MAJOR COLLABORATIVE ARCHIVAL INITIATIVES

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) invites applications for the Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives grant, aimed at enhancing the discovery and usage of historical records collections. These collections, which include documents, photos, digital records, and analog audio and video files, may cover diverse aspects of US history, from politics and social reform to the arts, military, business, and individual figures. Special attention will be given to projects promoting the voices and histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as those focusing on the developing discourse surrounding the nation’s founding ideals in line with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Applicants for the Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives grant must propose projects that digitize and publish online historical records from multiple repositories that center on a common theme or test new tools to enhance public access, particularly for digital records, in collaboration with multiple institutions. Projects that actively involve the public are strongly encouraged. The proposed project must deliver value from the collections, follow best practices, be adequately staffed, be cost-effective, and promote researcher engagement. If your project focuses on digitizing collections and requires less than $150,000 in grant funds, consult the Archival Projects program.

Grants will be awarded for one to three years, ranging between $150,000 and $350,000. Up to five grants are expected to be awarded, totaling up to $1,000,000, with the start date no sooner than January 1, 2025.

Eligible applicants include US nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, government agencies at the state or local level, and Native American tribes recognized at the state or federal level. Applications must include the required elements (SF424, Project Narrative, NHPRC Budget form, and Supplemental Materials). Failure to meet these criteria will lead to disqualification. Before applying, review the rules for NHPRC grants.

The grant requires cost-sharing, with the project’s total cost split between the NHPRC and the applicant. The applicant's contribution may incorporate direct and indirect expenses, in-kind contributions, third-party non-federal contributions, and income earned directly by the project. NHPRC doesn’t cover indirect costs. The maximum support provided is 50% of the total project costs.

The applicant organization must also be registered on the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. SAM registrations must also be current on Grants.gov. As registrations can take up to a month to process and no deadline extensions will be granted due to lack of registration, starting the process early is advisable. Detailed registration instructions can be found at https://sam.gov in the User Guides section.