Opportunity Information: Apply for 20230517 CHA
The Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Capital Projects program is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity run through NEH's Office of Challenge Programs. It is a discretionary grant program designed to strengthen the long-term ability of humanities organizations to serve the public by investing in major capital needs. The focus is on tangible, lasting infrastructure improvements that increase an institution's capacity to preserve humanities resources, present humanities programming, and expand humanities access over time.
This opportunity specifically supports capital project work such as purchasing property, planning and design, new construction, and the restoration or renovation of existing buildings and sites. NEH is looking for projects connected to places of national, historical, architectural, or cultural significance, as well as facilities that house humanities collections or are regularly used for humanities activities. In practical terms, this can include work on museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, cultural centers, and academic facilities where humanities collections are preserved and where research, teaching, exhibitions, and public programs take place.
A defining feature of the program is that it is structured as a challenge grant with matching requirements. Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and fundraising from nonfederal third parties, meaning applicants must raise related private or other nonfederal support as part of the overall financing plan. The intent is to pair NEH support with demonstrated institutional and community investment, so the capital improvement is not just a one-time construction project but part of a broader plan for financial stability and sustained humanities impact.
NEH emphasizes that proposals need to be grounded in careful strategic planning and should clearly show how the proposed capital investment will enhance the institution's long-term impact on the humanities. Successful applications generally need to connect the building project to mission-driven outcomes, such as improved preservation conditions for collections, expanded or improved public spaces for exhibitions and programs, better access for researchers and communities, and strengthened institutional resilience and capacity.
Eligible applicants cover a broad range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable). The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 45.130 and falls within the Humanities funding activity category (noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA contexts).
In the posted competition details, the award ceiling is up to $1,000,000, and NEH anticipated making about 15 awards. The funding opportunity number is 20230517-CHA, and the original closing date shown in the listing is May 17, 2023, with a creation date of February 17, 2023.Apply for 20230517 CHA
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Capital Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.130.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Capital Projects (NEH) - FAQs
What is the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Capital Projects program?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), administered through NEH's Office of Challenge Programs. The program supports major capital investments that strengthen the long-term ability of humanities organizations to serve the public.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program is designed to increase an institution's long-term humanities capacity through tangible, lasting infrastructure improvements. The goal is to enhance preservation of humanities resources, support humanities programming, and expand humanities access over time.
What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?
This opportunity supports capital project work, including purchasing property, planning and design, new construction, and restoration or renovation of existing buildings and sites.
Does the program only fund construction?
No. While construction can be supported, the opportunity also specifically includes planning and design activities, purchasing property, and restoration or renovation of existing facilities and sites.
What types of facilities are a good fit for this program?
NEH is looking for projects tied to places of national, historical, architectural, or cultural significance, and to facilities that house humanities collections or are regularly used for humanities activities. Examples mentioned include museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, cultural centers, and academic facilities where collections are preserved and where research, teaching, exhibitions, and public programs take place.
How does NEH define the impact it wants to see from a capital project?
NEH emphasizes long-term, mission-driven outcomes. Proposals are expected to show how the capital investment will strengthen the institution's enduring humanities impact, such as improving preservation conditions for collections, expanding or improving spaces for exhibitions and programs, increasing access for researchers and communities, and strengthening institutional resilience and capacity.
What is a challenge grant, and how is this program structured?
This program is structured as a challenge grant with matching requirements. Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and fundraising from nonfederal third parties, meaning applicants must raise related private or other nonfederal support as part of the overall financing plan.
What does the matching requirement mean for applicants?
Applicants must plan to secure nonfederal third-party support (such as private or other nonfederal sources) to pair with NEH funding. The program is designed to reflect demonstrated institutional and community investment in the project.
Why does NEH require matching funds for this program?
Based on the program description, the matching structure is intended to ensure NEH support is paired with broader institutional and community investment, so the capital improvement is part of a larger plan for financial stability and sustained humanities impact rather than a one-time construction effort.
What does NEH expect in terms of planning and readiness?
NEH emphasizes that proposals should be grounded in careful strategic planning and should clearly link the building or site project to the institution's long-term humanities goals and public-serving outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a broad range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants (with the note "excluding higher education institutions where applicable").
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types.
Are government entities eligible?
Yes. State, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments, are listed among eligible applicants.
Are federally recognized tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted competition details list an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000.
How many awards does NEH expect to make?
NEH anticipated making about 15 awards under the posted competition details.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 20230517-CHA.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 45.130.
What is the funding activity category?
The program falls within the Humanities funding activity category and is noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA contexts.
What was the closing date shown in the listing?
The original closing date shown in the listing is May 17, 2023.
When was the opportunity created (as listed)?
The listing shows a creation date of February 17, 2023.
What kinds of humanities benefits should applicants highlight?
Based on NEH's emphasis, applicants should connect the capital work to humanities outcomes such as improved preservation conditions for collections, stronger or expanded spaces for exhibitions and public programs, improved access for researchers and communities, and increased long-term institutional capacity to deliver humanities activities.
How does NEH describe the types of places and sites it wants to support?
NEH is looking for projects connected to places of national, historical, architectural, or cultural significance, as well as facilities that house humanities collections or are regularly used for humanities activities.
Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?
It is described as a discretionary grant program.
Which NEH office runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through NEH's Office of Challenge Programs.
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| BJA FY 23 Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program Apply for O BJA 2023 171627 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171627 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| BJA FY 23 Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Apply for O BJA 2023 171643 Funding Number: O BJA 2023 171643 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Archival Projects Apply for ARCHIVAL 202311 Funding Number: ARCHIVAL 202311 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions Apply for 20230809 RA Funding Number: 20230809 RA Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $565,000 |
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