Institutes for K-12 Educators | 20210309 ES

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.

• 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.

Apply for 20210309 ES

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