Archives Collaboratives | COLLABORATIVES 202106

Opportunity Information: Apply for COLLABORATIVES 202106

The Archives Collaboratives grant opportunity, offered through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration, is designed to help small and under-represented archives make their historical collections easier for the public to discover and use. The central idea is collaboration: NHPRC wants groups of archives to work together to improve public access to records by sharing practical know-how, adopting or developing common tools and techniques, assessing each partner's strengths and needs, and building management approaches that support long-term sustainability and growth. These collaboratives can be organized locally or across a wider geographic region, can operate virtually, and can be formed around shared subject matter, similar missions, or similar user communities.

To qualify as an Archives Collaborative under this program, the partnership must include at least three organizations. The collaborative structure is intentionally flexible, so partners might be museums, libraries, archives, universities, governments, or community-based organizations that hold historical records and face similar challenges in providing access. NHPRC emphasizes that proposed work must fit within the agency's eligibility rules, and applicants are expected to consult NHPRC's published "What we do and do not fund" guidance. Projects made up entirely of activities NHPRC considers ineligible will be rejected without further consideration, so applicants need to ensure their proposal includes at least one eligible activity tied to improving access to historical records.

The program offers two funding tracks: Planning Grants and Implementation Grants. Planning Grants support the early stage work of organizing the collaborative and designing a shared project. At the time of application, partners are expected to have already secured commitments to participate. During the planning period, the group would typically develop a mission for the collaborative, outline a work plan, set a realistic timeline, and decide what shared practice, tool, or technique they will create or adopt to increase public access to records. Planning awards can be up to $25,000 total, shared across the consortium. Implementation Grants fund the execution of projects that have been developed through planning, especially those that show strong partner commitment and present a clear work plan and timeline. Implementation awards can be up to $100,000 total, also shared across the consortium. For the cycle described in the notice, applications for both planning and implementation were due June 9, 2021, with projects expected to begin January 1, 2022. NHPRC anticipates making a small number of awards (the listing indicates about three).

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities (public or private), state or local government agencies, and federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups. Applicants must submit all required components, including the SF-424, a narrative, the NHPRC budget form, and any required supplemental materials. Applications missing required elements, or that fail to include at least one eligible program activity, will not be reviewed. NHPRC also directs applicants to review the rules for administering an NHPRC grant to avoid compliance issues that could affect eligibility or award management.

Cost sharing is a required feature of this program. NHPRC will cover no more than 75 percent of the total project costs for both planning and implementation awards, meaning the applicants must cover at least 25 percent through matching contributions. The match can include direct costs and indirect costs, in-kind contributions, third-party non-federal contributions, and income generated directly by the project. A key budgeting rule is that NHPRC funds cannot be used to pay indirect costs; if indirect costs are part of the project budget, they must appear under the applicant's cost share portion. The notice provides a simple example: requesting $75,000 from NHPRC implies at least $25,000 must be provided as cost share to reach a $100,000 total project budget.

There are also standard federal administrative requirements. Applicant organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application, must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the application and award process, and must include a valid DUNS number in the application (consistent with federal grants practices described in the opportunity). Finally, NHPRC requires acknowledgement of NHPRC support in publications and other products that result from the grant, ensuring the public can trace the funding source behind funded access and preservation outcomes.

• The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Archives Collaboratives" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 89.003.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 01, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 09, 2021. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for COLLABORATIVES 202106

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