Opportunity Information: Apply for LITERACY 201510
Apply for LITERACY 201510
- The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Literacy and Engagement with 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 Jun 3, 2015 and posted on Jun 4, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 8, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 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 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Literacy and Engagement with 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 help the public actively use and engage with historical records, with a strong emphasis on materials that are available online. The core goal is to boost public participation and understanding by either building new ways for people to interact with historical documents or by teaching digital literacy skills that make those records easier to find, interpret, and use responsibly. The program particularly encourages the creation of new online tools and practical, replicable approaches that can be adopted by other institutions at no cost.
A major theme of this opportunity is "citizen archivist" engagement. Competitive projects often include hands-on public participation in basic archival work that improves access to digitized collections. Examples include expanding or improving crowdsourcing programs where volunteers help identify people and places in records, add tags or metadata, transcribe handwritten materials, annotate items with contextual information, or otherwise enhance discoverability and usability of online records. NHPRC also expects projects of this type to include training components, so that volunteers are not just contributing labor but also learning the skills and concepts needed to work effectively with digital historical content, such as understanding digitized formats, transcription standards, quality control, and responsible description practices.
In addition to crowdsourcing and public-facing archival participation, the program also funds digital literacy and digital archives training aimed at the general public. One eligible direction is teaching people the underlying technology concepts and practical steps needed for effective personal digital archiving, such as how to organize digital files, manage formats, apply basic preservation practices, and understand the risks around storage, obsolescence, and data loss. Overall, NHPRC is looking for projects that can serve as models for the field, especially those developed through collaboration among archivists, documentary editors, historians, educators, and community-based partners, since multidisciplinary teams are more likely to design programs that are both technically sound and genuinely useful to non-specialists.
Funding is provided as a discretionary grant under CFDA 89.003 (National Historical Publications and Records Grants). Awards are typically for one to three years. NHPRC expects to make up to six awards in this category, with individual grant amounts ranging from 50,000 to 150,000, and up to 500,000 total allocated for the program. Projects supported under this announcement were expected to start no earlier than July 1, 2016. Grant recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and products produced with grant assistance.
Eligibility is open to a broad range of organizations that are positioned to carry out public programs and archival or educational initiatives. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities, state and local government agencies, and federally acknowledged or state recognized Native American tribes or groups. The announcement also reflects eligible applicant types such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, counties, cities or townships, and state governments.
Cost sharing is required and is a significant structural feature of the program. NHPRC will cover no more than 50 percent of total direct project costs for projects in this category, meaning applicants must provide at least half of the direct costs from non-federal sources. Importantly, NHPRC funds may not be used for indirect costs under the cited federal cost principles (2 CFR 2600.101). However, the applicant contribution may include a mix of direct and indirect expenses, in-kind support, allowable third-party non-federal contributions, and project-generated income. Any indirect costs must be shown as part of the applicant's cost share rather than charged to the federal award.
On the application and compliance side, applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying, must keep that registration active through the review and award process, and must include a valid DUNS number in the application materials. A complete submission must include Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), Standard Form 424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs), along with a project narrative, summary, supplementary materials, and a detailed budget. Applications missing required components are not considered, and applications focused entirely on ineligible activities will not move forward to review, so applicants are expected to check NHPRC's "What We Do and Do Not Fund" guidance to avoid disallowed costs or project types.
Key dates and identifiers tied to the posted opportunity include Funding Opportunity Number LITERACY 201510, a posted date of June 4, 2015, and a closing date of October 8, 2015, with an archive date of November 7, 2015. Questions about accessing the full announcement were directed to Jeff de la Concepcion, Grant Program Specialist, at 202-357-5022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Literacy and Engagement with Historical Records grant?
The Literacy and Engagement with Historical Records grant is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. It supports projects that help the public actively use and engage with historical records, with a strong emphasis on materials that are available online.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core goal is to increase public participation and understanding of historical records by (1) building new ways for people to interact with historical documents online or (2) teaching digital literacy skills that help people find, interpret, and use historical records responsibly.
What kinds of projects are a strong fit for this program?
Competitive projects often focus on public engagement with digitized historical records, especially through online tools and practical approaches that others can replicate. The program particularly encourages projects that create new online tools and methods that other institutions can adopt at no cost.
What does NHPRC mean by "citizen archivist" engagement?
"Citizen archivist" engagement refers to hands-on public participation in basic archival work that improves access to digitized collections. This can include structured volunteer activities that enhance description, discovery, and usability of online historical records.
What are examples of citizen-archivist or crowdsourcing activities that may be supported?
Examples described in the opportunity include expanding or improving crowdsourcing programs where volunteers help:
- Identify people and places in records
- Add tags or metadata
- Transcribe handwritten materials
- Annotate items with contextual information
- Improve discoverability and usability of online records in other practical ways
Are training components expected in citizen-archivist projects?
Yes. NHPRC expects projects with public archival participation to include training so volunteers learn skills and concepts needed to work effectively with digital historical content. The opportunity notes examples such as training on digitized formats, transcription standards, quality control, and responsible description practices.
Does the program fund digital literacy training for the general public?
Yes. In addition to crowdsourcing and public-facing participation in archival work, the program also funds digital literacy and digital archives training aimed at the general public.
What digital literacy topics are specifically mentioned as eligible?
One eligible direction described is teaching effective personal digital archiving, including how to organize digital files, manage formats, apply basic preservation practices, and understand risks related to storage, obsolescence, and data loss.
Does NHPRC prefer certain project design approaches or partnerships?
The opportunity emphasizes projects that can serve as models for the field and highlights collaboration among archivists, documentary editors, historians, educators, and community-based partners. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged because they may be more likely to design programs that are technically sound and useful to non-specialists.
What is the CFDA number for this grant program?
Funding is provided under CFDA 89.003, National Historical Publications and Records Grants.
How many awards does NHPRC expect to make in this category?
NHPRC expects to make up to six awards in this category.
What is the typical award size for this opportunity?
Individual grant amounts are expected to range from $50,000 to $150,000.
How much total funding is allocated for the program?
The opportunity indicates up to $500,000 total allocated for the program.
What is the typical project period for awards?
Awards are typically for one to three years.
When were projects expected to start under this announcement?
Projects supported under this announcement were expected to start no earlier than July 1, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to a broad range of organizations positioned to carry out public programs and archival or educational initiatives. Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations and institutions
- Colleges and universities
- State and local government agencies
- Federally acknowledged or state recognized Native American tribes or groups
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Counties, cities, or townships
- State governments
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required and is a significant structural feature of this program.
What is the required cost share percentage?
NHPRC will cover no more than 50 percent of total direct project costs, so applicants must provide at least half of the direct costs from non-federal sources.
Can NHPRC grant funds be used to pay indirect costs?
No. NHPRC funds may not be used for indirect costs under the cited federal cost principles (2 CFR 2600.101).
If indirect costs cannot be charged to the grant, can they be included anywhere in the budget?
Yes, but only as part of the applicant's cost share. The opportunity explains that the applicant contribution may include a mix of direct and indirect expenses, and any indirect costs must be shown as part of the applicant share rather than charged to the federal award.
What types of contributions can count toward the applicant cost share?
The applicant contribution may include direct and indirect expenses, in-kind support, allowable third-party non-federal contributions, and project-generated income.
What registrations are required before applying?
Applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying and must keep that registration active through the review and award process.
Is a DUNS number required?
Yes. The application materials must include a valid DUNS number.
What forms and materials are required in a complete application package?
A complete submission must include:
- Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Standard Form 424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs)
- A project narrative
- A project summary
- Supplementary materials
- A detailed budget
What happens if an application is missing required components?
Applications missing required components are not considered.
What happens if a proposal focuses on ineligible activities?
Applications focused entirely on ineligible activities will not move forward to review. Applicants are expected to consult NHPRC guidance on "What We Do and Do Not Fund" to avoid disallowed costs or project types.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is LITERACY 201510.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it due?
The posted date was June 4, 2015, and the closing date was October 8, 2015. The archive date was November 7, 2015.
Are grantees required to acknowledge NHPRC support?
Yes. Grant recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in publications and products produced with grant assistance.
Who was listed as the contact for questions about accessing the full announcement?
Questions about accessing the full announcement were directed to Jeff de la Concepcion, Grant Program Specialist, at 202-357-5022.
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| THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Midwest Archeological Center Administrative History THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Apply for NPS NOIP15AC01592 Funding Number: NPS NOIP15AC01592 Agency: National Park Service Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
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| Publication Subventions Apply for SUBVENTION 08M Funding Number: SUBVENTION 08M Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
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