America's Media Makers:
Development and Production Grants
General information
What are the humanities?
According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, "The
term 'humanities' includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and
classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion;
ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have
humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the
humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse
heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current
conditions of national life."
What advice do you have for media producers in putting forth a strong application?
The project itself must fall within the fields of the humanities and accord
with the purpose and
goals of NEH. NEH does not give general support for media programs
but seeks to fund those programs that will best bring the issues, approaches,
and research in the humanities to broad public audiences.
Other critical factors are for a producer to have a well-developed story outline, to define the target audience, and to have a strong commitment to the project. In addition, the budget should be conceived along industry standards.
It is also helpful to review samples of successful applications. These samples will give you models that can help you format your application. You can request samples by sending an e-mail to publicpgms@neh.gov.
Looking at lists of radio and television programs that NEH has recently funded can give you an idea of the types of projects eligible for NEH support.
What is the most common mistake applicants make?
A major challenge in preparing a proposal for NEH, especially for first-time applicants, is to know how much information evaluators are looking for in the proposal. Applicants must discuss the project in considerable detail, articulating clearly their concept for the project and the humanities issues the project reflects, even when the proposal is for a development grant. Media producers should have completed considerable research on the subject, consulted with scholars about their ideas, and explained the scholars' contributions in the proposal.
Submitting an application
Must I submit my application through Grants.gov?
Yes.
When I apply through Grants.gov, how should I submit my work samples?
Please refer to the instructions in the guidelines under "How to Submit Work Samples" in Section V, "Application and Submission Information."
How do the application deadlines work? Are they receipt or postmark?
All deadlines are receipt deadlines. ALL supporting materials must arrive at NEH or be entered into Grants.gov by these dates.
Humanities scholars
What is a humanities scholar?
Someone who has an advanced degree in a discipline of the humanities is generally considered a scholar.
Scholars can provide context for the project's issues and identify relevant humanities themes and ideas.
Many humanities scholars hold university appointments and have written books and articles in their field.
When should I start consulting with scholars about a project?
As a general rule, the earlier scholars are involved in a project the better. Usually projects recommended for funding
are ones in which scholars have helped shape the project's conceptual framework.
Do I have to enlist more than one scholar for a project?
Yes, you must recruit a team of scholars. The advisory team helps producers incorporate current scholarship, develop the major humanities themes, and explore a range of interpretive possibilities for these themes.
How do I find the right scholarly advisors for a project?
The search for scholars can start in a local book store or university library. If you find a good book
that is relevant to your project, contact the author. You may also contact state humanities councils,
local universities, or national professional associations (e.g., the American Studies Association or the
American Historical Association) for directories of scholars.
How much should I pay scholarly advisors?
There is no set fee for scholars and other professionals working on your project.
Some projects pay scholars a flat honorarium, others pay a daily rate. Discuss your project
with the scholars, including the work that you expect from them, and negotiate a fair rate.
Media producers
What advice do you give media producers who have less experience but have worthy humanities projects?
Less experienced applicants frequently find it advantageous to form a partnership with a more seasoned media team.
What distinguishes a production grant application from a development grant application?
There are differences in the amount of research that must be completed before applying and the level of
detail in which the project is described. Applications for production should convey a solid command
of the relevant humanities scholarship, the program's narrative elements, and the visual approach.
All production proposals require either a detailed program description for a radio project, a script
for a television project, or a design document and prototype for a digital media project. Development
applications do not need to be worked out to the same extent, although they still need to describe
the intellectual themes, storyline, and audio or visual approach in enough detail so that a panel
can see the merits of the project. Digital media projects must also describe the nature and the
structure of the interactivity and how it will facilitate the audience's experience of the
humanities content.
What should the work sample include?
All applicants must submit a sample of previous work. Filmmakers, for example, might submit a complete film or television program along with a "sample reel" consisting of several five- to ten-minute clips. Radio producers might submit a finished program or segments of several programs. Digital media producers might submit URLs for
Web sites or CDs or DVDs that show screen shots and interactivity. All samples should showcase the applicant's skills with humanities subjects and with the particular creative approach that will be used in the proposed project.
May the same project director apply for funds two years in a row?
Yes. Applicants may even revise and resubmit a proposal that was not recommended for funding. All applicants may request the reasons for an NEH funding decision on their proposal. This information is useful as you continue working on the project and decide whether to resubmit.
May the same project director or producer submit an application for two different projects at the same time?
Yes. In each application clearly explain how you would allocate your time if you were awarded more than one grant.
If I am an individual producer unaffiliated with a nonprofit organization, may I still receive an America's Media Makers grant?
No. America's Media Makers grants are awarded only to U.S. nonprofit, IRS tax-exempt organizations. However, many cultural organizations, media arts centers, public radio stations, public television stations, and universities serve as sponsors of the projects of independent producers and may be willing to sponsor your project. Independent producers who wish to apply for NEH funding are advised to seek sponsorship by an eligible organization before submitting an application. Please contact a program officer for a list of recent grantees, which includes examples of nonprofit organizations that were awarded grants. For further information on the specific responsibilities of sponsorship organizations, please see Requirements
for Grant Recipients that Serve as Sponsors of Projects.
Budget and grant funds
If I receive NEH funding, may I also accept funding from other sources?
Yes. We encourage applicants to approach a range of funders, as it is unlikely that the NEH can support the full
costs of a single program or series of programs.
Do I need to have already raised money from other sources in order to be competitive for an NEH grant?
No. However, NEH policy requires that commitments for full funding for the project from all sources must be in place prior to the start of production and the release of grant funds.
Distribution
What are NEH's expectations for the distribution of a project?
NEH-funded projects should be offered for broad distribution to the widest possible audience. Although
NEH does not require applicants to have a commitment for distribution at the time they submit their application,
a letter of interest from a broadcaster or other distribution partner may enhance an application. Furthermore,
as a taxpayer-supported federal agency, the NEH endeavors to make the products of its awards available to
the broadest possible audience. Our goal is for scholars, educators, students, and the American public
to have ready and easy access to the wide range of NEH award products. For the America's Media Makers
program, such products may include radio and television programs and digital media products.
For projects that lead to the development of Web sites, all other considerations being equal,
the NEH gives preference to those that provide free access to the public.
Does NEH fund programs that will be distributed primarily over the Internet or on DVD?
Yes, we encourage requests for funding of the production of a DVD, Web site, streaming
video, video on demand, or other digital media projects.
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