The Collaborative Research program, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), funds teams of scholars working together on projects that advance humanistic knowledge. These collaborations may focus on a single discipline or adopt an interdisciplinary approach, often integrating perspectives from the natural or social sciences while maintaining a core focus on humanities research methods. Projects are expected to lead to significant scholarly outputs, such as a co-authored book, a themed journal issue, a series of peer-reviewed articles, or digital resources such as an open-access website. This program specifically encourages projects that involve multiple viewpoints, contribute to new lines of inquiry, and produce sustainable, tangible outputs in the humanities.

The program permits international partnerships, though teams must have substantial participation from scholars based at U.S. institutions. Eligible projects must fall within one of four designated categories: Planning International Collaboration, Convening, Manuscript Preparation, or Scholarly Digital Projects. Each category has specific funding limits and project timelines, with applicants required to select only one category for their proposal. The maximum award ranges up to $250,000; however, projects involving a community college or a designated Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) may request up to $300,000, provided they allocate at least the additional funding amount to the qualifying institution.

Projects may span up to three years, depending on the funding category, and the output should align with NEH’s objective of fostering research that contributes meaningfully to humanities scholarship. Examples of acceptable outcomes include books, peer-reviewed articles, digital publications, and websites. Additionally, projects can explore themes related to artificial intelligence (AI) through the NEH’s Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence initiative, which supports investigations into AI's ethical, legal, and societal implications.

Applications for the 2024 grant cycle will open on August 7, 2024. Applicants may submit an optional draft by September 18, 2024, for preliminary feedback, following the provided draft template. The final application deadline is November 20, 2024. NEH anticipates notifying successful applicants by August 31, 2025, with funded projects commencing either on October 1, 2025, or September 1, 2026.

In preparing applications, applicants should observe the updated guidelines, including a reduction in the Narrative attachment’s length from eleven to ten pages. Additional requirements apply for those requesting extra funds for Manuscript Preparation or Scholarly Digital Projects involving community colleges or MSIs. These applicants must direct at least the amount of additional funding requested to the eligible institution(s).

It is essential to note that projects awarded from October 1, 2024, onward will adhere to revisions in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200). These changes, detailed on the NEH website, should be integrated into applications where applicable. Interested applicants should consult Grants.gov to apply and can access additional resources, including application instructions and templates, through the NEH website.