Given the current political climate, many of us in the archives, library, and museum worlds are worried about the possible reduction of support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and other government programs. While I won’t get into politics here, I believe that the NEA and NEH may be temporarily reduced but will not be shut down. Even if they are, there are a number of grants offered by individual foundations and little-known organizations that are more than willing to support your projects.
Having been an information professional for many years, I’ve dealt with all sides of the grant-making process. My graduate work in archives and records management was paid for by grant money, and I’ve led or participated in countless grant-supported projects. I’ve written, contributed, edited, and given feedback on proposals, and have served as a grant reviewer for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) and other organizations.
When I talk to clients, the most difficult aspect of proposal writing they experience is being too nearsighted and too farsighted. The archives, library, and museum staff know their collections so well and in such detail that they have difficulty explaining their projects in the most compelling way possible to outside audiences. They are myopic. On the other hand, members of the fundraising team of the home institution are challenged because they lack the insight and subject matter expertise to develop a strong and detailed proposal. They are hyperopic. Some development team members write proposals without consulting the information professionals on their staff and vice versa; I've seen this far too often than you'd imagine.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have 20/20 vision for your proposals? I can help craft a proposition that will give you your best shot at winning the grant. I bring almost 20 years of nonprofit experience to reviewing and editing grant proposals for cultural institutions, offering comprehensive feedback as to what grant makers need to hear in order to say “yes.”
Over the past few months, I’ve gathered a collection of American-based grants that support information-based projects in the cultural heritage sector. I've focused on national, nonprofit funders; there are numerous state, regional, corporate, and civic-based organizations that aren't listed here. These listings are provided as a service to my readers. Please verify all submission deadlines and other information with the respective granting offices or agencies. All links are working as of 6/6/17.
Access to Historical Records: Archival Projects
Access to Historical Records: Major Initiatives
American Alliance of Museums Grants
Association for Recorded Sound Collections Research Grants Program
Awards for Faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Awards for Faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Awards for Faculty at Tribal Colleges and Universities
Collections Assessment for Preservation Program (CAP)
Creating Humanities Communities
Dialogues on the Experience of War
Digital Dissemination of Archival Collections
Digital Edition Publishing Cooperatives
Digital Humanities Advancement Grants
Digital Projects for the Public
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives
Documenting Democracy: Access to Historical Records Projects
Documenting Endangered Languages
Electronic Records Projects Grants
Emerging Crises Oral History Research Fund
Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions
Fellowships (NEH)
Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan
Gladys Brooks Foundation Grants for Education
Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Humanities Program and Research Library Program
GRAMMY Foundation Preservation Assistance Grants
GRAMMY Foundation Preservation Implementation Grants
Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies
Henry Luce Foundation Responsive Grants
Humanities Collections and Reference Resources
Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges
Humanities Initiatives at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Humanities Initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Humanities Initiatives at Tribal Colleges and Universities
Innovation in Archives and Documentary Editing
The Institute of Turkish Studies Research Grants: Library Grants
Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities
International Institute for Jewish Genealogy Research Grants
Landmarks of American History and Culture: Workshops for School Teachers
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
LSTA Competitive Grants for the Pacific Region and U.S. Virgin Islands
Media Projects: Development Grants
Media Projects: Production Grants
Museum Assessment Program (MAP)
Museums Empowered: Professional Development and Capacity Building Opportunities for Museums
Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards
National Digital Newspaper Program
National Film Preservation Foundation Grants
National Leadership Grants for Libraries
National Leadership Grants for Museums
National Medal for Museum and Library Service
Native American Library Services: Basic Grants
Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program
Native Hawaiian Library Services
NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication
Next Generation Humanities PhD Implementation Grants
Next Generation Humanities PhD Planning Grants
Preservation and Access Education and Training
Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
Preservation of Classical Music Historical Recordings Grants
·Public Engagement with Historical Records
Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions
Publishing Historical Records Grants
Scholarly Editions and Translations Grants
The Society of American Archivists Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award
Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries
State and National Archival Partnership Grants
State Board Programming Grants
State Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants
STEM Expert Facilitation of Family Learning in Libraries and Museums (STEMeX)
Summer Seminars and Institutes
Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections
Swedish Council of America (SCA) Grants
Visual Resources Association Foundation Grants
