Funder: National Archives and Records Administration
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 history and underrepresented communities.
Key Information: Applicants must be registered in SAM with a valid Unique Entity ID; draft proposals are strongly encouraged for feedback.
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), offers the Archival Projects grant to support projects that significantly enhance online public discovery and use of historical records collections. The program encourages projects that engage the public, expand civic education, and promote understanding of U.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 nation's legal history. Projects that center the voices and histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are especially welcomed.
Eligible projects may involve:
All types of historical records are eligible, including documents, photographs, born-digital materials, and analog audio and moving images.
Successful applications must demonstrate the collection’s value to public understanding of U.S. democracy and culture, adhere to 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 must be submitted via Grants.gov.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a draft proposal (including project narrative and budget) by August 15, 2025, to Nancy Melley, Director for Access Programs, at nancy.melley@nara.gov for feedback.
The final application must include:
In case of technical issues with Grants.gov, applicants must contact the Grants.gov Support Center and may request an alternative submission method by contacting Jeff de la Concepcion at jeff.delaconcepcion@nara.gov by 3:00 PM ET on the deadline day with a valid trouble-ticket number.
Applications are evaluated based on:
A panel of up to five peer reviewers scores proposals. Applicants receive anonymous reviewer comments and may respond approximately three months after submission.
| Contact Person | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Nancy Melley, Director for Access Programs | nancy.melley@nara.gov | (866) 272-6272 (general NARA) |
| Jeff de la Concepcion (backup submission) | jeff.delaconcepcion@nara.gov | N/A |
| General NHPRC inquiries | nhprc@nara.gov | (866) 272-6272 |
Address:
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD 20740-6001
United States