Legal Definitions - National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government.

Its primary mission is to support and promote scholarship, learning, and public engagement with the humanities across the United States. The NEH achieves this by providing financial grants to individuals, groups, and institutions for projects that explore human culture, history, language, philosophy, and arts.

• Imagine a university history department that wants to digitize a vast collection of historical letters and diaries from a significant period in American history, making them freely available online for researchers and the public. The department could apply for a grant from the NEH to fund the complex process of scanning, cataloging, and creating an accessible digital archive. This exemplifies the NEH's role in supporting research and making historical resources available for public engagement.

• Consider a local public library in a small town that wishes to host a series of community discussions throughout the year, led by local professors and experts, exploring the themes and impact of classic American novels. The library could seek funding from the NEH to cover the costs of speaker fees, promotional materials, and program coordination. This demonstrates the NEH's commitment to fostering public programs and education in the humanities for diverse audiences.

• A non-profit cultural organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of an indigenous community is working to document endangered oral traditions and create educational materials for younger generations. This organization could apply for an NEH grant to support their efforts in conducting interviews, transcribing stories, and developing curriculum resources. This illustrates how the NEH aids in research, education, and the preservation of cultural knowledge within the humanities.