Media Projects

Division of Public Programs

Grant Snapshot

Maximum award amount

$75,000 for Development, $700,000 for Production, $1,000,000 for Chairman’s Special Awards

Open to

Organizations

Expected output

Film/TV/Video;
Online Video;
Podcast;
Radio Broadcast

Period of performance

Development: 6-12 months, Production: 1-3 years

Application available

Optional draft due

Deadline

Expected notification date

Project start date

Contact the Division of Public Programs Team
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series  that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. Media Projects offers two levels of funding: Development and Production.  

View a webinar featuring NEH program officers, who provide information about Media Projects grants and tips for applying.

View a segment from a 2020 webinar in which Susi Walsh (Center for Independent Documentary), Arwen Curry (director, Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin), Eric Stange (director, Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive), and David Weinstein (NEH program officer) share tips on preparing proposals for NEH Media Projects. Thanks to the Center for Independent Documentary, which hosted the webinar, and the webinar participants.  

Step 1 Review your application package

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

Application Materials

Media Projects Notice of Funding Opportunity, August 2022 and January 2023
Media Projects Grants.gov application package

Program Resources

Media Projects Frequently Asked Questions, 2022-2023
Media Projects: Development awards, 2019-2022
Media Projects: Production awards, 2019-2022

Sample Application Narratives

Development

Shanghailanders (narrative and treatment)
Winchelldom: The World of Walter Winchell (narrative and treatment)
City Lore New York Center for Urban Culture, Jewish American Soldiers in World War II (narrative and treatment)

Production

American Masters: Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands (narrative and treatment/script)
Lost Highways Podcast (narrative and treatment)
Bob Hope: America's Entertainer (narrative and script)
Public Radio International, American Icons III: Stories about Creativity, the Arts, and the Humanities (narrative only)
Twin Cities Public Television, Slavery by Another Name (narrative only)

Step 2 Register for a SAM number and an account with Grants.gov

Confirm that your SAM registration is current and verify your access to Grants.gov. If you have not already done so, you must create a Login.gov user account to register and log in to SAM and Grants.gov. Login.gov is a secure sign in service used by the public to sign in to participating government agencies. Create and link your account now. 

Step 3 Complete your application package

Follow the instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and in the Grants.gov instructions.

Step 4 Submit your application 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. 

Apply Now on Grants.gov

Program Statistics

In the last five competitions this program received an average of
78
Applications
per competition
This program has a
12%
Funding Ratio
NEH made an average of
9
Awards
per competition