Dialogues on the Experiences of War

The Dialogues on the Experiences of War program is a funding opportunity offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a federal agency committed to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH has a long-standing role in enriching American civic life and cultural understanding through its grant-making efforts. This particular grant program is designed to facilitate public conversations about war and military service, focusing on how the humanities can offer insight into the profound experiences of veterans and their communities. The program aims to support the study and discussion of significant humanities sources related to warfare and military life. The NEH believes that engaging with historical, literary, and philosophical texts can help U.S. military veterans and members of the public reflect more deeply on the issues raised by armed conflict and service. Projects funded under this program are intended to encourage dialogue, personal reflection, and community engagement using materials drawn from the humanities. Funding under this program is discretionary and supports up to 10 awards, with each award offering up to $100,000. The total anticipated funding for the program is approximately $1,000,000. While the minimum award is listed as $1, this figure appears symbolic and may be subject to further clarification in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Funds may be used for a variety of project activities as long as they align with the program’s focus on public engagement through the humanities. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as city or township governments, county governments, state governments, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, special district governments, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status excluding institutions of higher education. Additional eligibility conditions may be detailed in section C1 of the forthcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity. This opportunity is currently listed as a forecasted grant, with an estimated application open date of June 16, 2025, and a closing date of September 16, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by April 15, 2026, with projects starting on May 1, 2026. Although not officially marked as recurring, this is a versioned forecast (Forecast 2), which suggests prior funding cycles may exist. As such, internal tracking is advised for recurring consideration. Interested applicants can find more information and updates on the NEH website at https://www.neh.gov/grants/education/dialogues-the-experience-war. The main point of contact for this opportunity is the Division of Education Programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities. They can be reached at (202) 606-8400 or by email at dew@neh.gov. The NEH's office is located at 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20506.