In its first call for grant applications in 1965, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) indicated that it would support “grants for the development of humanistically-oriented computer research.” During the NEH’s early years, it supported scholars working with punch cards and statistical methods for their humanities research. Since then, the NEH has been funding what we now call digital humanities across different divisions and grant programs, even before the formation of the Office of Digital Humanities in 2007. Today, grant programs support for everything from infrastructure and software development to public engagement and educational resources. But finding the right fit for your project can be tough. Currently, there are more than 20 grant programs, found across the divisions, that will fund different aspects of digital humanities work. This workshop aims to demystify the NEH’s many programs supporting digital projects.
Participants will start with a small group activity and then return to plenary style to better understand what opportunities exist, how to frame proposals for different opportunities, and where to find resources to help them through this process. Workshop leaders will also share funding opportunities from other federal funders that may be of interest to participants. The workshop will offer many opportunities for questions and workshop leaders will invite participants to shape some of the topics covered.
By the end the of the 90-minute workshop, participants will:
- Be familiar with the variety of funding opportunities offered by NEH to fund DH work.
- Know how to research funding opportunities based on project activities, audiences, and outputs.
- Learn about new NEH grant programs and initiatives.
- Increase understanding of federal Notice of Funding Opportunities (aka, guidelines).
- Gain insight into the review process.
- Have resources to take home on finding right programs & know how to contact program staff.
