Opportunity Information: Apply for 20090514 PG
Apply for 20090514 PG
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Preservation Assistance Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.149 Promotion of the HumanitiesDivision of Preservation and Access.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2009 and posted on Feb 9, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2009. (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 $6,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
Preservation Assistance Grants is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity designed to help institutions strengthen how they preserve and care for humanities collections, with a clear emphasis on the needs of small and mid-sized organizations. The program supports practical steps that improve an institution's preservation capacity, whether that means understanding the condition of collections, planning for long-term care, or getting expert guidance to make informed decisions about stewardship. It is especially welcoming to smaller and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant, signaling that the program is meant to be accessible to organizations that may be earlier in their preservation planning or have limited internal conservation staff.
The collections this program is concerned with are wide-ranging and reflect the variety of materials that document cultural and historical life. Examples specifically referenced include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images and sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine arts, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, and other historical objects. In other words, the program is meant for institutions responsible for anything from paper-based holdings and audiovisual media to three-dimensional objects and artworks, as long as the materials qualify as humanities collections.
A central requirement of this opportunity is that applicants must rely on qualified consultants whose expertise matches both the types of collections involved and the preservation activities proposed. The announcement stresses that preservation and conservation are specialized fields, so applicants should not take a one-size-fits-all approach when choosing outside experts. For example, conservators often specialize by material or object type, such as paper, paintings, or objects, and the consultant selected should align with the institution's actual holdings and needs. Likewise, institutions seeking to assess archival holdings must work with a consultant who is specifically knowledgeable about archives and preservation. The guidance also notes that archival organization and preservation are closely linked, so an archival consultant should address not only preservation conditions but also management, processing, and long-term plans for arrangement and description as part of a thorough preservation assessment.
Eligible applicants span a broad set of organization types commonly responsible for humanities collections. The opportunity encourages applications from libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, arts and cultural organizations, and local government records offices such as town and county offices. Formally, eligible applicant categories include state governments; city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in that specific category); and both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
From the funding details provided, this is a discretionary grant program administered by NEH under the Division of Preservation and Access, listed under CFDA 45.149 (Promotion of the Humanities). The award ceiling is $6,000, with no stated award floor, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for institutions that may not have additional funds to contribute. The opportunity anticipated making about 30 awards. For the specific cycle described in the source data, the opportunity was posted February 9, 2009, with a closing date of May 14, 2009, and an archive date of June 13, 2009.
For applicants looking for official guidelines and application specifics, the program information link is provided as http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html. Contact details for the NEH Division of Preservation and Access are also included for access issues or questions: Division of Preservation and Access, Room 411, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506; phone 202-606-8570; email preservation@neh.gov.
Preservation Assistance Grants (NEH) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Preservation Assistance Grants program?
Preservation Assistance Grants is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity that helps institutions strengthen how they preserve and care for humanities collections. The program supports practical, capacity-building steps such as understanding collection conditions, planning for long-term care, and obtaining expert guidance to improve stewardship.
What kinds of organizations is this program meant to help?
The program places a clear emphasis on the needs of small and mid-sized institutions. It is especially welcoming to smaller and mid-sized organizations that have never received an NEH grant, indicating that the opportunity is designed to be accessible for institutions that may be early in preservation planning or have limited internal conservation staff.
What types of activities does the grant support?
Based on the opportunity description, supported activities include practical steps that improve preservation capacity, such as assessing the condition of collections, developing plans for long-term care, and working with qualified consultants who can provide expert guidance and help institutions make informed preservation decisions.
What collections are considered eligible or relevant for this program?
The program focuses on humanities collections and references a wide range of materials, including: special collections of books and journals; archives and manuscripts; prints and photographs; moving images and sound recordings; architectural and cartographic records; decorative and fine arts; textiles; archaeological and ethnographic artifacts; furniture; and other historical objects. The intent is to support institutions responsible for paper-based collections, audiovisual media, and three-dimensional objects and artworks, as long as they qualify as humanities collections.
Does the program require using outside consultants?
Yes. A central requirement described in the announcement is that applicants must rely on qualified consultants whose expertise matches the collections involved and the preservation activities proposed. The guidance emphasizes that preservation and conservation are specialized fields and that consultant selection should not be one-size-fits-all.
How should an applicant choose a consultant?
The opportunity stresses matching consultant expertise to the institution's actual holdings and needs. Conservators often specialize by material or object type (for example, paper, paintings, or objects), so the consultant should align with the types of collections the institution holds and the work being proposed.
If an institution wants to assess archival holdings, what kind of consultant is expected?
If the proposed work involves assessing archival holdings, the guidance indicates the institution should work with a consultant specifically knowledgeable about archives and preservation. The description also notes that archival organization and preservation are closely linked, so an archival consultant is expected to address preservation conditions as well as management, processing, and long-term plans for arrangement and description as part of a thorough preservation assessment.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a broad set of organizations responsible for humanities collections. The opportunity encourages applications from libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, arts and cultural organizations, and local government records offices (such as town and county offices). Formally listed eligible categories include state governments; city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in that specific nonprofit category); and both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
Are libraries, museums, and historical societies specifically encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages applications from libraries, museums, and historical societies, along with archival repositories, arts and cultural organizations, and local government records offices.
Can local government records offices apply?
Yes. The description specifically mentions local government records offices such as town and county offices among the types of organizations encouraged to apply, and it also lists eligible government categories such as state governments and city or township governments.
Can federally recognized Native American tribal governments apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as an eligible applicant category.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant categories.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $6,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No award floor is stated in the information provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduces the barrier for institutions that may not have additional funds to contribute.
How many awards does NEH expect to make?
The opportunity anticipated making about 30 awards.
Which NEH office administers this program?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by NEH under the Division of Preservation and Access.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 45.149 (Promotion of the Humanities).
Where can applicants find the official guidelines and application information?
The program information link provided is: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html.
What were the key dates for the cycle described?
For the specific cycle referenced in the provided information, the opportunity was posted on February 9, 2009, with a closing date of May 14, 2009, and an archive date of June 13, 2009.
Who should applicants contact with questions or access issues?
Contact details provided are for the NEH Division of Preservation and Access: Division of Preservation and Access, Room 411, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506; phone 202-606-8570; email preservation@neh.gov.
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