Opportunity Information: Apply for PRELIM 202001
The Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives grant is a funding opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration, aimed at projects that meaningfully expand the public's ability to discover, access, and use major historical records collections. The program is broadly open to many formats of historical material, including paper-based documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio or moving image formats. While many types of records are eligible, NHPRC highlights a particular interest in early American legal records, including colonial, territorial, county, early statehood, and tribal proceedings that help document how the nation's legal systems developed over time.
The types of projects NHPRC wants to support focus on access at scale and on real-world usability. Funded work may include digitizing significant historical records (or closely related collections) held by a single institution and putting them online for free public use. It may also include efforts to provide access to born-digital collections, which often require specialized workflows for appraisal, processing, description, and delivery. Another major emphasis is building virtual collections that pull together related materials from multiple institutions into a single freely available online resource, helping users find dispersed records without needing to know which repository holds what. NHPRC also invites proposals that create new tools, platforms, or methods that improve how users search, navigate, interpret, or reuse historical records, especially where those solutions could be adopted elsewhere.
Collaboration is strongly encouraged, particularly when it helps unite connected records that are scattered across repositories. Competitive applications tend to be those that address widely recognized access problems in the archives and records field and that produce approaches that are replicable and scalable, meaning the methods or infrastructure could be reused by other institutions or expanded beyond the initial project. NHPRC also signals that public engagement matters, and applicants are encouraged to build in ways for the public to participate in or benefit from the work beyond passive access, such as through community input, educational outreach, or other engagement strategies that fit the nature of the collections.
Awards in this category support projects lasting between one and three years, with grant amounts ranging from $100,000 to $350,000. NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards, with a total program amount of up to $1,000,000 for the competition cycle described. Grant-funded work under this opportunity was scheduled to begin no earlier than January 1, 2021. Recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and other products that result from the grant, which typically includes websites, digital collections portals, reports, finding aids, tools, and outreach materials created with grant funding.
Eligibility covers a range of organizations that commonly steward historical records. Applicants may include nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities (both public and private), state or local government agencies, and federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups. The program is categorized as discretionary grant funding in the humanities/cultural affairs space (CFDA 89.003), and it is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration under the NHPRC.
A key requirement is cost sharing. NHPRC will pay no more than 50 percent of the total project costs for Major Initiatives, so applicants must supply the remaining share through their own funds or allowable contributions. The applicant's cost share can include a combination of direct costs, indirect costs contributed by the applicant, in-kind support, eligible third-party non-federal contributions, and income generated directly by the project. One important restriction is that NHPRC funds cannot be used for indirect costs under this program; if indirect costs are part of the project budget, they must be covered as part of the applicant's cost share, consistent with the cited federal regulation (2 CFR 2600.101).
There are also basic federal application compliance steps applicants must follow. The applicant organization must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying and must keep that registration active throughout the application and award process. A valid DUNS number must be included as part of the application package (as described in the opportunity materials). For the preliminary application, NHPRC requires at minimum three components: the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), a project narrative explaining the work and outcomes, and a budget. Applications missing any of these required elements are not considered, and proposals focused entirely on activities NHPRC deems ineligible will be removed from review. Applicants are also directed to consult NHPRC's published guidance on what it does and does not fund, and to note that a separate Access to Historical Records Archival Projects program exists with different award amounts and requirements, which may be a better fit depending on scope.Apply for PRELIM 202001
- The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 89.003.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 16, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives - FAQs
What is the Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives grant?
It is a funding opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration, designed to support projects that meaningfully expand the public's ability to discover, access, and use major historical records collections.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program focuses on improving public access to historical records at scale, with an emphasis on real-world usability. Supported projects are expected to make it easier for the public to find, use, and benefit from significant historical collections through free online access, improved discovery, or new access tools and methods.
What kinds of historical materials are eligible?
The opportunity is broadly open to many formats of historical material, including paper-based documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio or moving image formats.
Is NHPRC interested in any specific subject areas?
Yes. While many types of records are eligible, NHPRC highlights particular interest in early American legal records, including colonial, territorial, county, early statehood, and tribal proceedings that document the development of legal systems over time.
What types of projects does NHPRC want to support under Major Initiatives?
NHPRC emphasizes projects that deliver access at scale and that users can practically navigate and reuse. Examples described in the opportunity include digitizing major collections and providing free online access, providing access to born-digital collections using specialized workflows, creating virtual collections that unite dispersed materials across institutions into one free online resource, and developing new tools, platforms, or methods that improve how users search, navigate, interpret, or reuse historical records.
Does the program support digitization projects?
Yes. One type of supported work is digitizing significant historical records (or closely related collections) held by a single institution and making them available online for free public use.
Are born-digital records within scope?
Yes. NHPRC notes that born-digital collections often require specialized workflows for appraisal, processing, description, and delivery, and projects that address those needs can fit this opportunity.
What is meant by a "virtual collection" in this program?
A virtual collection is an online resource that pulls together related materials from multiple institutions into a single freely available site or portal, helping users find records that are dispersed across repositories without needing to know in advance where each item is held.
Are collaborative projects encouraged?
Yes. Collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially when it helps unite connected records that are scattered across multiple repositories.
What makes an application competitive based on the description provided?
Competitive applications tend to address widely recognized access problems in the archives and records field and produce approaches that are replicable and scalable, meaning the methods, workflows, or infrastructure can be reused by other institutions or expanded beyond the initial project.
Does NHPRC expect public engagement to be part of the project?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that public engagement matters and encourages applicants to include ways for the public to participate in or benefit from the work beyond passive access, such as community input, educational outreach, or other engagement strategies appropriate to the collections.
How long can projects last?
Awards in this category support projects lasting between one and three years.
What is the funding range for an individual award?
Grant amounts for Major Initiatives range from $100,000 to $350,000.
How many awards were anticipated for the cycle described?
NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards for the competition cycle described.
What is the total program funding amount mentioned for the cycle?
The opportunity describes a total program amount of up to $1,000,000 for that competition cycle.
When could grant-funded work begin?
Grant-funded work under this opportunity was scheduled to begin no earlier than January 1, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities (public and private), state or local government agencies, and federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups.
Which federal body administers this program?
The program is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration through the NHPRC.
What is the program type and CFDA number listed?
It is categorized as discretionary grant funding in the humanities/cultural affairs space, identified as CFDA 89.003.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is a key requirement for Major Initiatives.
What is the cost share ratio for Major Initiatives?
NHPRC will pay no more than 50 percent of the total project costs. The applicant must provide the remaining share through allowable sources.
What can count toward the applicant's cost share?
The applicant's share may include a combination of direct costs, indirect costs contributed by the applicant, in-kind support, eligible third-party non-federal contributions, and income generated directly by the project.
Can NHPRC funds be used for indirect costs?
No. NHPRC funds cannot be used for indirect costs under this program. If indirect costs are included in the overall project budget, they must be covered as part of the applicant's cost share, consistent with 2 CFR 2600.101.
What registrations or identifiers are required to apply?
The applicant organization must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying and must keep that registration active throughout the application and award process. A valid DUNS number must also be included as part of the application package, as described in the opportunity materials.
What are the minimum required components for the preliminary application?
NHPRC requires, at minimum, three components for the preliminary application: the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), a project narrative explaining the work and outcomes, and a budget.
What happens if a preliminary application is missing required components?
Applications missing any of the required elements are not considered.
What happens if a proposal focuses entirely on ineligible activities?
Proposals focused entirely on activities NHPRC deems ineligible will be removed from review.
Does NHPRC provide guidance on what it funds and does not fund?
Yes. Applicants are directed to consult NHPRC's published guidance on what it does and does not fund.
Are there related NHPRC programs that might be a better fit for some projects?
Yes. The opportunity notes a separate Access to Historical Records Archival Projects program with different award amounts and requirements, which may be a better fit depending on project scope.
Are recipients required to acknowledge NHPRC support?
Yes. Recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and other products resulting from the grant. This typically includes websites, digital collections portals, reports, finding aids, tools, and outreach materials created with grant funding.
What kinds of products or deliverables are mentioned as typical outcomes?
Examples listed include websites, digital collections portals, reports, finding aids, tools, and outreach materials created with grant funding, as well as online access to digitized or born-digital historical records.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
Next opportunity: FY 2019 Day of Service Grants
Previous opportunity: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PRELIM 202001
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PRELIM 202001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Public Engagement with Historical Records Apply for ENGAGEMENT 201910 Funding Number: ENGAGEMENT 201910 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Apply for 20190716 PW Funding Number: 20190716 PW Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions Apply for 20190821 RA Funding Number: 20190821 RA Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| Citizen Narrative Campaign Apply for STATE BISHKEK PAS 19 0003 Funding Number: STATE BISHKEK PAS 19 0003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $270,000 |
| Romania: Learning the History of Communism Apply for BUCHAREST PAS FY19 03 Funding Number: BUCHAREST PAS FY19 03 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Romania Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| Romania: Mock Elections - Voting Matters Apply for BUCHAREST PAS FY19 04 Funding Number: BUCHAREST PAS FY19 04 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Romania Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $12,000 |
| Media Projects Apply for 201900814 TD TR Funding Number: 201900814 TD TR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Summer Stipends Apply for 20190925 FT Funding Number: 20190925 FT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $6,000 |
| Romania: Poetry Competition – Life Under Communism Apply for BUCHAREST PAS FY19 07 Funding Number: BUCHAREST PAS FY19 07 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Romania Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Short Documentaries Apply for 20190814 TT Funding Number: 20190814 TT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Public Humanities Projects Apply for 20190814 BP BR GE GG GI Funding Number: 20190814 BP BR GE GG GI Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Journalism Summer School Apply for DOSRUS 19 CA 011 Funding Number: DOSRUS 19 CA 011 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| American History and Civics Education: National Convenings Apply for 20190812 AH Funding Number: 20190812 AH Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Dialogues on the Experience of War Apply for 20191015 AV Funding Number: 20191015 AV Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Sugpiaq Significant Places, Oral Histories, and Qayak Building for Kenai Fjords National Park Apply for P19AS00464 Funding Number: P19AS00464 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| AHTNA Ethnographic Overview and Assessment Apply for P19AS00480 Funding Number: P19AS00480 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Anza Expedition Film Apply for P19AS00513 Funding Number: P19AS00513 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $47,200 |
| Human Rights and Xinjiang Awareness Apply for BER NOFO FY19 003 Funding Number: BER NOFO FY19 003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Inventory and Assessment of NPS Alaska Archaeological Collections at the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University Apply for P19AS00574 Funding Number: P19AS00574 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $560,530 |
| Utah Historic Irrigation Project Apply for BOR UC 19 N00 Funding Number: BOR UC 19 N00 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $401,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PRELIM 202001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.