The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) organization has created a new grant program that supports well-researched books in the humanities.

The new NEH Public Scholar awards encourage the publication of nonfiction books that apply serious humanities scholarship to subjects of general interest and appeal. Books supported through this program might present a narrative history, tell the stories of important individuals, analyze significant texts, provide a synthesis of ideas, revive interest in a neglected subject, or examine the latest thinking on a topic. They also should open up important and appealing subjects for wider audiences by presenting significant humanities topics in a way that is accessible to general readers.

"At the Endowment we take very seriously the idea, expressed in our founding legislation, that the humanities belong to all the people of the United States," NEH Chairman William D. Adams said in a statement. "In announcing the new Public Scholar program we hope to challenge humanities scholars to think creatively about how specialized research can benefit a wider public."

The NEH Public Scholar program represents a long-term commitment at NEH to encourage scholarship in the humanities for general audiences. The grant program forms part of a new agency-wide initiative, The Common Good: The Humanities in the Public Square, which seeks to demonstrate and enhance the role and significance of the humanities and humanities scholarship in public life.  

The Public Scholar program is open to both independent scholars and individuals affiliated with scholarly institutions. It offers a stipend of $4,200 per month for a period of six to twelve months. The maximum stipend is $50,400 for a twelve-month period.

Applicants must have previously published a book or monograph with a university or commercial press, or articles and essays that reach a wide readership.