Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education
Forecasted
This grant supports humanities programs at small colleges and universities (especially community, minority-serving, or rural) with high Pell grant recipient rates.
Funder: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Due Dates: October 7, 2025 (Estimated Application Due Date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $30,000 for Exploration projects (up to 1 year); up to $60,000 for Development projects (up to 2 years)
Summary: Supports projects that enhance humanities teaching and study at small colleges and universities serving underserved populations.
Key Information: Eligible institutions must enroll fewer than 10,000 undergraduates and be community colleges, minority-serving, rural, or have >40% Pell grant recipients; nonprofit and government partners must collaborate with eligible institutions.
Description
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) offers the Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education grant to support small projects that improve the teaching and study of the humanities at colleges and universities with fewer than 10,000 undergraduate students. The program targets institutions that serve underserved populations, specifically those that fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Community colleges
- Minority-serving institutions
- Rural colleges and universities
- Colleges and universities with more than 40% of students receiving Pell grants
Eligible applicants include these institutions themselves, as well as nonprofit organizations and state, local, or Native American tribal governments that partner with eligible colleges or universities.
The grant supports activities such as curriculum or program development, faculty development, community and faculty partnerships, expert consultations, speaker series, student research and experiential learning, and the creation of teaching resources. The goal is to improve student understanding of and access to the humanities.
Applicants may request funding at two levels:
- Exploration: For projects in the planning or initial stages; awards up to $30,000 for up to one year.
- Development: For projects that have already begun and seek to advance further; awards up to $60,000 for up to two years.
This program will not be reoffered after this cycle.
