NEH Collaborative Research Grants 2026 in the USA | Up to $250,000 for Humanities Research Projects
The National Endowment for the Humanities offers grants of up to $250,000 to support collaborative teams pursuing significant humanities research projects. Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov until September 16, 2026.
Overview
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Collaborative Research Grants provide funding for teams of scholars working together to advance knowledge in the humanities. The program supports research projects addressing important questions through single-discipline, interdisciplinary, or international approaches. The 2026 competition supports three funding categories: Planning International Collaboration (up to $50,000), Manuscript Preparation, and Scholarly Digital Projects, with total awards reaching up to $250,000.
Proposed projects must focus on the history of the United States, the culture of the United States, or Western civilization, and must result in tangible outputs such as co-authored books, edited scholarly volumes, peer-reviewed journal issues, digital publications, or scholarly websites.
Benefits
- Funding of up to $250,000 depending on the project category.
- Financial support for collaborative humanities research and manuscript development.
- Resources for creating digital humanities projects and websites.
- Opportunities to establish international research partnerships.
- Project duration support for up to three years.
Eligibility
The program is open to organizations and institutions supporting humanities research teams, including:
- Universities and colleges
- Research institutions
- Cultural organizations
- Humanities centers
- Nonprofit organizations
Collaborators may represent single or multiple institutions. International partnerships are welcome provided that scholars at U.S. institutions make substantial contributions.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the following steps to apply:
- Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and related guidance documents.
- Complete or verify active required registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
- Prepare a proposal outlining research objectives, collaborative structure, methodology, expected outcomes, and dissemination plans.
- Submit the application electronically through Grants.gov before the official deadline.
Deadline
The application deadline is September 16, 2026.