National Endowment for the Arts
The NEA was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.
The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) generates knowledge, advocacy, and resources that enable universities to integrate arts and design practices, fostering highly adaptive creators and thinkers.
a2ru maintains a curated list of granting opportunities.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The NEH, an independent federal agency, is the largest funder of humanities programs in the United States.
National Humanities Center Fellowships
The National Humanities Center offers 40 residential fellowships for advanced study in the humanities during the academic year. Applicants must hold doctorate or equivalent scholarly credentials. Young scholars as well as senior scholars are encouraged to apply, but they must have a record of publication, and new Ph.D.s should be aware that the Center does not normally support the revision of a doctoral dissertation. In addition to scholars from all fields of the humanities, the Center accepts individuals from the natural and social sciences, the arts, the professions, and public life who are engaged in humanistic projects. The Center is also international and gladly accepts applications from scholars outside the United States.
Grants.gov
Funding opportunities from all federal government agencies
Foundation directory
Search 100,000 corporate and private foundations
American Council of Learned Societies
ACLS is the leading private institution supporting scholars in the humanities and related social sciences at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels. In 2010, the Council gave over $15 million in fellowship stipends and other awards to more than 380 scholars in the United States and abroad.
Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars
Through an international competition, the Center offers nine-month residential fellowships. Fellows conduct research and write in their areas of interest, while interacting with policymakers in Washington and Woodrow Wilson Center staff. The Center accepts non-advocacy, policy-relevant fellowship proposals that address key challenges of past, present, and future issues confronting the United States and the world.
Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
John Kluge Center, Library of Congress
The John W. Kluge Center accommodates post-doctoral Fellows pursuing resident research, usually for periods from six to 12 months. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural topics of a kind normally not encouraged in specialized departmental settings are welcome. Selection of a diverse group of Fellows is by various competitions. Post-doctoral Fellows have an opportunity to discuss their research with the Kluge Scholars and to explore possibilities for intellectual collaboration with other Fellows.