Federal Humanities Grants

The National Leadership Grants for Museums program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, supports projects that address significant and pressing needs within the museum sector, with the goal of advancing professional practice and strengthening museum services. The program funds innovative, impactful projects that can be scaled, adapted, or replicated to benefit museums broadly. The 2025 opportunity emphasizes projects that align with IMLS goals: lifelong learning, community engagement, and collections stewardship and access. Projects are expected to demonstrate collaboration, address challenges faced by the field, and generate models, tools, or research findings with wide applicability. The program supports two types of projects: non-research projects and research projects. Non-research projects focus on practical solutions, tools, or models to address critical needs in the museum sector, while research projects aim to investigate questions relevant to museum practice using rigorous data collection and analysis methods. Non-research projects require a one-to-one cost share, while research projects do not require cost sharing. Applicants must clearly articulate their project’s goals, work plans, and results to demonstrate impact and sustainability. IMLS anticipates awarding approximately $5,800,000 in total funding, with an estimated 15 grants to be awarded. Individual awards range from $50,000 to $750,000, with an average award size of $453,106. The period of performance spans one to three years, beginning no earlier than September 1, 2025. Applicants must submit proposals electronically via Grants.gov by November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions will not be considered. Successful applicants will be notified by August 2025. Eligible applicants include museums, institutions of higher education, museum service organizations, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations that advance the museum profession. Museums must meet IMLS criteria, including professional staffing, regular public exhibitions, and an educational or cultural mission. Museums operating as discrete units within larger organizations may apply independently if they meet specific eligibility criteria, including budgetary and operational autonomy. Partnerships and collaborations are encouraged to maximize the scope and impact of proposed projects. Applications must include a project narrative addressing three key areas: project justification, work plan, and intended results. The narrative must describe the need or challenge being addressed, identify key activities and milestones, and outline the expected outcomes and plans for broad dissemination. Supporting documents, including budget forms, a performance measurement plan, resumes of key staff, and a data management and sharing plan for research projects, are also required. Applicants must ensure their project aligns with one of the program’s goals: advancing experiential and cross-disciplinary learning, addressing community needs through partnerships, or improving collections care and access. IMLS evaluates applications through a peer review process, considering factors such as the project’s alignment with program goals, clarity and feasibility of the work plan, and potential impact and sustainability. Successful projects will demonstrate the ability to create innovative tools, research findings, or practices that address field-wide challenges and improve museum services. Proposals must include plans for broad dissemination of results to ensure benefits extend beyond the participating institutions. Awardees are required to submit interim and final financial and performance reports and comply with all federal regulations and IMLS award conditions. IMLS provides additional resources, including webinars and technical assistance, to support applicants in developing competitive proposals. Further details about the program, including sample applications and contact information for program staff, are available on the IMLS website.

This funding opportunity supports Japanese American organizations in creating educational projects that raise awareness about the forced confinement of Japanese Americans during World War II, promoting understanding of civil liberties and justice.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in creating immersive professional development programs for K-12 teachers and higher education faculty, focusing on significant themes in the humanities at culturally important locations.

With this solicitation, BJA seeks to fund state, local, and tribal governments to enhance or implement evidence-based activities or services to improve reentry and reduce recidivism by expanding and/or increasing access to housing for people who are currently or formerly involved in the criminal justice system. Prior to the release of incarceration, individuals will be screened, assessed, and identified for program participation. The program will help jurisdictions assess their reentry systems, identify strengths and gaps, and then build capacity for improved housing options for adults released from prison or jail.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance for the preservation and documentation of historic sites significant to the African American civil rights movement, targeting state and local governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions.

This is a Notice of Intent only. The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), intends to provide funding to an existing cooperative agreement with International Labor Organization (ILO), without full and open competition, to increase the projects efforts to prevent and mitigate new and emerging health-related crises affecting workers in agricultural sectors in Mexico, including climate change induced heat stress of workers in the countrys chili pepper and tomato supply chains. Authority: DLMS 2-836 G.3: Services are available from only one responsible source and no substitute will suffice; or the recipient has unique qualifications to perform the type of activity to be funded.

This funding provides financial support to state governments and one nonprofit in Ohio for the preservation and protection of historic and cultural resources through various preservation activities and initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports projects that strengthen U.S.-U.K. relations through public diplomacy initiatives, targeting a range of organizations and individuals focused on democracy, global challenges, and cultural exchange.

This grant provides funding to support projects that help communities, especially those disadvantaged, preserve their cultural heritage and resilience in response to climate change and COVID-19 through initiatives like collecting cultural resources and recording oral histories.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam (USAID/Vietnam) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Inclusion IIb program. The project aims to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Under this NOFO, selected applicant(s) will be working in both provinces of Binh Dinh and Kon Tum (Vietnam).Document Type: Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number: 72044022RFA00005 Funding Opportunity Title: Inclusion IIb Opportunity Category: Discretionary Opportunity Category Explanation: Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Category of Funding Activity: Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification) Category Explanation: Improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities Expected Number of Awards: 01 CFDA Number(s): 98.001 -- USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: NoEligibility Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" Additional Information on Eligibility: Additional Information Agency Name: USAID-VIETNAM Description: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam (USAID/Vietnam) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the “Inclusion IIb” program. The project aims to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Under this NOFO, selected applicant(s) will be working in both provinces of Binh Dinh and Kon Tum (Vietnam). Link to Additional Information: Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Hoa Nguyen Grantor Phone 842439352185

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies for the digitization and preservation of historically significant American newspapers, ensuring free public access to these vital resources.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to federally recognized Native American Tribes to improve library and archival services, enhance community programming, and preserve cultural resources.

With this solicitation, BJA seeks to support efforts by state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution agencies and their partners in conducting outreach, educating practitioners and the public, enhancing victim reporting tools, and investigating and prosecuting hate crimes committed on the basis of a victims perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

This program provides funding to state and local governments, tribal entities, and nonprofits for the rehabilitation of historic properties in rural communities, promoting economic development and cultural heritage preservation.

This program provides funding for faculty and staff at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to conduct research in the humanities, focusing on American history and culture or Western civilization.

This program supports projects that develop and implement educational programs for professionals who preserve and provide access to humanities collections. Such materials include but are not limited to paper-based, photographic, archaeological, ethnographic, artistic, audiovisual, digitized, and born-digital collections. Advancing long-term access to these materials for scholars, students, and the public requires skilled professionals from varied backgrounds and communities working in organizations large and small. NEH makes awards in this program to organizations that offer national, regional, or statewide education and training programs across the pedagogical landscape for current or emerging professionals. Projects may be at any stage, from early curriculum development to advanced implementation, and projects may include partnerships with academic or non-academic institutions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to federally recognized Native American Tribes and Alaska Native corporations to improve their library and archival services, fostering community engagement and cultural preservation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the preservation of historic sites related to the early history of the United States, targeting public and nonprofit organizations involved in cultural heritage projects.

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Labor/ Bureau of International Labor Affairs Description:The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) seeks input, advice, knowledge, recommendations, and promising practices focused on the relationship between disability rights and access to decent work from a broader audience that is experienced in strengthening engagement for disabled persons, including disabled workers, and supporting disability inclusion and economic empowerment as potential strategies and remedies. The associated RFI questions are contained in Attachment 1. The RFI will be used to identify research gaps, promising approaches, practices, and policies that reduce discrimination and barriers that hinder equitable access to education, employment, and social protection services.

This funding opportunity is designed to help Native American Tribes enhance their library services and resources to better serve their communities' educational and cultural needs.