Research@UIC > Funding Opportunities > Finding Funding > Limited Competitions > NEH Challenge Grants

National Endowment for the Humanities: We the People Challenge Grants in United States History, Institutions, and Culture

Program Summary

NEH invites applications for We the People Challenge Grants in United States History, Institutions, and Culture. This grant opportunity, part of NEH’s We the People program, is designed to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for humanities activities that examine American history through the lens of the nation’s founding principles. Proposals must demonstrate how the challenge grant would strengthen the institution’s ability to explore significant themes and events in American history, so as to advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped, and been shaped by, American history and culture for more than two hundred years. NEH welcomes proposals for programs that not only articulate the theories of governance and assertions of human rights that have embodied the founding principles, but also lead to deeper exploration of how these principles have been tested and interpreted since the Founding Era.

Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds (that is, funds that are invested, with both the income and the principal being expended over a defined period of years) that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Funds may also be used to support one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly.

The requested grant amount should be appropriate to the humanities needs and the fund-raising capacity of the institution. The maximum federal portion of an NEH We the People challenge grant is $1,000,000. 

We the People challenge grants assist institutions in developing sources of support for humanities programs, and fund-raising is an integral part of the long-term planning required by the program. Persons raising the funds and those who will be directly responsible for the humanities programs should be fully involved in the planning from the outset. Except for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and two-year colleges, which are required to raise two times the federal amount, grant recipients must raise, from nonfederal donors, three times the amount of federal funds offered.

UIC is restricted to one application.

Additional Information 
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/wtpchallenge.html

Deadlines

Letter of Intent Instructions

• By submitting this form, applicant attests that s/he has read and meets the sponsor's eligibility criteria for this program. The LOI can be emailed to RDS@uic.edu, Attn: Chang Lee.
• OVCR may reserve submission slots for previously submitted but unfunded proposals that received highly competitive ratings from the external sponsor.    These will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Vice Chancellor. For consideration, scanned copies of your complete reviews (not just summary) must be included with LOI.

LOI form: http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/funding/forms/0600.doc

Depending upon the number of LOIs submitted, OVCR might be required to facilitate an internal peer review process to select UIC’s submission(s) to this program. White paper instructions will be issued to those submitting LOIs, if necessary.    

Please contact Chang Lee at clee10@uic.edu or 6-1961 with any questions.

Limited Competition Instructions
Submit one electronic (.pdf) copy containing the following information to rds@uic.edu by deadline noted above:

1. One (1) page cover sheet with following information:
1. Name, Departmental Affiliation, and contact information of PI
2. Sponsor and sponsor program name 
3. Title of White Paper proposal
4. Unit Business Manager or Grant Coordinator contact information


2. Three page summary proposal (incorporating all figures, diagrams, and drawings) which includes following:
1. Self-assessment – description of most significant research contribution to date, highlighting the most innovative and novel aspects of your proposed research. Describe a risky or creative approach you may use in pursuit of your goals. No more than 1 page.
2. Description of proposed research. This should include
1. statement of the project to be undertaken
2. aims and objectives methods
3. potential significance
4. description of how project fits applicant’s “big picture” plans – do not be concerned to delineate a separate non-overlaping project as this scholarship is meant to support your overall research program.

3. Attach the following for PI:
1. 2 page CV. 
2. 1 to 2-page list of publications – list only complete articles published or in press. Abstracts may be separately listed, but do not include abstracts covering work that appears in published papers.

4. Optional (to be included in transmittal email, not on white paper itself): 
1. Identify potential individuals to review proposal - reviewers should not have a personal stake in outcome of this competition.
2. Identify reviewers to exclude - this information will remain confidential.

Please contact Chang Lee at clee10@uic.edu or 6-1961 with any questions.

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