National Digital Newspaper Program

---

Description

The National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) is a collaborative initiative between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress (LC) aimed at creating a comprehensive, freely accessible digital archive of historically significant newspapers published in the United States from 1690 through 1963. This program supports the digitization and online publication of newspapers from all 56 states and U.S. jurisdictions, preserving cultural heritage and enhancing public access to primary historical sources.

The digitized newspapers are made available through the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America website, a searchable database that also includes the US Newspaper Directory, which provides bibliographic and holdings information for newspapers in various formats. The Library of Congress contributes its own collections to the database alongside funded projects.

The program emphasizes preservation, access, and scholarly use of historical newspapers, supporting projects that produce high-quality digital surrogates and metadata compliant with NDNP technical guidelines.

---

Due Dates

• Estimated Application Due Date: January 9, 2026

---

Funding Amount

• Award Ceiling: $325,000 per project
• Award Floor: $1
• Total Program Funding: Approximately $2,500,000
• Period of Performance: Two years

---

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)

Applicants should consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed eligibility criteria.

---

Application Process

1. Review Application Materials

   • Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity carefully to understand program requirements and restrictions.
   • Access application materials via Grants.gov.

2. Register for Required Accounts

   • Obtain a current SAM registration.
   • Create a Login.gov account to access Grants.gov.
   • Register on Grants.gov as an applicant.

3. Prepare Application Package

   • Follow instructions in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Grants.gov application package.
   • Prepare all required documents, including project narrative, budget, and technical compliance materials.

4. Submit Application

   • Submit the complete application package through Grants.gov by the deadline.
   • Confirm receipt and monitor for confirmation emails.

---

Additional Information

• The Library of Congress maintains the digital archive and ensures long-term access.
• Projects must comply with NDNP technical guidelines for digitization and metadata.
• The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
• Examples of funded projects include state-level digital newspaper initiatives such as the Oregon, Mississippi, and Wisconsin Digital Newspaper Projects.
• Updated guidelines and application instructions will be posted prior to the next deadline.

---

External Links

• National Endowment for the Humanities - National Digital Newspaper Program
• Grants.gov Application Package
• Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (Library of Congress)
• NDNP Technical Guidelines (PDF)
• Notice of Funding Opportunity, 2025 (PDF)
• Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for NEH Grant Proposals
• Sample Narrative: Massachusetts Digital Newspaper Project
• Sample Narrative: Montana Digital Newspaper Project

---

Contact Information