NEA Grant Application Process

In This Section

Updated March 26, 2025

On February 6, 2025, the National Endowment for the Arts announced that it is reviewing the recent executive orders and related documents to ensure compliance and provide the required reporting. Both the scope of what will be funded by the NEA and the compliance requirements for awardees are significantly changed. The NEA has not yet provided information about how new rules may or may not apply to NEA funding administered by states and localities.

FY2025
While deadlines for FY2025 major grant categories have closed, the NEA is midstream in the FY2025 grantmaking process. The first round of Grants for Arts Projects were announced on January 14, 2025, with a second major announcement planned for later this spring. The NEA has not made any further specific public announcement about plans for action on the FY2025 grants that were announced but are not yet fully contracted, nor about how the executive actions will impact consideration of all remaining FY2025 grantmaking. The next National Council on Arts meeting at which remaining FY25 could be considered for approval has been postponed to May 1, 2025.

FY2026
The NEA launched the FY2026 grant process in December 2024, and has now revoked the prior grant guidelines. Applicants that initiated an application under the prior guidelines must re-submit their request under the new guidelines. There are two new application deadlines for Part 1 (notice of intent to apply), which are now  March 11 and July 1. The NEA applicant portal portion of the March 11 GAP round, which is Step 2 of the application process, will remain open slightly longer and be available from March 14, 2025 9am ET through April 7, 2025 11:59pm ET.

On February 7, 2025, the NEA issued revised FY26 grant guidelines, following a  notification  that the agency would be releasing new deadlines, revised grant guidelines, and eligibility rules. The agency says the new grant guidelines have been issued in response to recent directives and to “streamline and simplify the application process and align with the agency’s  mission.”

The Challenge America grant opportunity is canceled for FY2026 and prospective applicants are instead encouraged to apply to Grants for Arts Projects.

Please read ALL of the following material when considering next steps in applying for NEA support:

• Revised FY26 NEA Grant Guidelines  
• Assurance of Compliance
  In a February 18 webinar, the NEA stated “In accordance with Executive Orders, we will not fund projects that include DEI activities.”
  
  While applicants will be required to certify that they will comply with “all applicable Executive Orders,” the NEA has not yet specified all of the current or future full array of orders that would apply. The National Council of Nonprofits has provided an overview of court action in response to a range of orders.
  
  Meanwhile, the NEA’s Assurance of Compliance requires applicants to certify compliance with Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity and Executive Order No. 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.
  
  On Friday, February 21, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in response to a case led by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, pausing implementation of EO 14173. On March 3, a federal judge in Maryland refused to halt the injunction, noting in the decision that the Administration’s policies must comply with the United States Constitution, and particularly in this case, free speech and due process rights. The Administration appealed the ruling, and on March 14 a decision by the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary injunction on the order while litigation continues, enabling the NEA to reinstate a requirement for grantees to certify compliance with order.  The League will keep orchestras informed of any corresponding changes to the NEA’s Assurance of Compliance language regarding EO 14173.
  
  On March 6, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts, challenging the requirement that all grant applicants certify that “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology,” citing the following violations:
  
  – First Amendment – Restricts artistic expression and imposes viewpoint-based discrimination by prohibiting funding for projects that address gender identity.
  – Fifth Amendment – Violates due process protections by imposing vague and arbitrary restrictions that applicants cannot clearly interpret or challenge, creating uncertainty about what programming is permitted and exposing applicants to potential funding claw backs or future disqualification without a fair process.|
  – Administrative Procedure Act (APA) – Arbitrarily changes grant eligibility requirements without proper public notice or comment, bypassing required procedures for federal rulemaking.
  
  The suit is filed on behalf of Rhode Island Latino Arts, the Theater Offensive, National Queer Theater, and Theatre Communications Group. Additionally, on February 19, the Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the National Urban League, National Fair Housing Alliance, and AIDS Foundation of Chicago challenging the two executive orders related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the EO 14168 on “gender ideology.” The NEA has updated its Assurance of Compliance language to explain that “pending the outcome of litigation in the United States District Court of Rhode Island, Case No.1:25-cv-00079-WES-PAS, the NEA is not currently requiring any grantee to make any “certification” or other representation pursuant to Executive Order 14168.”
  
  The full Assurance of Compliance includes prior rules regarding anti-discrimination requirements. Applicants should review the following U.S. code language, which includes more detailed information on how the NEA implements the terms of nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs. eCFR :: 45 CFR Part 1110 — Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs.
  
  The underlying prohibition on using NEA federal funds to “promote gender ideology” still remains the subject of pending court action. The next hearing date in the case is scheduled for March 27.
  
  The Assurance of Compliance includes the following new language related to executive orders:
  
  The applicant agrees that, if the applicant is selected and becomes a NEA grant recipient:
  • The applicant will comply with all applicable Executive Orders while the award is being administered.  Executive orders are posted at whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions.
  • The applicant’s compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the U.S. Government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code, pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, dated January 21, 2025. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the preliminary injunction issued on February 21, 2025, by the United State District Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 1:25-cv-00333-ABA, the NEA is not currently requiring any grantee or contractor to make any “certification” or other representation pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173. This term will not apply to your award as long as this preliminary injunction remains in effect.
  • The applicant will not operate any programs promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, in accordance with Executive Order No. 14173. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the preliminary injunction issued on February 21, 2025, by the United State District Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 1:25-cv-00333-ABA, the NEA is not currently requiring any grantee or contractor to make any “certification” or other representation pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173. This term will not apply to your award as long as this preliminary injunction remains in effect.
  • The applicant understands that federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology, pursuant to Executive Order No. 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. PLEASE NOTE: Pending the outcome of litigation in the United States District Court of Rhode Island, Case No.1:25-cv-00079-WES-PAS, the NEA is not currently requiring any grantee to make any “certification” or other representation pursuant to Executive Order 14168.
    
• It is also important to note the following from page 36 of the NEA grant guidelines:
  How can I make sure that my project is in compliance with Federal civil rights laws?
  Projects may reach a particular group or demographic (such as sex, disability, economic status, race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency), however, projects may not be exclusionary under Federal civil rights laws and policies prohibiting discrimination. This nondiscrimination requirement extends to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. Your application should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary. Please review the Assurance of Compliance which outlines the relevant federal statutes, NEA regulations, and executive orders.
• Music Application Instructions 
• Arts Education Application Instructions 
• NEA Frequently Asked Questions (Note that a more comprehensive FAQ is available on page 34 of the Grant Guidelines.)
• Applicant Resources and February 18 Webinar

To be fully prepared for the NEA grant application process, read the guidelines very carefully, and be in touch with a specialist to talk through your plans for preparing an application. Be aware that SAM validation is returning to Grants.gov. For the past five years during the pandemic, Grants.gov had not validated applicants’ SAM registration in the Part 1 portion but this is no longer the case and SAM must be active.

Please check this page for any further developments regarding the NEA grant process.