Opportunity Information: Apply for DIGITIZING 201306
Apply for DIGITIZING 201306
- The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digitizing Historical Records" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 89.003 National Historical Publications and Records Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 30, 2012 and posted on Nov 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments State governments Private 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Digitizing Historical Records grant opportunity is offered by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. It supports projects that digitize historically important record collections and make the resulting digital materials freely available online. The program is aimed at helping archives and similar repositories expand public access to nationally significant holdings by using practical, cost-effective digitization approaches that other institutions can learn from and replicate.
A central requirement is that projects must digitize entire collections or complete series from existing repository holdings, rather than selecting scattered highlights. The records must already be open and available to the public in the archive, and they must already be described in a way that allows the project to reuse existing descriptive information as the basis for metadata. In other words, applicants are expected to build a workflow that takes advantage of what the repository has already done (finding aids, catalog records, existing descriptions) instead of creating brand-new descriptive systems from scratch.
Applications are expected to make a clear case in four main areas. First, they must demonstrate the national significance of the targeted collection or series, explaining why it matters beyond a local or institutional audience. Second, they must propose an efficient workflow that repurposes existing descriptive material rather than generating new metadata about the records. Third, they must show that the project budget, digitization standards, and technical choices are reasonable, and they must include a sustainable plan for preserving the digital files created through the project. Fourth, they must include a thoughtful evaluation plan that measures how the digitized materials are used and assesses how effective the digitization and online presentation methods are.
The program also draws firm boundaries around what NHPRC funds can and cannot support. Grant funds cannot be used to create descriptive metadata, produce edited transcriptions of the digitized materials, or build access platforms that charge users fees to view images. The emphasis is on digitization and free public access, using existing descriptions to support discovery, rather than funding new editorial work or paywalled delivery systems. Applicants are also directed to consult NHPRC guidance on broader funding limitations through the Commission's "What we do and do not fund" resource.
In terms of funding, awards are typically structured for one to three years, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of up to $150,000 per grant. NHPRC anticipated making up to 8 awards in this category, with an estimated total program funding level of up to $700,000. Cost sharing is required, meaning applicants must contribute financially to the project. NHPRC will fund up to 50 percent of total project costs, and the applicant's share can include a mix of direct and indirect costs, in-kind contributions, third-party non-federal support, and project-generated income.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits), colleges and universities (public or private), and state or local government agencies. Federally acknowledged or state recognized Native American tribes or groups are also eligible. As part of basic eligibility and compliance, applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, keep that registration active throughout the process, and include a valid DUNS number in the application. Applications that do not meet eligibility requirements are not considered.
For this specific posting, the opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number DIGITIZING 201306, CFDA 89.003 (National Historical Publications and Records Grants), categorized as a discretionary grant program in the humanities/cultural affairs area. The posted date was November 30, 2012, with a closing date of June 11, 2013 (and an archive date of July 11, 2013). The agency also requires grant recipients to acknowledge NHPRC support in all products produced with grant assistance. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Jeff de la Concepcion, Grant Program Specialist, at 202-357-5022.
Digitizing Historical Records (NHPRC) Grant - FAQs
1. What is the Digitizing Historical Records grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. It supports projects that digitize historically important record collections and make the resulting digital materials freely available online.
2. What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed to expand public access to nationally significant archival holdings through practical, cost-effective digitization approaches that other institutions can learn from and replicate.
3. Who offers and administers this grant?
The program is offered by NHPRC, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration.
4. What kinds of projects does NHPRC want to fund under this opportunity?
Projects that digitize historically important record collections and then provide free public access online to the digitized materials, using a practical workflow and reasonable technical and budget choices.
5. Do projects need to digitize an entire collection?
Yes. A central requirement is that projects must digitize entire collections or complete series from existing repository holdings, rather than selecting scattered highlights.
6. Can an applicant digitize only the "best" or most popular items from a collection?
No. The opportunity emphasizes digitizing whole collections or complete series, not selecting individual highlights across holdings.
7. Do the records need to already be open to the public?
Yes. The records must already be open and available to the public in the archive.
8. Do the records need to already be described before applying?
Yes. The records must already be described in a way that allows the project to reuse existing descriptive information as the basis for metadata (for example, finding aids, catalog records, or existing descriptions).
9. Is the program intended to fund creation of new metadata from scratch?
No. Applicants are expected to build an efficient workflow that repurposes existing descriptive material rather than generating brand-new descriptive systems.
10. What are the main areas an application is expected to address?
Applications are expected to make a clear case in four main areas:
- National significance: Explain why the collection/series matters beyond a local or institutional audience.
- Efficient workflow: Show how existing descriptions will be reused rather than creating new metadata from scratch.
- Reasonable budget/standards and sustainability: Demonstrate that the budget, digitization standards, and technical choices are reasonable and include a sustainable preservation plan for the digital files.
- Evaluation plan: Describe how use of the digitized materials will be measured and how the effectiveness of digitization and online presentation methods will be assessed.
11. How does NHPRC define "national significance" for this program?
Applicants must demonstrate that the targeted collection or series is nationally significant by explaining why it matters beyond local or institutional interest. The application should clearly communicate the broader importance of the records.
12. What does NHPRC expect regarding digitization workflow and metadata?
NHPRC expects a workflow that takes advantage of existing repository work (like finding aids and catalog records) and repurposes those descriptions as the basis for metadata, rather than building a new descriptive system.
13. What does the grant require regarding online access to digitized materials?
The resulting digital materials must be made freely available online. The program does not support fee-based access to view images.
14. Are paywalls or subscription platforms allowed for viewing digitized images?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to build access platforms that charge users fees to view images. The emphasis is on free public access.
15. Does NHPRC fund creation of descriptive metadata as part of this grant?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to create descriptive metadata.
16. Does NHPRC fund transcriptions of digitized materials?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to produce edited transcriptions of the digitized materials.
17. What types of costs or activities are explicitly not supported by this opportunity?
Based on the posted description, NHPRC funds cannot be used to:
- Create descriptive metadata
- Produce edited transcriptions of digitized materials
- Build access platforms that charge fees to view images
Applicants are also directed to consult NHPRC guidance on broader limitations via the Commission's "What we do and do not fund" resource.
18. What is the typical grant period?
Awards are typically structured for one to three years.
19. What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is up to $150,000 per grant.
20. How many awards were anticipated for this category?
NHPRC anticipated making up to 8 awards in this category.
21. What was the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level was up to $700,000.
22. Is cost sharing (matching) required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required. NHPRC will fund up to 50 percent of total project costs, and the applicant must contribute the remaining share.
23. How much of total project costs will NHPRC cover?
NHPRC will fund up to 50 percent of the total project costs.
24. What can count toward the applicant's cost share?
The applicant's share can include a mix of direct and indirect costs, in-kind contributions, third-party non-federal support, and project-generated income.
25. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations and institutions (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits)
- Colleges and universities (public or private)
- State or local government agencies
- Federally acknowledged or state recognized Native American tribes or groups
26. Are colleges and universities eligible even if they are private?
Yes. Colleges and universities are eligible whether public or private.
27. Are state and local government agencies eligible?
Yes. State or local government agencies are eligible applicants.
28. Are Native American tribes or groups eligible?
Yes. Federally acknowledged or state recognized Native American tribes or groups are eligible.
29. What registrations or identifiers are required to apply?
Applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, keep that registration active throughout the process, and include a valid DUNS number in the application.
30. What happens if an application does not meet eligibility requirements?
Applications that do not meet eligibility requirements are not considered.
31. What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this posting is DIGITIZING 201306.
32. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The posting lists CFDA 89.003 (National Historical Publications and Records Grants).
33. What subject area is this grant categorized under?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program in the humanities/cultural affairs area.
34. When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted date was November 30, 2012. The closing date was June 11, 2013. The archive date was July 11, 2013.
35. What kinds of planning are required for digital preservation?
Applications must include a sustainable plan for preserving the digital files created through the project, and must show that digitization standards and technical choices are reasonable.
36. What does NHPRC expect for evaluation and measuring impact?
Applications must include an evaluation plan that measures how the digitized materials are used and assesses how effective the digitization and online presentation methods are.
37. Is acknowledgement of NHPRC support required?
Yes. The agency requires grant recipients to acknowledge NHPRC support in all products produced with grant assistance.
38. Who was the listed contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed contact was Jeff de la Concepcion, Grant Program Specialist, at 202-357-5022.
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| New Republic through the Modern Era Apply for PUBLISHING 201310 Funding Number: PUBLISHING 201310 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| State and National Archival Partnership (SNAP) Apply for PARTNERSHIP 201309 Funding Number: PARTNERSHIP 201309 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $30,000 |
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| Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions Apply for 20130501 PG Funding Number: 20130501 PG Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $6,000 |
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| Challenge Grants Apply for 20130501 CH Funding Number: 20130501 CH Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| Bridging Cultures at Community Colleges Apply for 20130827 ME Funding Number: 20130827 ME Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| Summer Stipends Apply for 20130926 FT Funding Number: 20130926 FT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $6,000 |
| Enduring Questions Apply for 20130912 AQ Funding Number: 20130912 AQ Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $38,000 |
| Digital Humanities Start up Grants Apply for 20130912 HD Funding Number: 20130912 HD Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
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