Short Documentaries
Division of Public Programs
Grant Snapshot
Maximum award amount
Open to
Expected output
Period of performance
Application available
Application due
Expected notification date
Project start date
ALERT: CAGE is currently experiencing a high volume of registrations, and is processing them in the order in which they are received. NEH encourages applicants registering with SAM.gov to allow additional time for processing.
The Short Documentaries program supports the production and distribution of documentary films up to 30 minutes that engage audiences with humanities ideas in appealing ways. The program aims to extend the humanities to new audiences through the medium of short documentary films. Films must be grounded in humanities scholarship in disciplines such as history, art history, literature, religious studies, philosophy, or anthropology. The Short Documentaries program supports production of single films or a series of thematically-related short films addressing significant figures, events, or ideas. Programs should be intended for regional or national distribution, via broadcast, festivals, and/or online distribution. The subject of the film(s) must be related to “A More Perfect Union”: NEH Special Initiative Advancing Civic Education and Commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary.
What’s new for 2020
- The subject of the proposed film(s) must be related to “A More Perfect Union:” NEH Special Initiative Advancing Civic Education and Commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary.
- Applicants may request Development funds for a series of short documentaries, though not for a single film, through the Media Projects: Development Grants program.
- Applications must be complete, must observe the specified page limits, and must be validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity number to be considered under this notice. Late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be reviewed.
To apply for this grant, you will be need to be registered for a D-U-N-S® number, with the System for Awards Management (SAM), and with Grants.gov. If you have registered with these systems previously, confirm that your registrations are current and up to date. If you fail to allow ample time to complete registration with SAM or Grants.gov, you will not be eligible for a deadline extension or waiver of the online electronic submission requirement.
Begin by reading the Notice of Funding Opportunity below to ensure you understand the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this grant and are prepared to write the most effective application.
Download Application Materials
Short Documentaries Notice of Funding Opportunity, January 2020 (PDF)
Grants.gov application package
Budget Resources
Sample Budget (PDF)
Budget Form (XLS)
Program Resources
Certification Regarding Lobbying (PDF) *
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (PDF)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Instructions (PDF)
Labor Standards Assurances Form (PDF)
Media Projects and Short Documentaries Frequently Asked Questions, August 2019 (PDF)
DUNS Number Requirement
* This document may not open in your web browser. If this is the case, right click on the link to save the PDF to your desktop.
Sample Application Narratives
Samples of successful Short Documentaries narratives are not available, but you can review sample narratives from a related program, Media Projects, on the Development Grants program resource page or the Production Grants program resource page.
Be sure to follow the instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and in the Grants.gov instructions.
You will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov when you've successfully submitted your application.
After you submit your application, Grants.gov will send you up to five e-mail messages confirming receipt of your application. These messages represent different stages in the application acceptance process. You should verify that you have received all confirmation messages. Please note that email filters may send these messages to your spam or junk folder.