Opportunity Information: Apply for 20201202 RQ
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Research Programs, offered the Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations grant program (Funding Opportunity Number 20201202 RQ) to support major, collaborative editorial and translation projects in the humanities. The central aim of the opportunity is to fund teams working to produce high-quality scholarly editions and scholarly translations of foundational texts that matter for research, teaching, and public understanding, especially when those materials are currently hard to access or only available in outdated, incomplete, or otherwise inadequate editions or translations. In practice, the program is designed to help scholars make essential primary sources usable again by applying rigorous methods of editing, annotation, and translation so readers can interpret the texts accurately within their historical and intellectual contexts.
The kinds of materials supported are broad but clearly rooted in the humanities. Most commonly, projects focus on significant literary works, philosophical writings, and historical documents, particularly those that have shaped fields of study or represent major cultural and intellectual traditions. At the same time, NEH signals flexibility by noting that other formats can qualify when they require scholarly editorial treatment, including items such as musical notation. What ties eligible projects together is the need for expert scholarly intervention: establishing reliable texts, providing explanatory notes and context, and, where relevant, producing translations that meet modern scholarly standards.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the humanities (CFDA/Assistance Listing 45.161) with an award ceiling of $450,000 and an anticipated number of about 20 awards. It is structured for collaborative efforts rather than isolated individual work, reflecting the reality that producing authoritative editions and translations often requires specialized expertise across languages, historical periods, archival practices, and interpretive frameworks. The application cycle referenced in the provided information was created September 1, 2020, with an original closing date of December 2, 2020.
Eligibility is wide and includes many types of public-serving and research-capable institutions. Eligible applicants listed for this program include 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 IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). Overall, the opportunity is geared toward organizations able to manage multi-person scholarly projects and deliver durable editorial or translation products that significantly improve access to crucial humanities texts.Apply for 20201202 RQ
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.161.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 01, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 02, 2020. (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 $450,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NEH grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations grant program, offered through NEH's Division of Research Programs.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 20201202 RQ.
What is the main purpose of the Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations program?
The central purpose is to support major, collaborative editorial and translation projects in the humanities that produce high-quality scholarly editions and scholarly translations of foundational texts that matter for research, teaching, and public understanding.
What kinds of outcomes or products does this program support?
The program supports the creation of authoritative scholarly editions and/or scholarly translations. These projects typically include rigorous editing, annotation, and contextual scholarship so readers can interpret texts accurately within their historical and intellectual contexts.
Why does NEH emphasize editions and translations of hard-to-access texts?
The program is intended to make essential primary sources usable again, especially when the materials are hard to access or only available in outdated, incomplete, or otherwise inadequate editions or translations.
Is this grant meant for individual scholars or teams?
It is structured for collaborative efforts rather than isolated individual work, reflecting that producing authoritative editions and translations often requires specialized expertise across multiple areas.
What types of expertise might a collaborative project involve?
Based on the program description, projects often require specialized expertise across languages, historical periods, archival practices, and interpretive frameworks in order to establish reliable texts and provide accurate scholarly context.
What types of materials or sources are eligible for support?
The program supports a broad range of humanities materials, most commonly significant literary works, philosophical writings, and historical documents. NEH also notes that other formats can qualify when they require scholarly editorial treatment, including materials such as musical notation.
What makes a text or source a good fit for this program?
Eligible projects share a need for expert scholarly intervention, such as establishing a reliable text, providing explanatory notes and context, and producing translations that meet modern scholarly standards when relevant.
Does the program support translations only, or editions as well?
The program supports both scholarly editions and scholarly translations, including projects where translation is paired with scholarly editing and annotation.
What field or category does this grant fall under?
It is a discretionary grant program in the humanities.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 45.161.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $450,000.
How many awards does NEH anticipate making under this opportunity?
The anticipated number of awards is about 20.
When was this application cycle created and when did it close?
The cycle referenced was created on September 1, 2020, and the original closing date was December 2, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes 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 IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants (other than institutions of higher education).
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Are federally recognized tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
What type of organization is this grant geared toward?
The opportunity is geared toward organizations able to manage multi-person scholarly projects and deliver durable editorial or translation products that significantly improve access to crucial humanities texts.
What does NEH mean by "scholarly editorial treatment"?
In the description provided, scholarly editorial treatment refers to rigorous methods of establishing reliable texts, adding explanatory notes, supplying historical and intellectual context, and (when applicable) producing translations that meet modern scholarly standards.
Does NEH restrict projects to certain kinds of humanities content?
The materials supported are broad but clearly rooted in the humanities. The most common examples given are literary works, philosophical writings, and historical documents, with flexibility for other formats that require the same level of scholarly editing (such as musical notation).
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