work itself.
The program is structured around three stages of project maturity, offering three levels of support that map to the typical lifecycle of a digital public humanities product. Discovery grants support early-stage planning, concept development, audience research, content strategy, partnership building, and feasibility work. Prototyping grants support proof-of-concept development, where teams build and test working models, validate assumptions, and refine interpretive approaches and user experiences. Production grants support end-stage development and distribution, meaning the creation of a finished digital product, along with implementation, launch, and public-facing dissemination. This tiered structure is meant to help applicants seek funding that matches where they are in the process rather than forcing every project into a single one-size-fits-all track.
Across all three levels, NEH emphasizes a consistent set of expectations that applicants should design into the project from the start. Funded projects are expected to deepen public understanding of significant humanities content, not just provide information or entertainment without interpretive substance. They must be grounded in sound humanities scholarship and include humanities scholars throughout all phases of development and production, ensuring that research, interpretation, and narrative framing are credible and thoughtfully presented. At the same time, the opportunity expects teams to include appropriate digital media professionals, recognizing that strong public-facing digital work requires specialized expertise in design, development, user experience, accessibility, and media production.
A major priority is public reach and practical impact. Applicants are expected to present a realistic plan for development, marketing, and distribution so the final product actually finds its intended audience. The program is explicitly oriented toward appealing digital formats for the general public, with an emphasis on audience-centered design rather than materials aimed primarily at specialists. Projects should also demonstrate sustainability, meaning the applicant should show they have the capacity and plan to maintain the digital experience over time, whether through institutional support, preservation planning, ongoing hosting and updates, or a responsible approach to long-term access and usability.
In terms of who the program is meant to serve, the grant expects projects to have the potential to attract a broad general audience either online or in person at public venues such as museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. While broad reach is a key theme, applicants are also allowed to identify particular communities or groups, including students, who may be especially well served by the project. In other words, the program values wide public accessibility, but it also leaves room for projects that are tailored to specific audiences as long as the engagement strategy is clear and the public humanities value is strong.
From the funding opportunity details provided, the program falls under the humanities funding activity category (CFDA 45.164). Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category listed). The listed award ceiling is $400,000. The opportunity referenced was posted April 5, 2016, created April 5, 2016, and had a closing date of June 8, 2016, indicating that the specific cycle described is historical, though the summary reflects the program’s stated goals, structure, and requirements for that announcement.
Digital Projects for the Public (NEH) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Digital Projects for the Public grant program?
Digital Projects for the Public is a discretionary grant program from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that funds digital efforts designed to deepen public engagement with the humanities. The core goal is to help organizations create digital experiences that bring humanities stories, themes, and ideas to life for broad, nonspecialist audiences.
What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?
The program supports public-facing digital humanities projects delivered through digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps and mobile tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual or immersive environments.
Do projects have to be entirely digital to apply?
No. Projects may be entirely digital, or they may be a clearly defined digital component within a larger initiative. The funding request is expected to focus specifically on the digital work itself.
What are the three funding stages in the program?
The program is structured around three stages of project maturity: Discovery, Prototyping, and Production. These stages map to the typical lifecycle of creating a digital public humanities product.
What does a Discovery grant support?
Discovery grants support early-stage work such as planning, concept development, audience research, content strategy, partnership building, and feasibility assessment.
What does a Prototyping grant support?
Prototyping grants support proof-of-concept development. This includes building and testing working models, validating assumptions, and refining interpretive approaches and user experiences.
What does a Production grant support?
Production grants support end-stage development and distribution, including creation of a finished digital product, implementation, launch, and public-facing dissemination.
Why does the program use a tiered structure (Discovery, Prototyping, Production)?
The tiered structure is designed to help applicants seek funding that matches where they are in the process, rather than forcing all projects into a single track regardless of maturity.
What does NEH mean by "public engagement with the humanities" in this program?
Funded projects are expected to deepen public understanding of significant humanities content. The emphasis is on interpretation and meaningful engagement, not simply providing information or entertainment without interpretive substance.
Does the project need to be grounded in scholarship?
Yes. NEH expects projects to be grounded in sound humanities scholarship, with credible research, interpretation, and narrative framing.
Are humanities scholars required to be part of the project team?
Yes. The program expects humanities scholars to be included throughout all phases of development and production to ensure the humanities content and interpretation are thoughtfully presented.
Are digital media professionals expected to be part of the project team?
Yes. NEH expects teams to include appropriate digital media professionals, recognizing that strong public-facing digital work requires expertise in areas like design, development, user experience, accessibility, and media production.
How important is audience reach and distribution?
Public reach and practical impact are major priorities. Applicants are expected to present a realistic plan for development, marketing, and distribution so the final product reaches its intended audience.
Is the program aimed at specialists or the general public?
The program is explicitly oriented toward appealing digital formats for broad, nonspecialist audiences, with an emphasis on audience-centered design rather than materials aimed primarily at specialists.
Can a project be tailored to specific communities or groups?
Yes. While broad reach is emphasized, applicants may identify particular communities or groups (including students) that may be especially well served by the project, as long as the engagement strategy is clear and the public humanities value is strong.
Does the program support projects used in physical public venues?
Yes. Projects are expected to have the potential to attract a broad general audience either online or in person at public venues such as museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions.
What does NEH expect regarding sustainability after the project is built?
Projects should demonstrate sustainability. Applicants are expected to show a plan and capacity to maintain the digital experience over time, which may include institutional support, preservation planning, ongoing hosting and updates, and a responsible approach to long-term access and usability.
What is the CFDA number for this funding activity?
The program falls under the humanities funding activity category, CFDA 45.164.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category listed).
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the stated condition that the nonprofit category listed is not for institutions of higher education.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $400,000.
Is the deadline for this announcement still active?
The dates provided indicate the specific cycle described is historical. The opportunity was posted and created on April 5, 2016, with a closing date of June 8, 2016.
If this specific cycle is historical, what information is still useful?
Even though the dates provided are for a past cycle, the summary describes the program’s stated goals, structure (Discovery, Prototyping, Production), and core expectations (public engagement, scholarship, team expertise, distribution, and sustainability) for that announcement.
What should the funding request focus on if the digital work is part of a larger initiative?
If the project includes a larger non-digital effort, the request is expected to focus specifically on the clearly defined digital component rather than the broader initiative as a whole.
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