Access to Historical Records: Archival Projects | ARCHIVAL 202110

Opportunity Information: Apply for ARCHIVAL 202110

The Access to Historical Records: Archival Projects grant, offered by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration, supports archival work that makes historical collections easier to discover and use online. The core goal is practical and public-facing: fund projects that improve how researchers, educators, and the general public find, understand, and access historical records through the web. A major emphasis is placed on strengthening online discovery tools and access pathways, rather than simply supporting custodial storage.

NHPRC is especially encouraging proposals focused on Americas early legal records, including colonial, territorial, county, and early statehood documentation, along with tribal proceedings that illuminate how legal systems and governance developed over time. In addition, the program highlights interest in projects that help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, particularly projects that use archival collections to explore the nations founding ideals and the long-running arguments, reinterpretations, and debates about those ideals across 250 years. Proposals that actively engage the public, support civic education, and deepen understanding of US history, democracy, and culture from the founding era to today are strongly aligned with the opportunity.

Funded projects must include at least one eligible archival activity aimed at preserving, processing, and expanding access to records. Supported activities include converting existing collection descriptions so they work well for online access, creating new online finding aids for collections that lack them, and digitizing historical records and making the digital content freely available online. The program is flexible about formats: eligible materials can include paper documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio or moving images, as long as the project plan clearly improves access and use.

Competitive applications are expected to do more than list tasks. They should make a clear case for why the collections matter, what audiences will benefit, and how the work will follow recognized best practices. Applicants need to show that staffing is appropriate to the scope (for example, qualified archivists, digital initiatives staff, metadata expertise, or contractors as needed), and that the workplan is realistic for the proposed timeline. The budget is also a key part of the evaluation: it should be cost-effective and directly tied to deliverables. NHPRC also wants projects to include outreach or engagement activities that bring researchers to the featured collections and, ideally, increase use of the repositorys broader holdings as well.

Awards are designed as short, outcome-driven projects lasting one to two years, with a maximum federal request (award ceiling) of 150,000. NHPRC expects to make up to 10 awards in this category, with up to 1,000,000 total across all grants. Grant recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publicity, publications, and any products created with grant assistance.

Eligibility covers a range of public and nonprofit entities, including nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities, state or local government agencies, and federally recognized or acknowledged, or state-recognized, Native American tribes or groups. To be considered, an application must both (1) include at least one of the eligible project activities described above and (2) include all required application components, specifically the SF-424, a narrative, the NHPRC budget form, and supplemental materials. Applications that fail either requirement are not reviewed. Applicants are also expected to consult NHPRC rules under guidance related to administering an NHPRC grant, including program limitations described in NHPRCs "What we do and do not fund" resource.

Cost sharing is required, meaning the total project cost must be split between NHPRC and the applicant. NHPRC will cover no more than 75 percent of total project costs, so the applicant must provide at least 25 percent through cash and/or allowable contributions. The applicants share can include direct or indirect expenses, in-kind support, non-federal third-party contributions, and project-generated income. A notable restriction is that NHPRC grant funds cannot be used for indirect costs under 2 CFR 2600.101; if the project includes indirect costs, they must be counted under the applicants cost share rather than charged to the federal portion. A simple example provided by the program is that requesting 75,000 in NHPRC funds requires at least 25,000 in cost share to reach a 100,000 total project budget.

Administrative requirements include registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, maintaining active registration through the review and award process, and including a valid DUNS number in the application (as stated in the opportunity materials). The funding listing identifies this opportunity as discretionary, using the grant instrument type, under CFDA 89.003, categorized in the humanities/cultural affairs area. The source record also lists key dates from the posted opportunity: it was created May 20, 2021, with an original closing date of October 6, 2021, and it is identified by Funding Opportunity Number ARCHIVAL 202110.

• 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: Archival Projects" 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 20, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 06, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.

Apply for ARCHIVAL 202110

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: