Application Deadline: March 8, 2023 We strongly recommend that you submit your application no later than March 3, 2023 to give yourself ample time to resolve any problems you might encounter. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 8, 2023. You take a significant risk by waiting until the day of the deadline to submit. Late applications will not be accepted.

These application guidelines provide all of the information you will need to submit an application. Please read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the application process. We suggest you keep them open while you complete your application as they contain links to information you will need.

Electronic application through Grants.gov is mandatory. If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A waiver will be granted for the following reasons only:

• Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
• Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Your waiver request must be in writing and must be received at the National Endowment for the Arts at least three weeks before the application deadline. Click here for more information on waivers.

To Apply:

Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov
Step 2: Go to the grant opportunity package
Step 3: Follow the application instructions
Step 4: Submit your electronic application

Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov

Before submitting an application to the NEA, you must register or renew your registration with Login.gov and Grants.gov. It is your responsibility to create and maintain this registration. Registration is a one-time process, which can take a day or more to complete. To allow time to resolve any issues that may arise, we strongly advise that you do not wait until the day of the application deadline to register. You will not be able to submit your application if you fail to successfully register with Login.gov and Grants.gov.

Important: You must use a unique-to-you email address for Login.gov (for example: jane.doe@email.com). This should not be an email account that is shared by multiple people or an account affiliated with a particular job role (for example: development@abc.org).

New Applicants:

1. Register with Login.gov
   • Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. This account will allow you to access many government websites, including Grants.gov.
2. Register with Grants.gov
   • Go to Register and click the red button that says “Get Registered Now” at the bottom of the screen.
   • Next, fill out the contact information, choose a Username and Password, and then click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen.
   • Grants.gov will email you a temporary code to verify your email address. Enter this code where instructed on the Registration page
   • Under the “How would you like to proceed?” heading, be sure to select the Add Individual Applicant Profile option to apply for funding opportunities on your own behalf. See here for more information on adding a profile.
3. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
   • Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts, this is a one-time action.
   • After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password to sign in to Grants.gov.

Returning Applicants

1. If you have not already created a Login.gov account, go to Create an account
2. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
   • Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts, this is a one-time action.
   • After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password to sign in to Grants.gov.

The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:

• Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online form to submit a question.
• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Maintain documentation (e.g., screenshots with dates, emails with Grants.gov Support, etc.) of your efforts to register before the deadline.

Step 2: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package

Access the application package on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below.

GO TO GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE [Funding Opportunity Number: 2023NEA03LFCW]

1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in Grants.gov.

2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.

3. You will be prompted to enter your Login.gov Username and Password.

4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:

   • Fill in the Application Filing Name field with your legal name, then
   • Click the Create Workspace button.

5. Upon a successful creation, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where you can begin working on the application.

6. You can access each required form online by clicking “Webform” OR you can download the forms to your computer by clicking “Download”.

   If you decide to download the forms, you will first need to verify your PDF software. To download the forms, you must have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov installed on your computer. Go to "Adobe Software Tip Sheet" to see the compatible versions of Adobe Reader or to download and install Adobe Reader. See important information about versions of Adobe Reader DC here.

   The required forms are:

   • Application for Federal Domestic Assistance - Individual Form
   • Attachments Form

7. Complete the application based on the Application Instructions (Step 3).

Step 3: Follow the Application Instructions

Prepare your application materials for Grants.gov. Detailed instructions can be found here.

Step 4: Submit Your Application to Grants.gov

Electronically submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance– Individual and required attachments through Grants.gov.

1. Check the size of your electronic application. The total size should not exceed 10 MB.

2. To begin the submission process, log on to Grants.gov and go to the Forms tab on the Manage Workspace page. Click the “Sign and Submit” button under the Forms tab.

   Be certain that you are satisfied with your application before you click the “Sign and Submit” button. No revisions to your application are possible through Grants.gov once it is submitted. After submission, the only way to update items in your application is to create a new application by repeating steps 2-4. The NEA will only review your most recently submitted application.

3. Once you complete and submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen explaining that your submission is being processed. Take a screenshot of this confirmation screen and save it for your records. Retain the Grants.gov Tracking Number that you receive in the application submission confirmation screen.

4. Verify that your application was validated by the Grants.gov system. Go to Track My Application to confirm the validation and track the progress of your application submission through Grants.gov. Do not wait until the day of the deadline to verify your submission in case you encounter any difficulties. We will not accept late applications.

   Note: Acceptance and validation by Grants.gov does not imply that the applicant has uploaded the proper attachments. Before submitting your application, double check that you have attached everything correctly.

IMPORTANT: Your application will receive an automatic rejection without panel review if:

• One or more required forms or attachments are missing.
• Your writing sample does not meet the minimum page requirement of 20 pages.
• Your name or other identifying information appears in your manuscript.
• Incorrect or insufficient publication information is provided in your Summary of Applicant Publications.
• You have already received two or more fellowships from the NEA.
• You have received any National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (in poetry or prose) or Translation Fellowship on or after January 1, 2015 (FY 2015).
• You have not submitted acceptable Final Reports to the NEA by their due date(s) for previous fellowship(s).
• You are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• You must not have an exclusion record in SAM.gov that excludes you from receiving federal financial assistance. Exclusions are also referred to as suspensions and debarments. Awards cannot be issued to an excluded individual. See https://sam.gov/content/exclusions to search the SAM Exclusions database.