The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning is accepting applications for its Media Projects Program.
Donor Name: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/25/2026
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The purpose of this program is to support the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways.
The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and incorporate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. Proposals must demonstrate the potential to attract a broad general audience and should be intended for national or regional distribution. Film projects may be stand-alone documentaries that are at least a broadcast hour in length, or a limited series of programs with episodes of any length. Radio and podcast projects may be single programs, a limited series, or segments within an ongoing program. Projects may include supplementary components such as discussion programs or websites.
All Media Projects proposals must:
- Build on sound humanities scholarship to deepen public understanding
- Approach a subject analytically, presenting a variety of perspectives
- Involve humanities scholars from outside your organization in all phases of development and production
- Involve appropriate media professionals
- Employ appealing and accessible formats that will actively engage the general public
- Demonstrate the potential to attract a large public audience.
Goals
The goal of Development awards is to enable film producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content and other program elements. Development awards may support activities such as:
- Meetings with scholars
- Preliminary interviews
- Preparation of detailed program treatments or scripts
- Production of a work-in-progress or trailer
- Creation of partnerships for outreach activities and public engagement
- Archival and other scholarly research.
Funding Information
- Anticipated Funding Approximately $6,000,000
- Development: up to $75,000
- Production: up to $700,000
Grant Period
March 1, 2027, and September 1, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, your organization must be established in the United States or its jurisdictions as one of the following:
- A nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- An accredited institution of higher education (public or nonprofit)
- A state or local government or one of their agencies
- A federally recognized Native American Tribal government
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
