Challenge Grants
Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Assistance Listings
- 45.130 -- Promotion of the Humanities_Challenge Grants
Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026
View version history on Grants.gov
Description
NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds (that is, funds that are invested, with both the income and the principal being expended over a defined period of years) that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Grantees may also use funds for one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that...
bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly. Because of the matching requirement, these NEH grants also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support. Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities. Programs that involve collaboration among multiple institutions are eligible as well, but one institution must serve as the lead agent and formal applicant of record.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Government
- County governments
- Special district governments
- City or township governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- State governments
Education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
Additional information
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Grantor contact information
Description
Office of Challenge Grants
National Endowment for the Humanities
Room 420
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8309
challenge@neh.gov
Documents
No documents are currently available.
Link to additional information
Archived: June 3, 2011
Award
$--
Program Funding
20
Expected awards
$--
Award Minimum
$1,000,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
20110504-CH
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Yes
Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
--
Category of Funding Activity:
Humanities
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
February 8, 2011
Archive date:
June 3, 2011
