Deadline: 11-Aug-21
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs is accepting applications for the Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions program with the purpose to support institutions that provide fellowships devoted to advanced study and research in the humanities in the United States and abroad, foster communities of intellectual exchange among participating scholars, and provide access to resources that might otherwise not be available to the participating scholars.
Fellowship programs may be administered by independent centers for advanced study, libraries, and museums in the U.S.; American overseas research centers; and American organizations that have expertise in promoting humanities research in foreign countries. Individual scholars apply directly to the institutions for fellowships.
The FPIRI program is governed by the following requirements:
- Recipient institutions must give all eligible applicants equal consideration; they may not restrict eligibility to members of a scholarly organization or to persons affiliated with institutional members of a scholarly organization.
- Recipient institutions must not accept applications from any of their own officers, employees, members of the board of trustees or advisers, or selection committee members, until at least one year has elapsed since the person’s last service in such a position. The same restriction applies to officers, employees, and board members of parent organizations.
- Recipient institutions must not require an administrative or application fee for NEH funded fellowships.
- Fellowship tenure must be full-time, continuous, and last four to twelve months.
- FPIRI awards support fellowship stipends at a rate of $5,000 per month.
- Residential fellows must be in residence during their entire tenure period. If a fellow is obliged through special circumstances to withdraw before the end of the tenure period, he/she shall receive a prorated stipend.
- NEH-funded fellows must be granted the same benefits, services, and accommodations normally accorded to all other fellows. A recipient institution may supplement the stipends of NEH-funded fellows with its own funds, and fellows may receive additional funds from other sources. Recipient institutions may withhold a portion of the NEH funded fellows’ stipends to defray the costs of lodging and meals at a residential center. Stipend deductions for fringe benefits such as health care can be offered to fellows on a voluntary basis. Stipend deductions for other fees or indirect costs are not allowed. In their fellowship announcements and award letters, institutions must clearly state the full value of the NEH-funded stipend and, if applicable, the amount withheld.
- Recipient institutions must publicize the availability of FPIRI fellowships and their application procedures clearly and effectively, so that all potential applicants can learn of the full range of opportunities available.
- Recipient institutions must ensure the fair and informed selection of fellows by relying on the recommendations of an external committee composed of qualified scholars drawn from outside the institution’s staff and governing bodies.
- Recipient institutions must avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest in the composition of the selection committee and its deliberations. Staff (including unpaid advisors), officers, board members, and trustees of the institution may not serve as prescreening evaluators or voting members on committees that review NEH-funded fellowship applications.
- Recipient institutions must consult with NEH-funded fellows undertaking research outside the U.S. to ensure that the necessary passports, visas, or other required documents are secured for entry, residency, and permission to conduct research in foreign countries, as appropriate.
- Management and administrative (M&A) costs may not exceed 10% of your budget. You may request pre-award costs incurred no more than ninety days before the period of performance. Applicants incur pre-award expenditures at their own risk, and a recipient’s authority to approve such costs does not impose an obligation on NEH in the event an award is not made or is made for an amount that is less than the recipient anticipated.
Funding Information
- You may request up to $385,000 in outright funds and up to $180,000 in federal matching funds for a total award of up to $565,000.
- You must submit a budget reflecting total project costs. For example, if you request $100,000 in outright funds and $100,000 in federal matching funds, you must submit a budget totaling $300,000 ($100,000 in outright funds, $100,000 in federal matching funds, and $100,000 in required cost share for the federal matching funds).
- If you apply for the 2021 deadline, your period of performance must begin January 1, 2023 and end on or before June 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants must be a U.S. nonprofit institution with 501(c)(3) status, a state or local governmental agency, or a federally recognized Native American tribal government, and must meet the following criteria:
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- It must have established and maintained a fellowship program for at least the three years immediately preceding the application deadline for this program.
- It must be financed, governed, and administered independently of institutions of higher education. To demonstrate its independence, the applicant must meet the following conditions:
- It must be financially independent from institutions of higher education, with no single college or university contributing more than 49% to the applicant organization’s annual operating budget (including in-kind donations such as workspace, administrative support, etc.).
- It must be governed by its own board of trustees, with a majority of members from no single institution of higher education.
- It must be administered by a professional, independent chief executive officer or equivalent.
- Institutions of higher education, foreign and for-profit entities, and individuals are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333361