Archival Projects

The Archival Projects grant, offered by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) under the National Archives, is designed to support initiatives that enhance access to America’s historical records. The objective is to promote public understanding of the nation's democracy, history, and culture by improving the discoverability and usability of archival collections. The grant welcomes projects that engage with the public, enhance civic education, and broaden knowledge of United States history from its founding to the present day. This funding opportunity targets archival efforts that preserve and process historical records. Eligible activities include arranging, re-housing, and describing collections; converting descriptions for online access; creating online finding aids; and digitizing historical collections for free public availability. All formats of historical records qualify, such as documents, photographs, born-digital files, audio recordings, and moving images. The NHPRC particularly encourages projects focusing on early legal records of colonial, territorial, county, statehood, and tribal proceedings. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, state and local government agencies, and federally or state-recognized Native American tribes. Applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain this registration throughout the grant process. Although cost sharing is not required and does not impact the review process, applicants may voluntarily include cost-share commitments in their applications. However, indirect costs cannot be charged to NHPRC funds. The maximum grant amount is $150,000 for a project duration of one to two years. The NHPRC plans to award up to 14 grants, totaling approximately $1.4 million. Applications are due by November 5, 2025, with an optional draft submission deadline of August 15, 2025. Projects funded through this grant must begin no earlier than July 1, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with Nancy Melley, Director for Access Programs, before submission. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and include a completed SF-424 form, a project narrative (maximum 20 pages), a budget using the NHPRC form, and up to 20 pages of supplementary materials. The narrative should detail the purpose, scope, archival methodologies, expected products, staffing, and performance objectives. Applications will be evaluated based on the potential impact on public understanding (30%), access strategies (30%), staff qualifications and work plans (25%), and dissemination efforts (15%).