NEH Fellowships

Overview

NEH Fellowships provide humanities scholars with sustained time to research, write, and produce significant publications or digital projects that deepen public understanding of culture, history, philosophy, and related fields. Awardees receive $5,000 per month for projects lasting between six and twelve months, enabling intensive archival work, field research, or manuscript preparation. Because the program supports individuals rather than institutions, applicants must craft a narrative that demonstrates intellectual significance, methodological rigor, and the capacity to reach scholarly and public audiences. Securing an NEH Fellowship can transform a scholar’s career by freeing them from teaching responsibilities and elevating their work’s visibility.

Opportunity Snapshot

Eligibility Checklist

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or residents in the United States for at least three consecutive years preceding the deadline. You may apply whether or not you are affiliated with an institution, but you must have demonstrated expertise in humanities research, typically evidenced through publications, archival experience, or advanced degrees. Confirm that you have no delinquent federal debt and that all prior NEH grants are closed out with final reports. If your project involves human subjects, foreign travel, or restricted collections, secure preliminary permissions and include them in your application. Scholars who have received NEH Fellowships or Awards within the past three years are ineligible; verify your status before applying.

Framing a Compelling Project Narrative

The heart of the application is the 12-page narrative. Begin with a clear statement of your project’s thesis, research questions, and scholarly contribution. Situate your work within historiography or theoretical debates, citing key scholars and identifying gaps your research will fill. Describe sources and methods—archival collections, oral histories, digital corpora, or visual analysis—and explain why they are the right tools. Detail the structure of the final product, such as a monograph, digital exhibit, translation, or documentary script. Emphasize how the fellowship period will enable transformative progress, whether it’s completing a book draft, designing a digital prototype, or conducting critical site visits.

Demonstrating Significance and Impact

Reviewers assess both scholarly significance and potential to reach broader audiences. Explain how your project reframes narratives about underrepresented communities, challenges canonical interpretations, or introduces new methodologies. Quantify potential reach by referencing course adoption, museum visitorship, or online engagement. If you plan to produce public humanities outputs—podcasts, exhibitions, curriculum guides—describe partnerships with libraries, cultural institutions, or media platforms. Highlight prior experience engaging the public through lectures, op-eds, or community collaborations, and articulate how the fellowship will amplify those efforts.

Methodological Rigor and Feasibility

Provide evidence that you can execute the project within the fellowship timeline. Discuss prior research stages completed and summarize preliminary findings. Include a detailed work plan that maps tasks month-by-month: archival visits, transcription, analysis, writing, editing, peer feedback. Address language proficiency if relevant, and describe access to specialized tools or software. If your research requires travel to archives abroad, include itineraries, letters of invitation, or permits. Outline contingency plans for potential obstacles such as travel restrictions, digitization delays, or sensitive materials. A realistic plan reassures reviewers that the project will reach fruition.

Work Samples and Bibliography

Select writing samples that reflect your ability to handle the project’s demands. This might include a chapter from your dissertation, a published article, or a draft section of the proposed work. Provide context for each sample, highlighting its relevance to the fellowship project. Compile a bibliography that demonstrates mastery of the field and identifies key interlocutors. Organize the bibliography thematically to show the breadth of scholarship you will engage. Ensure citations follow disciplinary conventions—Chicago, MLA, APA—to signal professionalism and attention to detail.

Timeline and Productivity Strategies

Create a comprehensive timeline that aligns tasks with the fellowship duration. If you request twelve months, explain how you will maintain productivity across research, writing, and revision phases. Mention writing routines, accountability partners, or productivity tools (e.g., Scrivener, Zotero, project management software). If you teach or hold administrative roles, describe how you will secure leave or adjust responsibilities to focus on the fellowship. Highlight support systems—childcare, eldercare, co-author agreements—that enable sustained concentration. Reviewers look for applicants who have thought through logistics and built structures for success.

Budgeting and Supplementary Funding

NEH Fellowships provide a fixed monthly stipend, so a formal budget is not required. However, address how you will cover additional expenses such as travel, digitization fees, or childcare. Identify supplementary funding sources—sabbatical salary, institutional grants, research awards—that complement the fellowship without overlapping purposes. If you plan to relocate temporarily, include cost-of-living considerations and housing arrangements. Demonstrating financial planning communicates that you can manage the fellowship responsibly and focus on scholarly output.

Letters of Recommendation

Secure two letters from scholars who can speak to your project’s significance, your track record, and your ability to complete the work. Provide recommenders with your draft narrative, CV, work plan, and writing samples at least six weeks before the deadline. Request that they address your methodological expertise, writing quality, and contributions to the field. Encourage them to contextualize your project within disciplinary conversations and highlight your capacity for public engagement. Follow up with gentle reminders and confirm submission well before the deadline.

Addressing Ethical and Legal Considerations

If your project involves human subjects, Indigenous knowledge, or culturally sensitive materials, explain how you will obtain permissions, respect community protocols, and share results responsibly. Outline plans for ethical data management, including anonymization, consent forms, and secure storage. Address copyright for images, texts, or multimedia you intend to reproduce. If working with community collaborators, describe compensation, authorship agreements, and feedback loops. Ethical clarity strengthens trust with reviewers and potential partners.

Dissemination and Legacy

Detail how you will share outcomes beyond the fellowship. Identify publishers, journals, or digital platforms suited to your project. Discuss plans for conference presentations, workshops, or public lectures. If creating a digital resource, explain sustainability plans—hosting, maintenance, open-source licensing. Describe how you will evaluate the project’s impact, perhaps through citation tracking, audience analytics, or curricular adoption. By articulating a dissemination strategy, you show that NEH support will generate long-lasting contributions to both scholarship and society.

Application Logistics and Submission Tips

Begin the application process early to accommodate Grants.gov account approvals and document preparation. Use the NEH-provided narrative template and adhere to formatting rules: one-inch margins, 12-point font, double spacing unless otherwise specified. Label file uploads clearly to assist reviewers. Conduct a mock panel with colleagues to stress-test your argument, clarity, and tone. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline to address technical glitches. After submission, monitor email for confirmation and be prepared to provide additional information if program officers request it. Persistence, meticulous organization, and a compelling scholarly vision are the keys to securing an NEH Fellowship.