Endowments for Advancing the Humanities
This grant funds 20-year endowments to strengthen research and teaching in Western civilization, American history, government, and civics at colleges and educational institutions.
Funder: National Endowment for the Humanities
Due Dates: February 10, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $1,000,000–$5,000,000 federal matching funds per award (1:1 match required); up to $100,000 additional outright for fundraising; 20-year endowment term; approx. 5 awards; $10,000,000 total program funding.
Summary: Supports 20-year term endowments to strengthen research and teaching in Western civilization, American history and government, and civics at higher education and independent educational institutions.
Key Information: Cost sharing/matching is required (1:1); elementary/secondary schools and districts are not eligible.
Description
This program funds the creation of 20-year term endowments to advance the humanities at colleges, universities, and independent educational institutions. The goal is to build organizational capacity in research and teaching focused on Western civilization, American history and government, and civics. Endowments are supported through a combination of NEH federal matching funds (requiring a 1:1 non-federal match) and, optionally, up to $100,000 in outright funds for fundraising expenses. During the endowment term, only income from the endowment may be used for NEH-approved humanities purposes, while the principal must remain intact.
