Understanding the NEH Review Process
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) conducts more than 200 review panels annually, evaluating around 5,700 applications across 40 grant programs. With a diverse pool of scholars and experts, NEH assigns applications to panels consisting of 3-6 evaluators, carefully selected for their expertise. The review process has four integrated levels ensuring a thorough evaluation before funding decisions are made.
Level I: Panel Review
NEH program officers assign applications to panels based on academic discipline and project type. Evaluators access applications online weeks before panel meetings to provide initial ratings such as Excellent, Very Good, and Good. Panel discussions in Washington, DC, allow evaluators to adjust ratings based on collective insights. Evaluators are focused on criteria like humanities significance, feasibility, and applicant qualifications.
Level II: NEH Staff Review
After panel evaluations, NEH staff synthesizes results, summarizes evaluator feedback, and recommends the most meritorious applications ensuring consistent quality across panels. These recommendations are presented to NEH's National Council on the Humanities for further review and discussion.
Level III: The National Council on the Humanities
Comprising twenty-six distinguished members, the National Council meets three times a year in Washington, DC, to advise the NEH chair on agency policies and grant applications. Council members scrutinize staff recommendations, deliberate on individual applications, and finalize their suggestions to the chair during plenary sessions. The Council plays a pivotal role in shaping NEH's funding decisions.
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