The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants that fund state councils are being rescinded by DOGE. As a result, NJCH will be forced to significantly scale back or cut our grants, programs, and operations. Here are some steps you can take to help.
Since 1972, NJCH has supported the public humanities—projects that take the humanities out of the classroom and make them accessible to wide and diverse audiences—such as exhibitions and installations, discussion programs, oral history projects, interpretive tours, and much more.
Why? It's our aim to enable audiences to engage in critical reflection on human histories, cultures, values, and beliefs.
It's no secret that the most competitive grant proposals are those that put the “public” in “public humanities.” In other words: they demonstrate an awareness of the needs and interests of your audience and offer an opportunity for community members to engage in a shared exploration of the humanities.
In our recent grant rounds, NJCH has funded about 30% of proposals received. We recommend submitting your LOI as early as possible!
The spring grants cycle has been paused. We received notification early on April 3, 2025 that the funding we receive from the National Endowment for the Humanities – dollars we re-grant to organizations across New Jersey – has been terminated. Because of this, we are forced to put our own Grants program on indefinite pause, pending the availability of future funding. An emergency statement from our executive director is available on our website.
This is an evolving situation, as we and others across the sector fight to restore the federal funding that has already been appropriated by Congress. We promise to stay in contact as things progress and will certainly let you know immediately if we are able to reopen this grant opportunity. We humbly thank you for your support and shared hope to weather this most daunting threat.
For questions or to schedule a 1:1 conversation, email us at grants@njhumanities.org
As the funding landscape for federal agencies continues to evolve, NJCH is following guidance as released by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). For information regarding recent Executive Orders and their impact on the NEH, visit the NEH website.
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has awarded 17 grants totaling $205,716 in its most recent grant round. These funds will support a diverse array of projects in 10 counties across the Garden State, highlighting NJCH’s ongoing efforts to make the vital work of the humanities available to all New Jerseyans.
We know that applying for grants can be tricky. Sometimes it’s even hard to figure out where to begin. Check out these tips for getting started, especially if this is your first time seeking a grant from us.
Only New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations or government entities are eligible to apply for NJCH grants. Applicants will need to have an EIN or NJ tax-exempt number to apply and be in good standing with state and federal tax entities. Since NJCH regrants federal funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities, applicants will also need to submit a SAM.gov UEI (Unique Entity ID) with the final application.
If you do not already have a UEI, we recommend you get started on obtaining one from SAM.gov as soon as possible. Please note that completing the full SAM.gov registration process is not a requirement. Organizations can apply for a UEI only without completing the full registration. If you have any questions, please let us know. NJCH program officers can help you navigate the process.
NJCH offers project grants to support the development and implementation of public humanities projects for NJ-based audiences. The most competitive applications propose discrete projects that have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Our grants are small, so projects that are simple and straightforward tend to be the most competitive. NJCH grants do not provide general operating support and cannot be used to support work outside of the public humanities.
Once you have confirmed that your proposal is humanities-based and your organization is eligible to apply for a grant, it will be important to make sure that your organization can meet the other requirements of our grants. Our guidelines are updated each year, so we recommend reviewing the guidelines even if you have previously applied for NJCH funding.
The next step is to pick the grant type that aligns most closely with your organization’s goals, priorities, and available timeline. Our list of available grants changes occasionally, so we recommend reviewing our offerings to see what best fits your needs.
In addition to grants, NJCH also supports humanities projects and skill-building through various programs. If your work isn’t a good fit for our grants, check out our program offerings—one of them just might be a better fit.
Once you’ve decided which grant to apply for, you’ll need to submit an LOI using our online grant system. The LOI is not competitive; it just provides a quick way for NJCH staff to determine that your organization is eligible to apply for a grant and that your project is appropriate for NJCH funding before you complete a full application. LOIs are accepted and approved on a rolling basis throughout the LOI period. We strongly advise you to submit your LOI early, especially if you’d like to schedule a consultation with NJCH staff or have a draft of your proposal reviewed.
The grant guidelines provided below both outline technical requirements for grant proposals and serve as a helpful reference guide for organizations completing proposals. Please reference the guidelines when looking for answers to your questions. If something isn't clear, just ask us! (Really!)
($3,000 - $15,000)
Incubation Grants support the planning and development of public humanities projects for New Jersey-based audiences.
($3,000 - $15,000)
Action Grants support the implementation of developed public humanities projects for New Jersey-based audiences.
If you have questions we’re here to help. Promise!
NJCH offers multiple ways for interested organizations to learn more about our grant programs, receive feedback, and obtain assistance during the grant process, including:
Please review the grant guidelines to learn what resources are currently available to your organization for a particular grant opportunity or contact us at grants@njhumanities.org.
We also recommend you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and sign up for our email list to receive information about upcoming workshops, events, and funding opportunities.
Watch "Creating an Outstanding Proposal - Narrative" (Spring 2024) and other past webinar recordings on our Youtube channel.
NJCH is pleased to offer digital resources accessible 24/7 for anyone interested in applying for an NJCH (or other) grant.
Please click the links below to view webinar recordings of past workshops and live tutorials offered by NJCH Programs staff. The "Creating an Outstanding Proposal" webinar series describes and outlines some approaches to the two key components of an application to our grants program: the project narrative, and the budget. These webinars were recorded over Zoom and posted to the NJCH website and Youtube channel in the spring of 2024.
(This recorded webinar reviews Incubation and Action Grant guidelines and requirements.)
Join Grants Program staff for drop-in discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and recommendations for applying to the grants program at the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. These office hours are an opportunity to engage NJCH programs staff in conversation about our grants program, and formal presentations will not be given.
You may join the session at any time, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like. To attend, please join the meeting room available at the link in each event listing below. If you will require any accommodations, please email scruz@njhumanities.org with more information at least 48 hours prior to your desired virtual office hours session.
Action and Incubation Grants
Organizations can apply for either an Incubation or an Action Grant during each grant round. You must choose one or the other; you cannot apply for both an Incubation and an Action Grant at the same time. Please note that LOIs are accepted and approved on a rolling basis throughout the LOI period. We recommend submitting early!
