State Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants | 20170601 SO

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): State Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants (NEH)

1) What is the State Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants program?

This is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity that provides core, flexible general operating support to the network of 56 state and U.S. jurisdictional humanities councils. The goal is to strengthen humanities infrastructure nationwide by supporting councils day to day and helping them deliver humanities programming that advances knowledge and understanding of the humanities, while expanding public awareness of, access to, and long-term support for humanities work across the United States.

2) Which NEH office administers this grant program?

The program is administered through NEH's Office of Federal/State Partnership.

3) Who are the grantees under this NEH office for this program?

NEH works directly with the state and jurisdictional humanities councils as its only grantees under the Office of Federal/State Partnership for this program.

4) What is the central purpose of these grants?

The central purpose is to strengthen the humanities infrastructure across the nation by helping councils sustain their operations and deliver humanities programming that increases understanding of the humanities and expands public awareness of and access to humanities work, building long-term support for that work in the United States.

5) What does "general operating support" mean in this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity description, general operating support refers to core, flexible support intended to help humanities councils keep their organizations functioning. This includes enabling councils to maintain staffing, administrative capacity, partnerships, and the grantmaking or programming pipelines that bring humanities experiences to the public.

6) What is meant by "local impact with national reach"?

A key theme is that councils act as community-facing hubs for humanities education and lifelong learning, with activities shaped by local interests and needs. Because councils are embedded in their states or jurisdictions, they can draw on local scholars and organizations to deliver programming that resonates locally, while collectively supporting a nationwide humanities ecosystem.

7) What kinds of community connections do humanities councils typically rely on?

The opportunity notes that councils can draw on local scholars, cultural organizations, educators, libraries, museums, and community partners to deliver programs that connect with local audiences.

8) How long is the grant period?

Each award covers a five-year period.

9) How is the five-year grant period structured?

It typically consists of three years of active funding followed by two additional years reserved for closeout activities.

10) Is the award amount fixed for the entire five years?

No. While the overall award is set within the five-year window, the award amount is amended each year to align with the federal budget for that year, assuming appropriated funds are available.

11) Are these grants competitive in the usual sense?

Funding levels are not competitively determined in the usual sense. NEH allocates support according to a legislatively mandated formula that determines how much each state or jurisdictional council receives.

12) What is the funding allocation based on?

The opportunity states that NEH allocates support according to a legislatively mandated formula that sets each council's funding level.

13) What is the funding activity area for this grant?

The opportunity is categorized under the humanities funding activity area.

14) Is this a discretionary grant?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant.

15) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is identified as CFDA 45.129.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is tightly limited to the independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) state and jurisdictional humanities councils themselves.

17) Can universities apply for this grant?

No. The opportunity specifies that it is not open to universities unless the university is the officially recognized humanities council for a state or U.S. jurisdiction (the only eligible entity type described is the independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanities council).

18) Can local nonprofits, museums, libraries, or individual scholars apply?

No. The opportunity states the program is not open to universities, local nonprofits, museums, libraries, or individual scholars unless they are the officially recognized humanities council for a state or U.S. jurisdiction.

19) How many councils does this program support?

The opportunity describes support for a network of 56 state and U.S. jurisdictional humanities councils.

20) What is the funding opportunity number?

The referenced funding opportunity number is 20170601 SO.

21) What closing date is listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is 2017-06-01.

22) What is the award ceiling shown?

The award ceiling shown is $2,500,000.

23) What does NEH use general operating support for in this council network?

The opportunity explains that NEH uses general operating support as the primary funding mechanism to keep the statewide and territorial humanities ecosystem functioning, enabling councils to sustain operations and continue programming and grantmaking pipelines that bring humanities experiences to the public.

24) What broader outcomes does NEH associate with this support?

As described, the support is intended to help councils advance knowledge and understanding of the humanities and expand public awareness of, access to, and long-term support for humanities work across the United States.