Public Scholars

In honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s Founding, the 2026 Public Scholars competition will only accept projects that promote a deeper understanding of our nation’s extraordinary heritage, including our record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.

Competitive applications will focus on topics in American history, culture, and government in any period from the Colonial Era to the present that increase public knowledge of the 250th anniversary of American Independence and American exceptionalism. Projects might explore the origins of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy, or how its founding ideals have been met over time, or examine significant individuals, events, books or documents, artworks, objects, music, places, traditions, or ideas that have shaped America, its role in the world, or the experiences of its people.

NEH particularly encourages projects focused on American military history; projects that explore the concept of the American Dream through the lens of economic freedom, entrepreneurship, and innovation; and projects the elucidate the historical and ongoing role of the United States as a leader in global affairs, emphasizing themes of American exceptionalism, moral leadership, and constructive diplomacy.

NEH has moved to a shared payment service operated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and can no longer deposit funds for awards to individuals into an institutional bank account. Starting with awards issued August 2024, NEH will make payment to a personal bank account only.

The Public Scholars program offers grants to individual authors for research, writing, travel, and other activities leading to the creation and publication of well-researched nonfiction books in the humanities written for the broad public. Writers with or without an academic affiliation may apply, and no advanced degree is required. The program encourages non-academic writers to deepen their engagement with the humanities by strengthening the research underlying their books, and it encourages academic writers in the humanities to communicate the significance of their research to the broadest possible range of readers. NEH especially encourages applications from independent writers, researchers, scholars, and journalists.