Open 20260422-FZ CFDA 45.160 Discretionary

Public Scholars

Posted by National Endowment for the Humanities

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — Public Scholars — is cataloged under number 20260422-FZ and tied to CFDA assistance listing 45.160, posted by National Endowment for the Humanities. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on March 2, 2026 and last updated on April 1, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is $30,000 -- $60,000. The agency has projected $900,000 in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 15 awards. If the agency funds the expected 15 awards from the $900,000 estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $60,000. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on April 22, 2026. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.

Award Range

$30,000 -- $60,000

Close Date

April 22, 2026

Posted

March 2, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$900,000

Expected Awards

15

Instrument

Grant

Description

The Public Scholars program encourages non-academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities by strengthening the research underlying their books, and it encourages academic writers in the humanities to communicate the significance of their research to the broadest possible range of readers. NEH encourages submissions from independent scholars and junior scholars. Projects are eligible at any stage in their development. The 2026 Public Scholars competition will accept only projects for research in American history and culture and Western civilization. Competitive applications must focus on topics in the history, culture, and government of the United States in any period from the Colonial Era to the present, or topics in Western civilization from antiquity to the present.

Eligibility

21

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Division of Research<br/>National Endowment for the Humanities<br/>400 Seventh Street, SW<br/>Washington, DC 20506<br/>202-606-8200<br/>publicscholar@neh.gov

Key Dates

Posted March 2, 2026
Close Date April 22, 2026
Last Updated April 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "Public Scholars", offered by National Endowment for the Humanities. It is associated with CFDA program 45.160. The Public Scholars program encourages non-academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities by strengthening the research underlying their books, and it encourages academic writers in t...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is April 22, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $30,000 -- $60,000. Total estimated funding: $900,000. Expected number of awards: 15.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Related

Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants Editorial