Opportunity Information: Apply for 20121204 PF
Apply for 20121204 PF
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections" 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 Aug 27, 2012 and posted on Aug 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 4, 2012. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments City or township governments Special district governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) grant opportunity, offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through its Division of Preservation and Access, supports libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage organizations as they work to preserve humanities collections for long-term public benefit. The program is centered on preventive conservation, meaning practical steps that reduce or slow deterioration before major damage occurs. Rather than focusing on item-by-item treatment, SCHC emphasizes improving the overall conditions and systems that protect entire collections, helping institutions keep materials usable and accessible for research, teaching, and lifelong learning.
SCHC is designed for the reality that many institutions care for large, mixed collections that include books and manuscripts, photographs, audio and moving image materials, and a wide range of objects such as archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, artworks, and historical items. These holdings are vulnerable to gradual environmental wear as well as sudden threats, so the grant encourages institutions to address the most significant risks in their specific context. Supported preventive measures can include managing relative humidity and temperature, controlling light exposure, and reducing pollutants in collection spaces. It also includes strengthening storage through appropriate enclosures and storage systems, and improving protection against theft as well as natural and human-made disasters. The underlying goal is to extend the useful life of collections and maintain reliable access over time.
A key feature of SCHC is its focus on sustainability and practical decision-making. NEH encourages applicants to pursue strategies that are scientifically informed while also balancing effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Projects are expected to be cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive, with an emphasis on reducing the biggest risks to collections rather than chasing rigid or prescriptive environmental targets. In other words, SCHC is aimed at helping institutions make smart, achievable improvements that meaningfully increase preservation outcomes without creating unsustainable operational burdens.
This is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number 20121204 PF) within the Humanities funding category (CFDA 45.149, Promotion of the Humanities). Awards can be as high as $350,000, with no stated minimum award amount, and the opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and various levels of government (city/township, county, special district, and state). The opportunity was posted on August 27, 2012, with an application deadline of December 4, 2012, and it was archived on January 3, 2013.
For official program details and guidance, the announcement points to the NEH website page for Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections. Applicants or interested organizations who need help accessing the full announcement or have questions are directed to contact the NEH Division of Preservation and Access (Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections, Room 411), National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506, by phone at 202-606-8570 or by email at preservation@neh.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) - NEH
What is the Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) grant?
The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) grant is a program offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through its Division of Preservation and Access. It supports libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage organizations in preserving humanities collections for long-term public benefit.
What is the main goal of SCHC funding?
The goal is to extend the useful life of humanities collections and keep them usable and accessible for research, teaching, and lifelong learning by improving the overall conditions and systems that protect collections over time.
What does "preventive conservation" mean in this program?
In SCHC, preventive conservation means practical steps that reduce or slow deterioration before major damage occurs. The program emphasizes institution-wide improvements that protect entire collections, rather than item-by-item conservation treatment.
Does SCHC fund item-by-item conservation treatment?
The program is described as emphasizing improvements to overall conditions and systems rather than focusing on item-by-item treatment. The funding focus is preventive conservation approaches that benefit collections broadly.
What types of collections does SCHC support?
SCHC is designed for large, mixed collections commonly found in cultural heritage organizations. Examples mentioned include books and manuscripts, photographs, audio materials, moving image materials, and objects such as archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, artworks, and historical items.
What kinds of risks to collections does SCHC encourage applicants to address?
The opportunity notes that collections face gradual environmental wear as well as sudden threats. Applicants are encouraged to address the most significant risks in their particular context.
What are examples of preventive measures that can be supported?
Examples listed include managing relative humidity and temperature, controlling light exposure, reducing pollutants in collection spaces, strengthening storage through appropriate enclosures and storage systems, and improving protection against theft and against natural and human-made disasters.
Does the program require specific environmental targets (like rigid temperature and humidity set points)?
The program description emphasizes reducing the biggest risks to collections rather than pursuing rigid or prescriptive environmental targets. The intent is to support smart, achievable improvements with meaningful preservation outcomes.
How does SCHC address sustainability and operational costs?
SCHC highlights sustainability and practical decision-making. NEH encourages strategies that are scientifically informed while balancing effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Projects are expected to be cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive, avoiding changes that create unsustainable operational burdens.
What is the maximum award amount?
Awards can be as high as $350,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated in the provided description.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and government entities at various levels (city/township, county, special district, and state).
Which NEH office administers this program?
The grant is offered by NEH through its Division of Preservation and Access.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 20121204 PF.
What is the funding category and CFDA number?
The funding category is Humanities. The CFDA number listed is 45.149, Promotion of the Humanities.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on August 27, 2012, and the application deadline was December 4, 2012.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on January 3, 2013.
Where can applicants find official program details and guidance?
The announcement points to the NEH website page for Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections for official program details and guidance.
Who can be contacted for help or questions about the announcement?
Organizations are directed to contact the NEH Division of Preservation and Access (Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections, Room 411), National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506, by phone at 202-606-8570 or by email at preservation@neh.gov.
What kinds of institutions is SCHC intended to help?
The description highlights that SCHC is designed for institutions caring for large, mixed collections and encourages right-sized, sustainable improvements that protect collections broadly and keep them accessible for the long term.
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