Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants

The purpose of the Challenge Grants program is to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities by enabling infrastructure development and capacity building. Awards aim to help institutions secure long-term support for their core activities and expand efforts to preserve and create access to outstanding humanities materials. The program funds two distinct types of projects, each with its own Notice of Funding Opportunity:

• Capital Projects supports the design, purchase, construction, restoration, or renovation of facilities for humanities activities.  This includes the purchase and installation of related moveable and permanently affixed equipment for exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting collections (whether on exhibit or in storage), and for critical building systems, such as electrical, heating ventilation and air conditioning, security, life safety, lighting, utilities, telecommunications, and energy management.
• Digital Infrastructure supports the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms.

Fundraising is a critical part of NEH Challenge grant awards: up to 10 percent of total funds (Challenge matching funds plus certified gifts) may be used for fundraising costs during the period of performance.

What’s new in 2021

• If you applied to the May 18, 2021 deadline and your proposal was rejected for issues of eligibility, completeness, or responsiveness, you may apply for the September 28, 2021 deadline.
• Two deadlines per year: May 18, 2021 and September 28, 2021
• 5-year maximum period of performance

Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of all changes to the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

To learn more visit: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants