Salmon P. Chase Center Receives $5 Million NEH Grant

The Salmon P. Chase Center announced a $5 million grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support planning and launching undergraduate civics programs and public initiatives.

The Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society announced it received a $5 million grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities' Division of Lifelong Learning. The center said the funding will support planning and launching three undergraduate civics programs, attract and retain multidisciplinary faculty, back public-facing initiatives and grow the Chase Society student program. The press release noted the funding will support courses such as Civics, Law and Leadership and Great Books and Classical Education Teaching. The center opened before the Autumn 2025 semester and its formation followed the passage of Senate Bill 117 in June 2024, which drew public attention. Key details: - The grant amount is $5 million, announced Jan. 15, from the NEH Division of Lifelong Learning. - The grant is designated to fund planning and launching three undergraduate civics programs, faculty recruitment and public-facing initiatives, and to expand the Chase Society student program. - The funding is reported to support academic courses including Civics, Law and Leadership; Great Books; and Classical Education Teaching. - The press release said this grant brings total received funds and gifts to $11 million, with an additional $28 million reported from supporters since the center opened. - The Chase Center also received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education last fall, according to prior reporting. Summary: The NEH grant is intended to support the Chase Center's expansion of civics coursework, faculty capacity and public programming, and the center has reported launching its first courses in Autumn 2025 with additional courses and a new minor announced before Spring 2026. Undetermined at this time.