Public Scholars

Overview

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.

The program welcomes projects in all areas of the humanities, regardless of geographic or chronological focus. The resulting books might present a narrative history, tell the stories of important individuals, analyze significant texts, provide a synthesis of ideas, revive interest in a neglected subject, or examine the latest thinking on a topic.

Books supported by this program must be written in an accessible style. They must clearly explain specialized terms and concepts and must frame their topics to have wide appeal. At the same time, they should be authoritative, carefully researched, and appropriately documented, making use of relevant primary and/or secondary sources and showing appropriate familiarity with relevant existing publications or scholarship.

Proposals for books directed primarily to professional scholars are unlikely to be competitive in this program.

The program supports projects at any stage of development. You may propose to complete your manuscript during the period of performance or at a later date. You may also seek support for the creation of digital or web-based products intended to supplement your proposed book.

The primary output of a successful Public Scholars award will be a well-researched nonfiction book for general readers. (The book need not be complete at the end of your award period.)

Award amounts
Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $5,000 per full-time month; the maximum award is $60,000 for a twelve-month period. You may work on your project part time or full time (or combine periods of part-time and full-time work). NEH will reduce awards to reflect the smaller time commitment when recipients work part time or for less than twelve months. The minimum award is $30,000, requiring a commitment to six months of full-time work or the equivalent.

The Public Scholars program accepts applications from individuals, whether they have an affiliation with a scholarly institution or not.

Organizations are ineligible. If you elect to have the stipend paid through your institution, it must remit all NEH funds to you and not take an institutional allowance or claim indirect costs.