Collaborative Research

The National Endowment for the Humanities Division of Research is soliciting applications for the 2026 Collaborative Research program under solicitation number 20260916-RZ. This program supports groups of two or more scholars advancing humanistic knowledge through the preparation of manuscripts for print publication, the creation of scholarly digital projects, or the planning of international collaborations. Eligible projects must focus on American history and culture from the Colonial Era to the present or Western civilization from antiquity to the present. The agency intends to award approximately 15 grants with a total funding pool of 2.5 million dollars. Funding is divided into three categories: Planning International Collaboration, which provides up to 50,000 dollars for projects lasting six to twelve months; and Manuscript Preparation and Scholarly Digital Projects, which provide up to 250,000 dollars for projects lasting one to three years. For the latter two categories, funding is capped at 100,000 dollars for the first and second years and 50,000 dollars for the third year, with an additional 6,000 dollars available for digital open-access fees. Projects must start between November 1, 2027, and August 1, 2028. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, governments, or tribal entities with an active SAM registration and a Unique Entity Identifier. The application deadline is September 16, 2026, and submissions must be made via Grants.gov Workspace. Evaluation is based on a peer review process focusing on intellectual significance, methods and execution, the quality of collaboration, the feasibility of the work plan, and the soundness of the dissemination and access plans. Required documentation includes a project team list, a ten-page narrative, a work plan, a bibliography, and resumes for all project team members.