The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) offers the "Publishing Historical Records in Collaborative Digital Editions" grant program to support projects that enhance access to and contextualize historical records, fostering a deeper understanding of U.S. history, democracy, and culture. Projects must focus on publishing online editions of historical records, such as documents, photographs, born-digital materials, and analog audio. Special emphasis is placed on projects documenting the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The program does not support film or video production and is not open to new applicants for FY2026, limiting eligibility to current or previously funded projects.
The program has two deadlines for FY2026: May 7, 2025, with funding starting January 1, 2026, and November 5, 2025, with funding starting July 1, 2026. Grants are awarded for one year and capped at $125,000, with an expected 21 awards totaling $2.6 million. The program encourages collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, including editorial, archival, and technical staff from institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and other diverse academic and community organizations.
Applications must include a detailed project narrative, budget, supplementary materials, and a plan for long-term preservation and digital sustainability of the materials. Proposals are expected to adhere to best practices recommended by the Association for Documentary Editing (ADE) or Modern Language Association (MLA) Committee on Scholarly Editions. Applicants must describe their methodologies, publishing platforms, and strategies for digital and, if applicable, print publication.
Eligibility is restricted to U.S. nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and Native American tribes. The NHPRC requires applicants to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and submit their proposals via Grants.gov. Cost-sharing is optional and not part of the evaluation criteria but may be included in the budget as a voluntary contribution.
Proposals are evaluated on the project's scope, collaboration quality, feasibility, community engagement, and the potential to advance historical research. The review process involves external peer reviews, applicant responses to reviewer comments, and final recommendations by the NHPRC staff and Commission members. Award decisions are based on available appropriations, and recipients must report progress every six months.
For further guidance, applicants may submit draft proposals for feedback and contact the NHPRC's Director for Publishing Programs, Julie Fisher. Comprehensive application instructions and forms are available on Grants.gov.
