The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 established two agencies: the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These organizations have been giving out grants to those in arts and humanities who need support in order to continue in their artistic or humanitarian endeavors. Both the National Foundation of Arts and Humanities are independent federal agencies that have been set up to bring arts and humanities to all Americans.

Before applying for a grant, ask yourself the following:

1. What is the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities?

2. When was the National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities founded?

3. What are the requirements needed to apply for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the history of the National Endowment on the Arts and Humanities

In order to know if your business qualifies to receive a grant from the National Endowment of Arts and Humanities, it's important to have information about the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These two organizations were set up to award those in arts and humanities because of excellence and career achievement.

I recommend: Visit the National Endowment for the Arts to learn about how it has funded museums, opera and ballet companies and other organizations throughout the United States. Go to the National Endowment for the Humanities to learn about this independent grant-giving organization, which gives grants to support research, education, and preservation of national parks and public sites, as well as other public programs in the humanities field.

Apply for a National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities grant

Both these organizations offer many different kinds of grants, and each has specific requirements and guidelines that must be followed in order to be considered a candidate. Gather info about the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities grants to assist you in receiving a grant.

I recommend: There is a directory of available grants at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities websites. You can either apply for your grants online or download a grant application package from either one of these sites.

Learn how to manage your grant from the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

Since it might be intimidating for a small arts or humanities organization to know how to manage its grant money, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities have information on their websites to help individuals and organizations learn how to manage their grant awards.

I recommend: Go to the National Endowment for the Arts' Manage Your Award webpage to find resources to help you manage your NEA grant. Visit the National Endowment for the Humanities' Grant Management webpage to find information about things such as financial reporting of rewards and other important things you need to know once you receive your grant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The grant approval process for grant applications for the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities can take time, so be patient.