Major Arts and Humanities Grant Resources
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.
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- The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program has provided approximately 310,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
- The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals per year to approximately 125 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
- The Fulbright Specialist Program, a short-term complement to the core Fulbright Scholar Program, sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning, and related subjects at overseas academic institutions for a period of two to six weeks.
- The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides grants to approximately 800 foreign scholars from over 95 countries to lecture and/or conduct postdoctoral research at U.S. institutions for an academic semester to a full academic year.
- The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Program enables U.S. colleges and universities to host foreign academics to lecture on a wide range of subject fields for a semester or academic year. Preference is given to institutions developing an international agenda and/or serving a minority audience, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, small liberal arts colleges, and community colleges. Approximately 50 grants are awarded annually.
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
- Often characterized as “midcareer” awards, Guggenheim Fellowships are intended for men and women who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.
- Fellowships are awarded through two annual competitions: one open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, and the other open to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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.
- Grants of up to $2,000 are awarded to nonprofit organizations such as museums, libraries, historical societies, community groups, educational institutions, and government agencies.
- Grants support programs such as book discussions, film and lecture series, small exhibits, community forums, or festivals, etc.
- Programs must be offered free of charge and involve humanities scholars.