[National Endowment for the Humanities](https://www.neh.gov/)

January 15, 2026

Up to $325,000 per award for a 2-year project; approx. $2.5 million total program funding; ~10 awards expected.

Supports the creation of a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers (1690–1963), digitized and made freely accessible online via the Library of Congress.

--- ## Description This program, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress (LOC), aims to create a comprehensive, freely accessible digital archive of historically significant American newspapers published between 1690 and 1963. Awarded projects will select, digitize (typically from microfilm), and contribute approximately 100,000 pages of newspapers from their state or jurisdiction to the [Chronicling America](https://www.loc.gov/collections/chronicling-america/) database. The program emphasizes collaboration, technical standards, and public engagement, and encourages projects that reveal new perspectives on local and national history. --- ## Due Dates - Application deadline: January 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time - Anticipated award notification: August 2026 - Period of performance: Up to 2 years, typically starting September 1, 2026 --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: $325,000 per project - Period of performance: 2 years - Total estimated program funding: $2,500,000 - Expected number of awards: ~10 - No cost-sharing or matching required --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants include: - Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status - Accredited public or nonprofit institutions of higher education - State and local governments and their agencies - Federally recognized Native American Tribal governments **Note:** Individuals and for-profit or foreign organizations are not eligible. Only one application per organization is allowed per cycle. --- ## Application Process 1. **Review Program Materials** - Carefully read the [Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF)](https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00291375-instructions.pdf) and program [webpage](https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/national-digital-newspaper-program). 2. **Register** - Obtain/verify your [SAM.gov](https://sam.gov/) registration and [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/) account (allow several weeks for this process). - Register for a [Login.gov](https://www.login.gov/) account if needed. 3. **Prepare Application** - Complete all required forms and attachments as detailed in the NOFO, including a 15-page narrative, work plan, résumés, advisory board list, and budget documents. - All attachments must be in PDF format and follow strict formatting guidelines. 4. **Submit Application** - Submit via [Grants.gov Workspace](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358394) by the deadline. - Only the last validated submission prior to the deadline will be reviewed. 5. **After Submission** - You will receive confirmation emails from Grants.gov and NEH’s eGMS system. - Applications are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness before peer review. --- ## Additional Information - Applicants are expected to digitize approximately 100,000 pages of newspapers from their state or jurisdiction. - Projects must follow [technical guidelines](https://www.loc.gov/ndnp/guidelines/NDNP_202527TechNotes.pdf) set by the Library of Congress. - An advisory board (scholars, librarians, archivists, etc.) is required to guide newspaper selection and dissemination. - Projects must focus on newspapers in the public domain (published before 1964 without registered/renewed copyright). - Dissemination activities (e.g., lesson plans, outreach) are encouraged, but the primary goal is digitization. - The program does **not** support digitization of non-newspaper serials, out-of-scope dates, or non-public-domain material. - See the [list of previous awards](https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx?q=1&a=0&n=0&o=0&ot=0&k=0&f=0&s=0&cd=0&p=1&pv=208&d=0&at=0&y=1&yf=2020&yt=2024&prd=0&cov=0&prz=0&wp=0&sp=0&ca=0&arp=0&ob=year&or=DESC) for examples. --- ## External Links - [Program Page (NEH)](https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/national-digital-newspaper-program) - [Official Grants.gov Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358394) - [Chronicling America Database](https://www.loc.gov/collections/chronicling-america/) - [Technical Guidelines (PDF)](https://www.loc.gov/ndnp/guidelines/NDNP_202527TechNotes.pdf) - [Sample Funded Projects](https://www.neh.gov/our-work/listing?f[0]=content_type%3Aproject) - [NEH Policy on AI in Grant Proposals](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/NEH.AI_.Policy-10.23.24.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Program Questions | Division of Preservation and Access
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8570
[preservation@neh.gov](mailto:preservation@neh.gov) | | Administrative/Cost | Office of Grant Management
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8494
[grantmanagement@neh.gov](mailto:grantmanagement@neh.gov) | | Grants.gov Support | 1-800-518-4726
[support@grants.gov](mailto:support@grants.gov) | ---

National Digital Newspaper Program

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