Curriculum Development: Western Civilization

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is accepting applications for the Curriculum Development: Western Civilization program. The purpose of this program is to support formal education by strengthening the teaching and study of the humanities at institutions of higher education. For 2026, projects must be focused on Western civilization, American history, American government and civics, and/or the Great Books tradition. The program will provide funding in the form of grants, with a maximum award amount of $750,000. The period of performance is between one and three years, with a start date between March 1, 2027, and June 1, 2027. Eligible applicants are U.S.-accredited public or 501(c)(3) private institutions of higher education. • The program aims to develop or enhance programs, resources, or courses that explore, interpret, and preserve the diversity of human cultures, ideas, and practices. • Projects may take a variety of approaches to the topic(s), drawing on fields such as philosophy, history, languages and literature, political science, archaeology, and classics. • Previous NEH grant recipients in similar programs have used funds to create or enhance humanities courses, partner with local museums or libraries, develop and revise majors or minors, and offer professional development opportunities. • The program requires a comprehensive narrative, work plan, and other supporting documents as part of the application.