Awards for Faculty at HBCUs

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), an independent federal agency dedicated to supporting excellence in humanities research and education, offers the “Awards for Faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)” program as part of its larger suite of individual research awards. The program is managed through NEH’s Division of Research and specifically supports humanities scholarship conducted by faculty or staff affiliated with HBCUs. The initiative aims to strengthen the humanities infrastructure within HBCUs by promoting sustained research and scholarship among their educators. NEH’s overarching mission is to enrich American intellectual and cultural life through projects rooted in rigorous humanistic inquiry and analysis. This grant program is intended for individual faculty and staff members—regardless of rank or employment status—at HBCUs to undertake humanities-focused research projects. Awards allow for a range of scholarly pursuits, including but not limited to writing, conducting field research, traveling for scholarly purposes, and preparing digital or print-based outputs. Applicants may propose projects that contribute to monographs, articles, translations, digital resources, or classroom curriculum enhancements. The 2026 cycle will exclusively support projects in American history and culture or Western civilization. Eligible topics must focus on U.S. history, government, or culture from the Colonial period to the present, or Western civilization from antiquity to today. Award recipients may pursue their projects on either a full-time or part-time basis, and projects may be at any developmental stage. The funding structure is flexible, supporting a period of performance ranging from two to twelve months, with a stipend of $5,000 per full-time equivalent month. This allows grantees to tailor their work schedule and budget needs. Importantly, these grants are disbursed directly to individuals—not to their institutions—and cost sharing or matching funds are not required. Awards are not intended for promotional, ideological, or advocacy-driven activities and explicitly exclude projects like documentary filmmaking, creative nonfiction, and those focused on public policy or social science methodologies outside the humanities. Applicants must submit their proposals via Grants.gov by the closing date of April 22, 2026. The application package includes a project narrative, work plan, résumé, bibliography, and other specified attachments. Applications are reviewed through a rigorous peer-review process involving experts in the humanities. Evaluation criteria include project significance, feasibility, applicant qualifications, and expected scholarly contribution. Notification of award decisions is expected by January 31, 2027. Selected projects may begin as early as April 1, 2027, and as late as September 1, 2028. To apply, individuals must be U.S. citizens or have resided in the United States or its jurisdictions for at least three years prior to the deadline. Applicants who are retired must not be employed by another institution at the time of application. Students enrolled in degree programs are not eligible. Two letters of reference are required, and these should directly address the proposed project. NEH maintains an average award rate of 19%, issuing approximately five awards annually. Contact information for assistance includes the program’s designated email address ([email protected]) and phone line (202-606-8200). The Awards for Faculty at HBCUs program is recurring, with applications accepted annually. The next expected cycle, based on current scheduling, would likely open in March 2027 with a deadline in April 2027. Applicants are encouraged to consult NEH’s website for updated materials and guidance, and to begin preparations well in advance due to the detailed submission requirements. The program aligns with NEH’s broader effort to foster accessible, publicly engaged humanities research across diverse institutional and geographic settings.

Focus on clearly demonstrating project’s relevance to American history or Western civilization; describe scholarly value to the humanities field.