FAQs – Funding for NEH Applicants and Grantees Impacted by the Coronavirus

(updated May 3, 2021)

This document addresses frequently asked questions related to NEH funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Office of Management and Budget memo M-21-20, “Promoting Public Trust in the Federal Government through Effective Implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act and Stewardship of the Taxpayer Resources” The questions have been organized into three groups: 

I. Eligible cultural organizations and humanists affected by the coronavirus seeking funding 
II. Applicants for standing NEH funding opportunities 
III. Current NEH grant and cooperative agreement recipients seeking administrative flexibilities and supplemental funding 

I. Eligible cultural organizations and humanists affected by the coronavirus seeking funding

  1. Does NEH have additional federal funds to respond to the impact of the coronavirus?

    Yes. NEH received $135 million in supplemental funding to assist cultural institutions and humanists affected by the coronavirus as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Joseph Biden. Under the Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative, NEH will distribute SHARP funds via three channels. 

    $51.6 million will go directly to the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils and interim partners, based on the standard population formula used for their annual appropriation. In addition, approximately $80 million will be distributed through two competitive grant programs. 

    The American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grantmaking program will support competitive grantmaking programs for humanities organizations and professionals to “prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus It has a deadline of May 13, 2021. 

    The American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations program will support new humanities projects or focus on sustaining core humanities programs and activities. It has a deadline of May 14, 2021. 

    Previously, NEH received $75 million in supplemental funding to assist cultural institutions and humanists affected by the coronavirus as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic stabilization plan, appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. The majority of these funds were distributed in 2020 to the state and jurisdictional humanities councils as legislatively mandated and via the NEH CARES program. 

  2. What types of organizations are eligible for SHARP funding? 

    Each competitive program has distinct eligibility criteria. See C. Eligibility Information of the relevant Notice of Funding Opportunity for program specific requirements. 

  3. How can my organization apply for emergency relief funding through NEH’s SHARP initiative?

    You can learn about NEH funding opportunities on our website. Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Frequently Asked Questions for both programs to learn how to prepare and submit your application. 

    Before submitting an application, your organization must have a current and active D-U-N-S® number, and Grants.gov registration. The SAM registration requirement at the time of application has been waived for applicants to SHARP programs, but is required at the time of award. Learn more about this multistep process. 

    You must submit your application via Grants.gov. NEH encourages potential applicants to begin the necessary registration process as early as possible. NEH will not grant deadline extensions for lack of registration. 

  4. My organization missed the NEH funding opportunity deadlines. What other opportunities will be available?

    NEH will post information about additional funding opportunities made possible through the American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grantmaking program once funding decisions are announced in September 2021. 

    Eligible applicants should also contact their state humanities councils. NEH supports 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils and interim partners across the country, all of which also make awards to support humanities projects. 

  5. Are individuals eligible for NEH SHARP funding? 
    While they are not eligible to apply directly to NEH for SHARP funding, individuals will be eligible as subrecipients under the American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grantmaking program. In addition, NEH continues to fund individual humanists through a variety of programs, including Public Scholars, Fellowships, and Summer Stipends.  

II. Applicants for standing NEH funding opportunities 

  1. Will NEH extend application deadlines due to the coronavirus pandemic?

    No. Application deadlines will not be extended. Applications must be submitted through and validated by Grants.gov by the published deadlines. 

  2. Will there be changes to NEH’s standing funding opportunities?

    No. NEH intends to issue funding opportunities consistent with its published deadlines. NEH may tailor certain programs to reduce burden for recipients or to allow for socially distant activities to take place. 

  3. Where can I learn more about upcoming NEH funding opportunities?

    Visit our website or use the “Search Grants” tab at Grants.gov. 

III. Current NEH grant and cooperative agreement recipients seeking administrative flexibilities and supplemental funding

NEH understands that the coronavirus may impact your funded project as activities are postponed or canceled. Contact your program officer and grants management specialist via eGMS Reach; they can help you explore options such as extensions, budget revisions, and scope changes. NEH program and grants management staff will work together to provide maximum flexibility within NEH’s governing authorities. It is important to note that the NEH Office of Grant Management is the only office authorized to change the funding, scope, duration, or other terms and conditions of your award, and will do so through eGMS Reach. 

  1. What should my organization do if it needs to postpone project activities such as meetings, conferences, workshops, or public events?
    Per item 12 of the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations, NEH has delegated to recipient organizations the authority to approve a one-time extension of the end date of the period of performance established in the initial award if they require additional time to complete the original scope of the project with the funds already made available. A single extension that shall not exceed 12 months may be made for this purpose, provided it is made prior to the original expiration date.

    To exercise this option, the institutional grant administrator must notify the NEH Office of Grant Management in writing via eGMS Reach of the new expiration date at least 30 calendar days before the end of the original period of performance and must provide justification for the extension period. Include a revised work plan with your extension notification. 

    Recipients may request subsequent extensions through eGMS Reach. 

  2. Can nonrefundable travel costs be charged to NEH grants and cooperative agreements? What about other cancellation costs?

    No. Arrangements made on a non-refundable basis are at the risk of the recipient if the services must be cancelled for any reason. 

    In addition, all contracts in excess of $10,000 must address termination for cause and for convenience by the recipient, including the manner by which it will be effected and the basis for settlement. (See 2 CFR 200 Appendix II (B).) 

  3. What if my organization is unable to reschedule or conduct part of our funded activities? 

    Recipients who incur costs related to the cancellation of events or other activities necessary and reasonable for the performance of the award or related to the pausing and restarting of NEH-funded activities due to the public health emergency may charge these costs to their NEH award without regard to 2 CFR §200.403 Factors affecting allowability of costs, 2 CFR §200.404 Reasonable costs, and 2 CFR §200.405 Allocable costs. 

    Recipients may charge the full cost of cancellation when the event or other activities are conducted under the auspices of the award. Recipients should not assume additional funds will be available should the charging of cancellation or other fees result in a shortage of funds to eventually carry out the event. Recipients must maintain appropriate records and cost documentation as required by 2 CFR §200.302 Financial management and 2 CFR §200.333 Retention requirement for records to substantiate the charging of any cancellation or other fees related to interruption of operations or services. 

    In addition, changes in budget, scope or key personnel may be necessary if you are unable to reschedule or conduct part of the funded activity. Such changes require NEH prior approval. NEH program and grants management staff will work together to provide maximum flexibility within NEH’s governing authorities. See the following sections in the General Terms and Conditions: 

    11. Budget Revisions 
    12. Period of Performance and Extensions 
    13. Changes in Key Project Personnel 
    14. Changes in Project Scope 

    Reminder 
    You may discuss potential changes to your funded project with your NEH program officer. However, the NEH Office of Grant Management is the only office authorized to issue the notice of action that changes the funding, scope, duration, or other terms and conditions of your award. 

  4. What if my organization needs an extension for financial and other reporting? 

    Recipients may delay submission of financial and other reports up to three months beyond the scheduled due date. During this time, recipients may continue to draw down federal funds without the timely submission of these reports. However, these reports must be submitted at the end of the postponed period. Contact your NEH grant management specialist via eGMS Reach if you would like to exercise this option. 

  5. My organization is subject to the Single Audit; can the deadline be extended? 

    Yes. On March 19, 2021, OMB issued memorandum M-20-21, which allows recipients and subrecipients that have not yet filed their single audits with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse as of March 19, 2021 that have fiscal year-ends through June 30, 2021, to delay the completion and submission of the Single Audit reporting package, as required under Subpart F of 2 CFR § 200.501 to six months beyond the normal due date. This extension does not require individual recipients and subrecipients to seek approval for the extension by the cognizant or oversight agency for audit; however, recipients and subrecipients should maintain documentation of the reason for the delayed filing. Recipients and subrecipients taking advantage of this extension would still qualify as a "low-risk auditee" under the criteria of 2 CFR § 200.520(a). (2 CFR § 200.501) 

These FAQs may be updated as additional guidance is issued. 

Prospective applicants not currently funded by NEH may contact @email or @email. 

Current NEH grant and cooperative agreement recipients may reach out to their program officer and grant management specialist via eGMS Reach. 

For more information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).