The Public Scholars program, administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), supports individual authors in the research, writing, and publication of nonfiction books in the humanities aimed at a broad general audience. The program is open to writers with or without academic affiliations, and it places particular emphasis on projects that make specialized knowledge accessible and engaging to the public. These books must be grounded in authoritative scholarship and written in an accessible style that clearly explains complex terms and concepts. Applicants may work on projects at any stage of development, including manuscript completion and research. The program welcomes digital or web-based products that supplement the proposed book.

The program seeks to foster deeper engagement with the humanities by encouraging non-academic writers to strengthen the research foundations of their works and by motivating academic scholars to communicate their findings to wider audiences. In celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, the 2025-26 cycle especially encourages proposals that promote a deeper understanding of American heritage. Topics may range across American history, culture, and government from the Colonial Era to the present, exploring how founding ideals have been realized, the evolution of democracy, and significant cultural influences.

Funding is offered in the form of stipends up to $60,000 for twelve months of full-time work, with a minimum award of $30,000 for six months. Applicants may work full-time or part-time, but must dedicate at least half-time effort to the proposed project throughout the performance period. Awards are outright grants and do not require cost sharing or matching funds. Approximately $1.5 million is allocated for each application deadline, with about 25 awards anticipated per cycle. The 2024 application deadline is August 28, 2024, and the 2025 deadline is August 6, 2025. Projects must start between June 1 of the following year and October 1 of the subsequent year.

Eligibility is limited to individuals who are U.S. citizens or foreign nationals who have resided in the U.S. for at least three years prior to the application deadline. Applicants must have previously published either a nonfiction book with a university or trade press or at least three nonfiction essays or articles in general-interest publications with national or international reach. Individuals currently enrolled in a degree program or seeking funding for dissertation or thesis revisions are not eligible.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and must include a detailed narrative, work plan, bibliography, résumé, and a writing sample. Optional documents include a letter of interest from a publisher and an explanation of any delinquent federal debt, if applicable. Letters of reference are required, with NEH contacting references directly after submission. Submissions must comply with formatting and page limit requirements to be considered.

Proposals will be evaluated by peer reviewers using five main criteria: the appeal and intellectual significance of the proposed book for general readers, the applicant’s record of research and public engagement, the quality of the project conception and research foundation, writing clarity, and the feasibility and reach of the dissemination plan. Awards will be announced in April following the submission year, and recipients must submit a final performance report within 120 days after the project ends. Contact information for program and administrative questions is provided by NEH’s Division of Research Programs and Office of Grant Management.