Opportunity Information: Apply for PRELIM 201901
Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives (Preliminary) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration, designed to substantially improve how the public discovers and uses major historical records collections. The program is aimed at projects that make historically significant materials easier to find, access, and work with, with a particular emphasis on early American legal records. This includes documentation from colonial and territorial eras, county and early statehood government, and tribal proceedings that together show how law and governance developed in the United States. The program is not limited to paper documents; it explicitly supports a wide range of formats such as photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio or moving image materials.
The types of projects NHPRC is looking to fund are focused on increasing access at scale and delivering practical results for researchers and the general public. Competitive proposals may involve digitizing a major collection held by a single institution and putting it online for free public access, improving access to born-digital records that are otherwise difficult to use, or building new virtual collections that bring together related historical records from multiple institutions into one freely available online resource. The program also supports the creation of new tools, platforms, workflows, or methods that help users discover and use records more effectively. NHPRC signals that it values projects that address widely shared challenges in the archival and historical records field and that produce approaches others can replicate and scale, not just one-off solutions tailored to a single repository.
Collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially when it helps reunite related materials that are scattered across multiple institutions. The opportunity also encourages applicants to build in meaningful public engagement, suggesting that projects should not only place content online but also consider how communities, educators, and researchers will interact with the work and benefit from it. Applicants are cautioned to review NHPRC limits on what it will and will not fund; applications made up entirely of ineligible activities will be rejected without review. The notice also points applicants to a separate NHPRC program, Access to Historical Records: Archival Projects, which has different requirements and award levels, implying that this Major Initiatives category is meant for larger, more ambitious efforts.
Awards are intended to support projects lasting one to three years, with grant requests ranging from $100,000 to $350,000 (the award ceiling is $350,000). NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards in this category, with total funding up to $1,000,000. The earliest start date listed is January 1, 2020. Recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and any products created with grant assistance, which typically includes project websites, digital collections portals, reports, educational materials, and other public outputs.
Eligibility is broad across the public and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits), colleges and universities (public or private), state and local government agencies (including county and city/township governments), and federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups. The funding activity is categorized under humanities/cultural affairs (CFDA 89.003), reflecting its purpose in preserving and expanding access to historically important records rather than supporting purely administrative records management.
A key requirement is cost sharing. NHPRC will fund no more than 50 percent of the total project costs in this Major Initiatives category, meaning the applicant must provide the remaining share through a combination of cash and allowable contributions. The applicant match may include direct costs, in-kind support, indirect expenses contributed by the applicant, non-federal third-party contributions, and any program income earned directly by the project. However, applicants cannot charge indirect costs to the NHPRC grant funds themselves; indirect costs, if claimed, must appear as part of the applicant’s cost share. This is tied to the federal restriction cited in 2 CFR 2600.101.
On the administrative side, applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, must keep that registration active throughout the submission and award process, and must include a valid DUNS number in the application. The preliminary application package is required to include three core components: the Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), a project narrative describing what will be done and why it matters, and a budget. Applications missing any of these elements will not be considered, and proposals that fall outside eligibility or include only ineligible activities will not move forward for review. The original closing date listed for this preliminary opportunity was January 17, 2019, under funding opportunity number PRELIM 201901.Apply for PRELIM 201901
- 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 (Preliminary)" 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 Jun 18, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 17, 2019. (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:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives (Preliminary)" grant?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The purpose is to substantially improve how the public discovers and uses major historical records collections by making historically significant materials easier to find, access, and work with.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is aimed at expanding public access at scale and delivering practical results for researchers and the general public. It supports projects that increase discoverability and usability of significant historical records, especially through online, free public access and improved tools or methods for access.
Is there a particular subject area or theme the program emphasizes?
Yes. The opportunity places particular emphasis on early American legal records, including documentation from colonial and territorial eras, county and early statehood government, and tribal proceedings that help show how law and governance developed in the United States.
What kinds of historical records and formats are supported?
The program is not limited to paper records. It explicitly supports a wide range of formats, including photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio or moving image materials, as long as the project substantially improves public discovery and use of major historical records collections.
What types of projects are considered competitive under this opportunity?
Competitive proposals focus on increasing access at scale. Examples described include digitizing a major collection held by a single institution and making it freely available online, improving access to born-digital records that are otherwise difficult to use, and building virtual collections that bring together related records from multiple institutions into one freely available online resource.
Can a project involve building tools or platforms, not just digitization?
Yes. The program supports the creation of new tools, platforms, workflows, or methods that help users discover and use records more effectively, particularly approaches that address widely shared challenges and can be replicated and scaled by others.
Does NHPRC encourage collaborative projects?
Yes. Collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially when it helps reunite related materials that are scattered across multiple institutions into a more unified, publicly accessible resource.
Is public engagement expected as part of the project?
Meaningful public engagement is encouraged. The opportunity suggests projects should go beyond placing content online and consider how communities, educators, and researchers will interact with the work and benefit from it.
Are there activities NHPRC will not fund?
Yes. Applicants are cautioned to review NHPRC limits on what it will and will not fund. Applications made up entirely of ineligible activities will be rejected without review.
How is this "Major Initiatives" category different from other NHPRC access programs?
The notice points applicants to a separate NHPRC program, "Access to Historical Records: Archival Projects," which has different requirements and award levels. This suggests the Major Initiatives category is intended for larger, more ambitious efforts.
What is the grant amount range and maximum award?
Grant requests are expected to range from $100,000 to $350,000, with an award ceiling of $350,000.
How many awards does NHPRC expect to make and what is the total anticipated funding?
NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards in this category, with total funding up to $1,000,000.
How long can the project period be?
Awards are intended to support projects lasting one to three years.
What is the earliest start date listed for awards?
The earliest start date listed is January 1, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across the public and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits), colleges and universities (public or private), state and local government agencies (including county and city/township governments), and federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups.
What is the CFDA number and program area?
The funding activity is categorized under humanities/cultural affairs and is associated with CFDA 89.003.
Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?
Yes. Cost sharing is a key requirement. NHPRC will fund no more than 50 percent of the total project costs in this Major Initiatives category, so the applicant must provide the remaining share.
What kinds of cost share contributions can be used to meet the match requirement?
The match may include a combination of cash and allowable contributions. The information provided indicates the applicant match may include direct costs, in-kind support, indirect expenses contributed by the applicant, non-federal third-party contributions, and any program income earned directly by the project.
Can indirect costs be charged to the NHPRC grant?
No. Applicants cannot charge indirect costs to the NHPRC grant funds. If indirect costs are claimed, they must appear as part of the applicant's cost share, consistent with the restriction cited in 2 CFR 2600.101.
What registrations or identifiers are required before applying?
Applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, must keep that registration active throughout the submission and award process, and must include a valid DUNS number in the application.
What are the required components of the preliminary application package?
The preliminary application package is required to include three core components: Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), a project narrative describing what will be done and why it matters, and a budget.
What happens if an application is missing required elements?
Applications missing any of the required elements (SF-424, project narrative, or budget) will not be considered.
What happens if a proposal is outside eligibility or includes only ineligible activities?
Proposals that fall outside eligibility or include only ineligible activities will not move forward for review. The notice also states that applications made up entirely of ineligible activities will be rejected without review.
Are award recipients required to acknowledge NHPRC support?
Yes. Recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and any products created with grant assistance. Examples of products mentioned include project websites, digital collections portals, reports, educational materials, and other public outputs.
What is the funding opportunity number and closing date listed for this preliminary opportunity?
The original closing date listed was January 17, 2019, under funding opportunity number PRELIM 201901.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
Next opportunity: Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders
Previous opportunity: PPHF -Building Public Health Infrastructure in Tribal Communities to Accelerate Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Indian Country
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 201901
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PRELIM 201901) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Conduct Archeological Survey of Savonoski River to Hallo Bay Apply for P18AS00467 Funding Number: P18AS00467 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Billings Archives Partnership for Conservation History and Public E Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0195 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0195 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $58,746 |
| Central Socorro Bosque Restoration Project Apply for BOR UC 18 N016 Funding Number: BOR UC 18 N016 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Small Grant- 2019, Ukraine Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2019 005 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2019 005 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Large Grant - 2019, Ukraine Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2019 006 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2019 006 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Institutes for Historical Editing Apply for EDITING 201902 Funding Number: EDITING 201902 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Archives Collaboratives Apply for COLLABORATIVES 201904 Funding Number: COLLABORATIVES 201904 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| State Board Apply for STATE 201906 Funding Number: STATE 201906 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions Apply for EDITIONS 201906 Funding Number: EDITIONS 201906 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions Apply for EDITIONS 201910 Funding Number: EDITIONS 201910 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section FY 2019 Annual Program Statement (APS) Large Grants Apply for DOSRUS19GR001 Funding Number: DOSRUS19GR001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| FY 19 USA For You Apply for BER NOFO FY19 001 Funding Number: BER NOFO FY19 001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Digital Projects for the Public Apply for 20190612 MD Funding Number: 20190612 MD Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Humanities Initiatives at Tribal Colleges and Universities Apply for 20190712 AD Funding Number: 20190712 AD Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Humanities Initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities Apply for 20190712 AB Funding Number: 20190712 AB Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges Apply for 20190712 AE Funding Number: 20190712 AE Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY 2019 Russian-American History Apply for DOSRUS 19 CA 008 Funding Number: DOSRUS 19 CA 008 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| FY 2019 Young Astronauts Program Apply for DOSRUS 19 CA 009 Funding Number: DOSRUS 19 CA 009 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Special Resource Studies Administrative History Reconnaissance Apply for P19AS00147 Funding Number: P19AS00147 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $47,850 |
| Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives program Apply for MAJOR 202007 Funding Number: MAJOR 202007 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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 201901", 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.