Awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 will require recipients to raise an equal amount of funding from nonfederal sources. Except for the 1:1 matching ratio (NEH Challenge Grants usually require a match of either 3:1 or 4:1), the guidelines for the Challenge Grants program govern the initiative and should be used when preparing an application. The guidelines are available from the NEH website: www.neh.gov.
Any U.S. nonprofit organization that has not previously held an NEH Challenge Grant is eligible to apply. Please check the Challenge Grants guidelines for complete eligibility requirements. Preference will be given to institutions with annual budgets of less than $100,000 and to institutions setting up new endowments for humanities programs. The number of grants offered will depend upon the quality of the applications and availability of funds.
Examples of activities include: a permanent lecture series; a continuing exhibition series based on topics of community interest; ongoing seminar programs for adult learners; archival research projects; improved long-term care of collections; installation of electronic field trips; establishment of community walking tours; continuing neighborhood documentation projects
for K-12 students; or continuing teacher workshops using local history resources. The use of new technologies is encouraged. Construction and renovation support is not offered under the special initiative.
The expenditure of income from the endowment is restricted to humanities activities. Within that restriction, however, many types of expenses are allowed. Income from an endowment may be used to pay fees and honoraria for speakers and consultants, acquire and preserve humanities materials, pay publicity costs, defray rental costs for facilities, support the work of standing advisory boards, provide salary |
supplements for staff who work on programming. Funds may be used to defray costs of equipment and technological improvements necessary for the activities. Applicants should use the budget information provided in the Challenge Grants guidelines.
Applications under the Special Initiative for Local History must be received at the regular Challenge Grants deadline of May l. Information on how to apply is available from the NEH website, www.neh.gov, or by calling the NEH Office of Challenge Grants at 202-606-8309. |
he National Endowment for the Humanities recently announced a special initiative through its Office of Challenge Grants program to