Therefore, applicants should contact NEH early. Any time during the year, applicants should call NEH if they have an idea. NEH will also re-draft proposals for applicants. Conditions for funding are the significance and potential impact of the project, the nature of the collection, how you have made use of the collection in the past. The challenge in writing an application is to get down on paper why the collection is significant.
Reviewers look at the methodology, experience of the staff, and appropriateness of the budget.
Four to six people review each application. Then a panel of scholars, other users and specialists review the proposal. An NEH Challenge Grant can help your institution secure long-term support. Every federal dollar has to be matched by at least three non-federal dollars in a Challenge Grant. An institution can get more than one Challenge Grant, but must wait four years between grants.