ATALM/NEH Grant Allowable Activities-Funding Restrictions


Allowable Grant Activities
Funds are intended to support cultural organizations that provide humanities programming and who are facing hardships due to closures and economic impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Tribal cultural institutions may seek funding for the purpose of continuing core functions and activities, as well as conducting community outreach programs in areas of history, religion, language, philosophy, literature, arts, and politics.
  • Non-tribal institutions may seek funding for the purpose of creating humanities-based public programming in partnership with tribal cultural institutions. Applicants must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage, knowledge, and contributions of indigenous peoples and understand the historical and contemporary issues affecting indigenous peoples.

Examples of Allowable Activities Include

  • Operations, including rehiring furloughed employees
  • Controlled entry systems, sanitation stations, signage, and other health measures
  • Documenting cultural practice
  • New exhibits and programs as a way of reengaging the community
  • Online programming and exhibits

Funding Restrictions

  • Overlapping project costs with any other pending or approved application(s) for federal funding and/or approved federal awards
  • Competitive regranting
  • Cancellation costs
  • Pre-award costs incurred more than 90 days before the subrecipient’s period of performance
  • Equipment costs in excess of 20% of total project costs
  • Travel (both foreign and domestic)
  • Construction, purchase of real property, major alteration and renovation
  • Collections acquisition
  • The preservation, organization, or description of materials that are not regularly accessible for research, education, or public programming
  • Promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view
  • Advocacy of a particular program of social or political action
  • Support of specific public policies or legislation
  • Lobbying
  • Projects that fall outside of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences (including the creation or performance of art; creative writing, autobiographies, memoirs, and creative nonfiction; and quantitative social science research or policy studies)
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