Preservation and Access Education and Training

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Preservation and Access, is offering the Preservation and Access Education and Training program. This grant initiative supports the development and implementation of educational and training projects aimed at professionals responsible for preserving and providing access to humanities collections. These collections may include audiovisual materials, archival records, digital collections, rare books, archaeological artifacts, and more. The program is structured to equip staff at cultural institutions with essential skills and knowledge in collection stewardship. This funding opportunity invites proposals for national, regional, or statewide training programs. Eligible projects can span various stages, from curriculum development to program implementation. The initiative welcomes applications that include collaborative efforts with academic and non-academic institutions. Applicants are encouraged to focus on critical themes such as digital and audiovisual preservation, emergency preparedness, and emerging technologies in the preservation and access fields. Funded activities may include field services and consortia offering professional training, continuing education for specialized skills, and early-career programs to build preservation expertise. Potential outputs of funded projects range from curricula and training sessions to field assessments, open educational resources, and financial support for participants. The desired outcomes include building capable institutions and skilled professionals across various organization sizes and types. Applicants must be U.S.-based and qualify as a nonprofit organization, an accredited institution of higher education, a state or local government or agency, or a federally recognized Native American tribal government. The NEH will not fund projects limited to a single institution’s internal collection care or those involving advocacy, DEI initiatives, environmental justice, or projects falling outside the humanities scope. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and must include several required documents, such as a narrative, personnel list, resumes, work plan, and budget forms. Formatting and page limits are strictly enforced, and incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be reviewed. The final deadline for submission is June 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. NEH encourages early submission to allow time for troubleshooting and verification. NEH plans to award approximately $2.7 million, distributing around ten grants with award ceilings up to $350,000. For graduate programs in art conservation, applicants can request up to $250,000 in outright funds and an additional $100,000 in federal matching funds. Cost sharing is required only for those requesting federal matching funds. Projects should start between March 1, 2026, and September 1, 2026, and may run for up to three years (five years for graduate programs in art conservation). For assistance, applicants can contact the Division of Preservation and Access via email at preservation@neh.gov or by phone at 202-606-8570. Additional resources, including pre-application webinar details and program FAQs, are available on the NEH’s grant webpage.