Grant Review Process

LIFECYCLE OF AN APPLICATION

GUIDELINES AVAILABLE

Grant application guidelines and instructions are posted throughout the year on the NEA website as well at Grants.gov. Guidelines include: funding priorities, eligibility requirements, award amounts and cost-share requirements, review criteria, budget information, application questions, and legal and other reporting requirements.

APPLICATION SUBMITTED

Applications must be submitted electronically by the application deadline published in the grant application guidelines.

STAFF REVIEW

Applications are checked for completeness and eligibility by NEA staff.

PANEL REVIEW

Eligible applications are reviewed by advisory panels. Each panel comprises a group of arts experts and other individuals, including at least one layperson, with broad knowledge in the areas under review. Panel membership changes regularly, and panels must be conflict-free. Artistic excellence and artistic merit are the two primary review criteria specified by Congress in our authorizing legislation. The panel recommends the projects to be supported.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ARTS AND CHAIR REVIEW

NEA staff reconcile panel recommendations with available funds and forwards recommendations to the National Council on the Arts, where they are voted on in an open public session. The National Council on the Arts makes recommendations to the NEA Chair. The NEA Chair reviews the recommendations for grants in all funding categories and makes the final decision on all grant awards.

NOTIFICATION

Applicants are notified of funding decisions after the final decisions are made. Those recommended for funding will provide updated information about their project, including any changes based on the recommended funding amount. Any changes to the project are subject to NEA approval.

GRANT AWARD ISSUED

Grantees later receive an official grant award notification.

TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENTIALITY AT THE NEA

We seek to make our review process as transparent as possible, while protecting the confidentiality of applicants, panelists, staff, and Council members. Our advisory panel meetings are announced in the Federal Register and panelists’ names are reported annually through the Federal Advisory Committee Act database. The public may not, however, attend panel meetings or Council sessions in which confidential application information is discussed. The names of applicants are kept confidential except for those who receive grants. We announce the names of grantees on our website. Applicants not recommended for funding are notified.