State Board Programming Grants

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals that strengthen the nation’s archival network through activities undertaken by state historical records advisory boards. The purpose of this grant program is to assist state boards to broaden preservation of, and increased online access to, historical records; develop and promote best practices; support activities that put the American people in touch with primary sources in their communities and online; promote the institutional advancement of organizations in underserved communities; and assist locally based repositories with training and tools to improve their stewardship abilities. The Commission will award grants to state historical records advisory boards to:
• Operate state-based regrant programs that preserve historical records and make them available online
• Provide educational and outreach programs, workshops, and other activities that enhance citizen and student engagement with historical records
• Offer scholarships, training opportunities, and other programs that support institutional advancement among records repositories, especially those in underserved communities
• Collaborate on projects with other organizations to address common problems or shared opportunities within a state or among a consortium of state archives
• Hold or participate in meetings and public forums on statewide or national archival issues.
The NHPRC encourages organizations to actively engage the public in the work of the project.
Projects utilizing traditional approaches with a proven record of success, as well as projects testing innovative approaches, are welcome. All applications should outline a process for contacting institutions and individuals who participate in the board’s programs (i.e., regrant and training scholarship recipients, workshop attendees, etc.) to determine how they benefited from the program in which they participated. Applications should also outline a process for evaluating the board’s programs, determining their effectiveness, and proposing appropriate changes.
For a comprehensive list of Commission limitations on funding, please see: "What we do and do not fund" (http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/apply/eligibility.html). Applications that consist entirely of ineligible activities will not be considered.
Award Information
The Commission offers two levels of funding. A Level I grant is for one year and for up to $12,000. A Level II grant is for one year and for up to $40,000 or for two years and for up to $80,000. Applicants may request either Level I or Level II funding, but not both. The Commission expects to make up to a total of 30 grants in this category for a total of up to $800,000. Grants begin no earlier than January 1, 2021.
The Commission requires that grant recipients acknowledge NHPRC grant assistance in all publicity, publications, and other products that result from its support.
Eligibility
These grants are awarded only to state historical records advisory boards in each state, or to the state agency responsible for the state board, ordinarily the state archives. Another state agency, or a non-profit organization, such as a foundation or university, acting on behalf of the designated state agency may apply. States also include the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and United States territories.
Cost Sharing
The total costs of a project are shared between the NHPRC and the applicant organization.
The Commission provides no more than 75 per cent of total project costs in the State Board Programming Grants category. NHPRC grant recipients are not permitted to use grant funds for indirect costs (as indicated in 2 CFR 2600.101).
Cost sharing is required. The applicant's financial contribution may include both direct and indirect expenses, in-kind contributions, non-Federal third-party contributions, and any income earned directly by the project. Indirect costs must be listed under the applicant's cost sharing contribution.
Other Requirements
Applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application, maintain SAM registration throughout the application and award process, and include a valid DUNS number in their application. Details on SAM registration and requesting a DUNS number can be found at the System for Award Management website at https://sam.gov. Please refer to the User Guides section and the Grants Registrations PDF.
Ineligible applications will not be reviewed.