State and Jurisdictional Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants

The State and Jurisdictional Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants, offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), provide vital financial assistance to humanities councils across all U.S. states and jurisdictions. These councils serve as essential intermediaries between the federal government and local communities, enabling NEH-funded programs to be tailored to the unique cultural, historical, and educational needs of individual states and territories. This grant supports councils in their efforts to promote public engagement with the humanities, advance educational programming, and strengthen civic dialogue at the local level. The purpose of the program is to provide unrestricted operating support, allowing humanities councils to maintain staff, infrastructure, and core programming activities. The grant is non-project-specific, empowering recipients with flexibility in how they allocate funds to further their mission. Funding allocations are determined annually through a legislatively mandated formula established by Congress, ensuring that each state and jurisdictional council receives a fair and consistent distribution based on population and other factors. Applicants must follow a structured application process involving submission of the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational form. As of January 2022, all applicants must also submit the SF-424A: Budget Information form as part of the application package. Both documents must be completed in accordance with instructions outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which includes specific guidance on how to prepare a comprehensive project description and budget narrative. Eligibility for this program is exclusive to official state and jurisdictional humanities councils. These councils are expected to use grant funds in accordance with NEH's standards, ensuring alignment with the agency’s overarching goals and ethical expectations. The program does not extend to other types of nonprofit organizations, individuals, or academic institutions. Councils are encouraged to consider how their activities promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the humanities when designing and delivering programs funded through this support. For the 2026 cycle, the anticipated opening date for applications is March 2, 2026, with submissions due no later than April 6, 2026. Applicants will be notified of award decisions by October 15, 2026, and project funding may begin on either November 1, 2026 or May 1, 2027, depending on the council's selected start date. The application portal for this opportunity is hosted on Grants.gov. Councils are urged to use the current guidelines, even if the deadline for this cycle has passed, to begin preparing materials in anticipation of the next submission window. For assistance and questions related to the program, applicants may contact the Division of Federal/State Partnership via phone at 202-606-8254 or by email at [email protected]. Telecommunications relay services are available by dialing 7-1-1. Updated guidelines will be made available in advance of the next deadline, and councils are encouraged to monitor the NEH website for updates or changes to the application process.