Challenge Grants in United States
History and Culture
History and Culture
Is the deadline a receipt or a postmark deadline?
The deadline is a receipt deadline. See the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov.
May my institution apply for more than one challenge grant at a time?
No. Only one application from any applicant will be entered in the grant competition.
My institution was awarded a We the People challenge grant last year. May we apply this year for a Challenge Grant in United States History and Culture?
Yes.
My institution currently holds a regular NEH challenge grant. May we apply for a Challenge Grant in United States History and Culture before our current grant ends?
Yes. Past or current regular NEH challenge grants have no bearing on eligibility to apply for a Challenge Grant in United States History and Culture.
My institution held a prior regular NEH challenge grant. What is the matching requirement for us under a Challenge Grant in United States History and Culture?
The matching requirement for all challenge grants is three to one (three nonfederal dollars for every federal dollar), regardless of prior grants. NEH has suspended the requirement of a four-to-one match. The only exception to the three-to-one ratio is for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and all two-year colleges: these institutions must meet a two-to-one matching requirement.
I’d like to send a draft proposal for NEH staff comment. How do I do that?
While it is not mandatory to submit a draft, applicants are encouraged to do so. Draft proposals may be submitted by e-mail attachment (challenge@neh.gov), fax (202-606-8579), or overnight mail (Office of Challenge Grants, NEH Room 420, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20506, 202-606-8309). Although time constraints may prevent staff from reviewing draft proposals submitted later than six weeks before the application deadline, applicants unable to meet this six-week deadline are urged to call (202-606-8309) or e-mail the Office of Challenge Grants to learn whether a draft can be reviewed in the time remaining before the application deadline.
Should our institution include letters of support as part of our application or should they be sent separately?
Letters of support or commitment should be included with the application, in an appendix, as one of the PDF attachments to the Grants.gov application.
Are in-kind donations permitted for matching an NEH Challenge Grant?
Yes, subject to the limitation that the total of such donations may not exceed the federal portion of the grant (normally 25 percent of the total grant). In-kind gifts or donated services are eligible only if the material or service provided is included in the approved challenge grant budget. Gifts of tangible property not included in the approved challenge grant budget must be converted to cash to qualify for match.
Are unrestricted gifts to my organization allowable for match?
Yes, subject to the limitation that the total of such donations may not exceed the federal portion of the grant (normally 25 percent of the total grant). Unrestricted gifts, like restricted challenge gifts, must be donated during the grant period.
May I use a single challenge grant to fund more than one project, such as endowing a professorship and renovating the library?
Yes, a single challenge grant may be used to support more than one project. Program experience, however, strongly suggests that applications requesting support for unrelated components do not fare well in the grant competition.
The application instructions include a financial summary form. May I submit a copy of my institution's audited financial statements instead of using the financial summary form?
The financial summary form is a suggested format only, and you may create your own form or use an existing institutional form, so long as it provides the same kind of information: namely, a summary snapshot of income and expenditures over the last three years. Full audited accounts or reports are not useful for the program’s purpose. Rather than sending the full records, applicants should extract and submit information of the kind that is on the NEH financial summary form.
We have contacted our state historic preservation officer (SHPO) as instructed, but she has not yet provided the necessary letter. May the application be submitted without the SHPO letter?
Yes. But if the application is funded, the SHPO letter will be required, before any federal funds can be released.
When will I hear whether my institution is being offered a Challenge Grant in United States History and Culture?
In September, approximately seven months after the application deadline.