[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/)

February 17, 2026 (Senior research and conference proposals)

Up to $450,000 per award for 1–3 years; approx. $4.8M total program funding; ~25 awards expected.

Supports research, documentation, and infrastructure development for endangered human languages, including digital fieldwork, data management, and computational tools.

--- ## Description This program, a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), funds projects that advance knowledge about dynamic language infrastructure in the context of endangered human languages—languages that are both understudied and at risk of falling out of use. The initiative addresses the urgency posed by the imminent loss of nearly half of the world's 7,000 languages, aiming to leverage advances in human-language technology and computational methods to support endangered language research. The program supports: - Fieldwork and digital recording of endangered languages. - Preparation of lexicons, grammars, text samples, and databases. - Data management, documentation, and archiving. - Development of computational tools and infrastructure for language research. - Conferences and workshops to advance the field. Fellowship support for individual researchers is available separately through NEH. --- ## Due Dates - **Full Proposal Deadline:** February 17, 2026 (Senior research and conference proposals) *Note: Proposals are accepted annually; if applying for a conference, submit at least one year in advance of the event.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Size:** Up to $450,000 per project (senior research or conference), for a duration of one to three years. - **Estimated Number of Awards:** Approximately 25. - **Total Program Funding:** $4,800,000 (subject to availability of funds). - **Cost Sharing/Matching:** Not required. --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants include: - U.S.-based institutions of higher education (2- and 4-year, including community colleges). - Non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies) directly associated with educational or research activities. - Tribal organizations and other American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian serving organizations. **Principal Investigators:** No program-specific restrictions. **Additional notes:** - For international branch campuses of U.S. institutions, a justification is required for project activities conducted abroad. - For-profit organizations are not eligible as lead applicants, but their personnel may participate as co-investigators. --- ## Application Process - **Submission platforms:** [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/). - **Proposal Preparation:** Follow the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) or the [NSF Grants.gov Application Guide](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). - **Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals:** Not required. - **Required Documents:** Full proposal, Data Management Plan, Statement of Consultation with relevant speech communities, and supplementary documentation as outlined in the solicitation. - **Conference Proposals:** Should be submitted at least one year prior to the event. - **Review Criteria:** Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with additional emphasis on urgency, degree of language endangerment, and community collaboration. --- ## Additional Information - This program does **not** support language revitalization projects (i.e., efforts to revive or expand the actual use of endangered languages). - Data produced must be archived in a recognized repository and made publicly accessible for non-commercial, educational purposes. - Execution of the Data Management Plan and archiving are required for final project report approval. - Fellowship opportunities for individuals are available separately through NEH ([see here](https://www.neh.gov/program/dli-del-fellowships)). --- ## External Links - [Program Solicitation & Details (NSF)](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/dli-del-nsf-dynamic-language-infrastructure-neh-documenting/nsf22-615/solicitation) - [NSF Publication 22-615](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22615) - [Apply via Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/342475) - [NEH DLI-DEL Fellowships](https://www.neh.gov/program/dli-del-fellowships) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Title/Role | Email | Phone | |--------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------| | Rachel M. Theodore | Program Director, NSF | [rtheodor@nsf.gov](mailto:rtheodor@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-4770 | | Wilson de Lima Silva | Program Director, NSF | [widelima@nsf.gov](mailto:widelima@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7096 | | Jorge Valdes Kroff | Program Director, NSF | [jvaldesk@nsf.gov](mailto:jvaldesk@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7920 | | Jacquelyn H. Clements | Senior Program Officer, NEH | [jclements@neh.gov](mailto:jclements@neh.gov) | (202) 606-8475 | | Kenyatta Johnson | Business Operations Specialist, SBE | [kenjohns@nsf.gov](mailto:kenjohns@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-4850 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | Technical/Submission Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | | For technical questions on submission systems: - Research.gov Help Desk: 1-800-673-6188 | [rgov@nsf.gov](mailto:rgov@nsf.gov) - Grants.gov Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726 | [support@grants.gov](mailto:support@grants.gov)

NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure - NEH Documenting Endangered Languages

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