The Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education program supports the exploration and development of small projects that would benefit underserved populations through the teaching and study of the humanities.

Grant activities may include curricular or program development, expert consultations, speakers’ series, student research, creation of teaching resources, and community engagement. Projects may benefit students, faculty, the institution or organization, and/or the community.

Eligible applicants include small- to medium-size two- and four-year institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations whose work advances the humanities at these institutions and among their faculty and students. These institutions should also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Community colleges

• Minority-serving institutions (MSIs)

• Rural colleges and universities

• Colleges and universities enrolling a majority (greater than 50%) of students receiving Pell grants

• Institutions that have not received funding from the NEH Division of Education Programs since 2018

Draft deadline: NEH program officers can provide feedback on materials received before September 6, 2023. This may include a full draft, a partial draft, or even just a few sentences with a project idea. NEH staff can schedule a phone call or video chat to discuss the feedback.

Application deadline: Eligible applications received by October 18, 2023 via Grants.gov will receive full consideration.

For more information consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity. You may also wish to view the informational webinar on the program page, consult the list of Frequently Asked Questions, and/or email us at spotlight@neh.gov.