Here Is A START-UP Grant Being Offered By The Government!

Individuals are invited to apply for this "Start-Up" Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively low-dollar grants during the planning stages, the goal is to identify projects that are particularly innovative and have the potential to make a positive impact on the humanities. In an effort to foster new collaborations and advance the role of cultural repositories in online teaching, learning, and research, this program is being co-sponsored by more than one agency. This grant program encourage library and museum officials as well as scholars, scientists, educational institutions, and other non-profit organizations to apply for these grants and to collaborate when appropriate. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities. To apply for this start up grant program your proposal / application may involve:

• research that brings new approaches or documents best practices in the study of the digital humanities
  
  
• planning and prototyping new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries' and museums' digital assets
  
  
• scholarship that examines the philosophical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies
  
  
• innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and/or new media
  
  
• new digital modes of publication facilitating the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels.

Innovation is a hallmark of this grant category. All applicants must propose an innovative approach, method, tool, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. These grants are modeled, in part, on the "high risk/high reward" paradigm often used by funding agencies in the sciences. This grant program is requesting proposals for projects that take some risks in the pursuit of innovation and excellence. Grants awarded should result in plans, prototypes, or proofs of concept for long-term digital humanities projects prior to implementation.

Two levels of awards will be made in this program. Level I awards are small grants designed to fund brainstorming sessions, workshops, early alpha-level prototypes, and initial planning.

Level II awards are larger grants that can be used for more fully-formed projects that are ready to start the first stage of implementation or the creation of working prototypes. Applicants must state in their narrative which funding level they seek. The Endowment will be setting aside funds for each of the two levels and more awards will be made in the Level I category. Applicants should carefully choose the funding level appropriate to the needs of the proposed project.

Eligible Applicants: Individuals

The deadline to apply: April 2, 2008

Maximum Grant Award: $50,000

If you would like to receive notifications of changes for this grant opportunity you can send your request via email. The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.

If you have questions about the program you can contact the Staff by email. Because the staff is dispersed across the agency, for a fast response please contact the program first by e-mail. Applicants wishing to speak to a staff member by telephone should provide in the e-mail a telephone number and a preferred time to call.