Funding Opportunity for

Organizations

Collaborative Research

Maximum award amount

Depending on funding category, up to $250,000.

Expected Output

Book, themed issue of peer-reviewed journal, digital publication, website, digital resource

Period of performance

Depending on funding category, up to three years.

The Collaborative Research program aims to advance knowledge in the humanities by supporting teams of scholars working on a project leading to an interpretive product. Teams may propose research in a single field of study or interdisciplinary work. NEH encourages projects that incorporate multiple points of view and pursue new avenues of inquiry.

Collaborators may come from one or more institutions. NEH encourages partnerships with researchers in the natural and social sciences, but projects must focus on humanistic content and employ humanistic methods. International collaboration is welcome, but scholars at U.S. institutions must contribute significantly to the project.

Proposed projects must lead to a tangible and sustainable output, such as a coauthored book, edited volume, themed issue of a peer-reviewed journal, digital publication, or scholarly website. Project outputs must incorporate collaboration and interpretation to address significant humanities research questions.

New This Year:

  • Applications must focus on the history and culture of the United States or Western civilization.
  • The program supports three project categories: Planning International Collaboration, Manuscript Preparation, and Scholarly Digital Project
  • Planning International Collaboration projects have a maximum award amount of $50,000.

International teams should consult NEH's International Opportunities page for information about possible sources of additional funding from external partners.

Next

Application Instructions

Review your application package

Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure you understand all the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this program and are prepared to write the most effective application.

Application Materials

Notice of Funding Opportunity, 2026 (PDF)

General Application Guide for Awards to Organizations (PDF)

Grants.gov application package

Program Resources

Frequently Asked Questions, 2026

List of Recent Awards

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for NEH Grant Proposals

Sample Application Narratives

Planning International Collaboration

Rutgers University, Unboxing Artificial Intelligence: An International Collaboration Bringing Humanities Perspectives to AI

Manuscript Preparation

Marquette University, Spanish Civil War and Visual Culture

Pennsylvania State University, Sovereign Kin: A History of the Cherokee Nation

Scholarly Digital Project

University of Arizona, Shared Churches in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1800

Purdue University, Mapping London's Theater Districts, 1576-1642

Register for a SAM number and an account on Grants.gov

When you are ready to apply, register for an account with SAM.gov and Grants.gov; both are required. If you already have completed the registrations, make sure they are current. 

Complete your application package

Follow the instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 

Submit your application package on Grants.gov

You will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov when you’ve successfully submitted your application. Subsequently, you will receive up to five more notices confirming different stages in the application process. Verify that you have received all confirmations. Note that email filters may send these messages to your spam or junk folder. 

Projects Funded by this Grant Program