Public Scholars Grants for Humanities Research
Summary
NEH announces the Public Scholars grant program providing $900,000 in total funding for 15 expected awards ranging from $30,000 to $60,000 per project. Eligible projects must focus on American history and culture or Western civilization topics. Applications close April 22, 2026.
What changed
NEH has published the 2026 Public Scholars competition, a grant program supporting both independent and academic writers in the humanities. The program provides individual awards of $30,000 to $60,000 for research projects in American history and culture (Colonial Era to present) or Western civilization (antiquity to present). Total program funding is $900,000 with 15 expected awards.
Affected parties include independent scholars, junior scholars, and academic writers seeking to deepen humanities research or communicate findings to broad audiences. No cost-sharing or matching requirement applies. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov by April 22, 2026. Eligible applicants are individuals only.
Archived snapshot
Apr 18, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Public Scholars
Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Assistance Listings: 45.160 -- Promotion of the Humanities Fellowships and Stipends
Last Updated: April 1, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The Public Scholars program encourages non-academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities by strengthening the research underlying their books, and it encourages academic writers in the humanities to communicate the significance of their research to the broadest possible range of readers. NEH encourages submissions from independent scholars and junior scholars. Projects are eligible at any stage in their development.
The 2026 Public Scholars competition will accept only projects for research in American history and culture and Western civilization. Competitive applications must... focus on topics in the history, culture, and government of the United States in any period from the Colonial Era to the present, or topics in Western civilization from antiquity to the present. Show full description
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Miscellaneous
- Individuals
Additional information
--
Grantor contact information
Description
Division of Research
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8200
publicscholar@neh.gov
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IndividualNOFOcombined_040126.pdf | NEH Individual Programs NOFO | Apr 1, 2026 06:51 PM UTC |
| PublicScholars2026programannouncement_040126.pdf | Public Scholars 2026 Program Announcement | Apr 1, 2026 06:51 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
https://www.neh.gov/grants/research/public-scholar-program
Closing: April 22, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$900,000
Program Funding
15
Expected awards
$30,000
Award Minimum
$60,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
20260422-FZ
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Humanities
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
3
Posted date:
March 2, 2026
Archive date:
--
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