Opportunity Information: Apply for 20210309 ES
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Education Programs, offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Institutes for K-12 Educators" (Funding Opportunity Number 20210309 ES; CFDA 45.163). This program supports the creation and delivery of humanities-focused institutes that function as structured professional development experiences. The core idea is to bring educators together for sustained study around significant humanities topics, strengthening both subject-matter knowledge and the ability to translate that learning into stronger teaching and scholarly work.
NEH institutes are designed as convenings that draw participants from across the United States, emphasizing cohort-based learning and depth over one-off training. The opportunity description highlights institutes for higher education faculty, framing them as programs that deepen and enrich understanding of major humanities themes while also improving participants' capacity for effective scholarship and teaching. In practical terms, these projects typically revolve around a well-defined humanities question or theme (for example, literature, history, philosophy, religious studies, cultural studies, or related interpretive fields), and they are structured to engage participants through readings, lectures, seminars, discussion, and other academically grounded activities. The expected outcome is not just increased knowledge, but improved pedagogy and stronger humanities instruction informed by current scholarship and thoughtful interpretation of primary and secondary sources.
A wide range of organizations were eligible to apply. Eligible applicants included state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). This eligibility list indicates NEH was open to supporting institutes hosted by universities and colleges as well as by governmental or nonprofit entities with the capacity to design rigorous humanities programming and manage federal grant requirements.
The award parameters reflect a mid-sized competitive federal grant. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $235,000, and NEH anticipated making about 9 awards under this notice. The opportunity was created on January 8, 2021, with an original application closing date of March 9, 2021. As a discretionary grant in the humanities funding activity category, awards would be made competitively based on NEH review criteria and the overall quality and feasibility of proposed institute projects.
Overall, this grant opportunity aimed to invest in high-quality humanities professional development through intensive, topic-centered institutes, supporting organizations capable of convening educators nationwide and delivering programming that strengthens humanities scholarship and teaching practice.Apply for 20210309 ES
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institutes for K-12 Educators" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.163.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 08, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 09, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $235,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NEH "Institutes for K-12 Educators" (Funding Opportunity Number 20210309 ES; CFDA 45.163)
What is the NEH "Institutes for K-12 Educators" grant opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), offered through the Division of Education Programs. It supported the creation and delivery of humanities-focused institutes that serve as structured professional development experiences.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program aimed to bring educators together for sustained study of significant humanities topics. The goal was to strengthen participants' subject-matter knowledge and improve their ability to translate that learning into stronger teaching and scholarly work.
What does NEH mean by an "institute" in this context?
NEH institutes are convenings designed to draw participants from across the United States for cohort-based learning. They emphasize depth and sustained engagement rather than one-off training sessions.
What kinds of activities are typical in an NEH institute?
Projects are typically structured around academically grounded activities such as readings, lectures, seminars, and discussions. Institutes are designed to support thoughtful interpretation of primary and secondary sources and engagement with current scholarship.
What subject areas or disciplines can an institute focus on?
Institutes generally revolve around a well-defined humanities question or theme. Examples referenced include literature, history, philosophy, religious studies, cultural studies, and related interpretive fields.
What outcomes does NEH expect from supported institutes?
Expected outcomes include increased knowledge of the institute topic, improved pedagogy, and stronger humanities instruction informed by current scholarship and careful interpretation of sources. The description also emphasizes improving participants' capacity for effective scholarship and teaching.
Who was the intended audience for these institutes?
The opportunity title indicates K-12 educators. The description also highlights institutes for higher education faculty as programs that deepen humanities understanding and strengthen teaching and scholarship capacity.
Are these institutes meant to be local or national in scope?
They are designed as national convenings, drawing participants from across the United States and supporting cohort-based learning experiences.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category)
Could colleges and universities apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible applicants.
Could government entities apply?
Yes. Eligibility included state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Could federally recognized tribal governments apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were included in the eligibility list.
Could nonprofit organizations apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were eligible, with the note that this nonprofit category excluded institutions of higher education.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum) was $235,000.
How many awards did NEH expect to make?
NEH anticipated making about 9 awards under this notice.
What was the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number was 20210309 ES, and the CFDA number was 45.163.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on January 8, 2021. The original application closing date was March 9, 2021.
Was this a competitive grant?
Yes. It was a discretionary grant, and awards were to be made competitively based on NEH review criteria and the overall quality and feasibility of proposed institute projects.
What does "discretionary grant" mean here?
In this context, it means the program made awards through a competitive process rather than through a formula allocation, with NEH selecting projects based on review and merit.
What makes a proposed institute aligned with this opportunity?
Based on the description, alignment would include a rigorous humanities focus; a clearly defined theme or question; structured, sustained programming (not a one-time event); cohort-based learning; and a plan that strengthens both humanities knowledge and teaching practice using scholarship and primary/secondary sources.
Which NEH division offered this opportunity?
It was offered through NEH's Division of Education Programs.
What is the broader goal of NEH support through this program?
The broader goal was to invest in high-quality humanities professional development by supporting organizations capable of convening educators nationwide and delivering intensive, topic-centered institutes that strengthen humanities scholarship and teaching.
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