Opportunity Information: Apply for 20210929 RFW
The Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research grant opportunity is offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), specifically through its Division of Research Programs. It is a discretionary grant program designed to support hands-on, empirical research carried out in the field, whether the work takes place in the United States or in international locations. The central aim is to fund projects that use archaeological or ethnographic methods to answer questions that matter to the humanities, meaning projects should be framed around humanistic inquiry and interpretation rather than narrowly technical or purely scientific goals.
A key expectation built into the program is that the research will eventually be shared publicly through humanities-oriented outputs such as scholarly publications and other forms of dissemination (for example, interpretive media or related public-facing products). At the same time, the program is very explicitly structured to help cover the real, practical costs of doing fieldwork. Allowable support includes expenses like travel to and from field sites, lodging and other accommodation needs, field staff or local research assistance, field equipment necessary to carry out the work, and salary replacement for the project director as well as collaborating scholars. In other words, it is meant to make it feasible for scholars and research teams to spend sustained time in the field and to gather original evidence that can advance humanities knowledge.
The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number 20210929 RFW, and it uses the grant funding instrument. The funding activity category is Humanities (with reference to Cultural Affairs in CFDA), and it is associated with CFDA number 45.161. The award ceiling is $150,000 per award, and NEH anticipated making about 6 awards under this competition cycle. The program is administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of June 2, 2021, with an original application closing date of September 29, 2021.
Eligibility is broad and includes several types of organizations and public entities. Eligible applicants 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 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that particular nonprofit category). This mix of eligible applicants suggests the program is intended to support field research led by universities and colleges, as well as work conducted by museums, research nonprofits, tribal governments, and certain governmental entities that have a humanities research mission and the capacity to manage a federal-style grant.
Overall, the Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research program is best understood as NEH support for original, evidence-based humanities research that depends on fieldwork. It targets projects where being on site, working with communities, documenting cultural practices, excavating or surveying materials, or otherwise collecting primary field data is essential to answering the research question. The funding is structured to remove common logistical barriers to field research while keeping the focus on producing humanities insights that will ultimately be shared with scholarly and public audiences.Apply for 20210929 RFW
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research" 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 Jun 02, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 29, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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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Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research (NEH) - FAQs
What is the Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research grant?
The Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs. It supports hands-on, empirical research carried out in the field using archaeological or ethnographic methods.
Who offers and administers this grant program?
The program is offered and administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), specifically through its Division of Research Programs.
What kinds of projects is this grant intended to support?
This program is designed for field-based projects that rely on archaeological or ethnographic methods to answer questions that matter to the humanities. Projects are expected to be grounded in humanistic inquiry and interpretation, rather than being narrowly technical or purely scientific.
Does the fieldwork have to take place in the United States?
No. The opportunity supports field research conducted in the United States or in international locations, as long as the work fits the program's humanities-centered purpose.
What is the core purpose of the program?
The core aim is to fund original, evidence-based humanities research that depends on fieldwork to collect primary data (for example, on-site documentation, community-based ethnographic work, excavation, or survey). The research should lead to humanities knowledge and interpretation.
What outputs or results does NEH expect from funded projects?
A key expectation is that the research will eventually be shared publicly through humanities-oriented outputs. Examples mentioned include scholarly publications and other forms of dissemination such as interpretive media or related public-facing products.
What types of costs can the grant support?
The program is explicitly structured to help cover practical fieldwork costs. Allowable support includes travel to and from field sites, lodging and accommodations, field staff or local research assistance, field equipment needed to carry out the work, and salary replacement for the project director and collaborating scholars.
Is salary replacement an allowable expense under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity description indicates that salary replacement for the project director and collaborating scholars is an allowable cost.
Can the grant be used to pay for field staff or local research assistance?
Yes. Support may include field staff and local research assistance as part of the practical costs of conducting fieldwork.
Can the grant cover travel and lodging related to fieldwork?
Yes. The opportunity description explicitly lists travel to and from field sites and lodging/accommodation needs as supported expense types.
Can the grant pay for equipment needed for fieldwork?
Yes. Field equipment necessary to carry out the work is listed as an allowable type of support.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $150,000 per award.
How many awards does NEH expect to make?
NEH anticipated making about 6 awards under this competition cycle.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 20210929 RFW.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Humanities (with reference to Cultural Affairs in CFDA).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 45.161.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of June 2, 2021.
What was the original application closing date listed for this competition cycle?
The original application closing date listed is September 29, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes: state governments; county governments; 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 institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category).
Are universities and colleges eligible applicants?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are included in the eligibility list.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible (with the note that institutions of higher education are excluded from that particular nonprofit category).
Are government entities eligible applicants?
Yes. State, county, city or township, and special district governments are all included as eligible applicant types.
What kinds of fieldwork activities fit this program's focus?
The program targets projects where being on site and collecting primary field evidence is essential to answering the research question. Examples described include working with communities, documenting cultural practices, excavating or surveying materials, and otherwise collecting primary field data using archaeological or ethnographic methods.
How should a project be framed to align with NEH expectations?
The project should be framed around humanities questions and humanistic interpretation. The description emphasizes that the purpose is not narrowly technical or purely scientific; it is to advance humanities knowledge through field-based evidence and analysis.
Is this program meant to reduce practical barriers to fieldwork?
Yes. The opportunity is described as structured to remove common logistical barriers to field research by supporting real-world fieldwork expenses, while keeping the focus on producing humanities insights that can be shared with scholarly and public audiences.
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