Digital Projects for the Public | 20240612 MD MN MT

Digital Projects for the Public (NEH) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the NEH Digital Projects for the Public grant?

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Public Programs, offers the Digital Projects for the Public grant to support public-facing humanities work delivered primarily through digital formats. The program funds projects that interpret and analyze humanities content for broad public audiences using digital platforms as the main way people experience the material.

2) What kinds of digital formats or products does this program support?

Supported formats can include public-facing websites and web-based experiences, mobile applications (including location-based or guided tour apps), interactive touch screens and kiosks commonly used in museums or cultural sites, digital games where humanities interpretation is central, and immersive or simulated digital spaces such as virtual environments.

3) What is the main goal NEH is looking for in funded projects?

The central aim is strong public humanities interpretation and analysis delivered through digital means. Competitive projects typically show how the digital design and user experience help audiences understand humanities questions, contexts, and meanings, rather than simply presenting digitized materials without interpretation.

4) Does the program fund digitization-only projects?

Based on the program emphasis, the focus is on interpretation and analysis for broad audiences, not on presenting digitized materials alone. Proposals are generally expected to go beyond digitization by providing humanities context, narrative, analysis, and public-facing interpretive framing within the digital experience.

5) Who is the administering agency and which NEH office runs it?

The administering agency is the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The opportunity is offered through NEH's Division of Public Programs.

6) Is this a competitive grant or a formula grant?

This is a discretionary grant program, meaning awards are made through a competitive selection process rather than by a formula.

7) What is the funding category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Humanities.

8) What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?

The associated CFDA number is 45.164.

9) How many awards does NEH expect to make?

NEH anticipates making about 13 awards under this cycle, which suggests a competitive national process with a limited number of funded projects.

10) What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $400,000. Applicants should treat this as the upper boundary for a single project request and plan scope, staffing, production needs, and dissemination accordingly.

11) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across government, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. Eligible applicants include:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)

12) Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants, including tribal entities that run public history or cultural heritage initiatives.

13) Are museums, libraries, archives, and cultural centers eligible?

The eligibility categories are designed to accommodate organizations that commonly build and host public humanities experiences, such as museums, libraries, archives, cultural centers, universities, and government cultural agencies. Eligibility depends on the organization fitting one of the listed applicant types (for example, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an eligible government entity).

14) Are universities and colleges eligible to apply?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.

15) What makes a proposal more competitive under this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, competitive proposals typically demonstrate strong humanities scholarship and clear public engagement, showing how the digital experience is intentionally designed to help broad audiences interpret and understand humanities content. The program emphasizes interpretive public humanities delivery rather than simple digital presentation.

16) What is the funding opportunity number for this cycle?

The funding opportunity number is listed as 20240612 MD MN MT.

17) What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?

The source information lists a creation date of April 2, 2024, and an original application closing date of June 12, 2024.

18) What is meant by "public-facing" in this program description?

In this context, "public-facing" refers to humanities work designed for broad public audiences and delivered primarily through digital platforms as the main way audiences experience the content, rather than being intended mainly for a classroom or strictly scholarly setting.

19) What types of project teams does this opportunity seem designed for?

The opportunity is aimed at teams that can combine humanities expertise, public engagement planning, and digital production capacity to create accessible, interpretive digital experiences that reach audiences beyond traditional academic environments.

20) Does the program require the digital format to be the primary delivery method?

Yes. The description emphasizes that the humanities work should be delivered primarily through digital formats and that digital platforms should be the primary way people will experience the material.