Funder: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Due Dates: August 15, 2025 (Draft, optional) | November 5, 2025 (Final Deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 per grant for 1–2 years; up to 14 grants awarded annually
Summary: Supports archival projects that improve online public access to historical records, emphasizing early legal and BIPOC collections to enhance public understanding of U.S. history and democracy.
Key Information: Applicants must submit draft proposals for feedback; SAM registration and Unique Entity ID required; indirect costs not allowed in grant funds.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), through its National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), offers grants for archival projects aimed at significantly improving online public discovery and use of historical records collections. The program encourages projects that engage the public, expand civic education, and promote understanding of the nation’s history, democracy, and culture from the founding era to the present.
Priority is given to projects focusing on America’s early legal records—including colonial, territorial, county, early statehood, and tribal proceedings—that document the evolution of the nation’s legal history. Projects that center the voices and histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are especially welcomed.
Eligible projects may involve:
All types of historical records are eligible, including documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio and moving images.
Successful applications must demonstrate the collection’s value to public understanding of U.S. democracy and culture, follow archival best practices, be staffed with qualified archivists, propose cost-effective budgets, and include activities to attract researchers to the collections.
Funding support begins no earlier than July 1, 2026.
Eligible applicants include:
Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and have a valid Unique Entity ID.
Applications are evaluated based on:
The review process includes peer review panels, applicant response to reviewer comments, and final funding decisions by the Archivist of the United States.
| Contact Person | Role | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Melley | Director for Access Programs | nancy.melley@nara.gov | N/A |
| Jeff de la Concepcion | Backup Submission Contact | jeff.delaconcepcion@nara.gov | N/A |
| NHPRC General Inquiries | General Questions | nhprc@nara.gov | (866) 272-6272 |
| Grants.gov Support Center | Technical Support | N/A | 1-800-518-4726 |
This grant opportunity is ideal for researchers and institutions focused on archival preservation, digitization, and public access projects that deepen understanding of U.S. history, especially those involving early legal records and underrepresented communities.