Preservation Grants Program

The National Recording Preservation Foundation (NRPF) invites proposals for its 2025 preservation grants program, which is designed to support the preservation of at-risk audio collections of cultural and historical importance. NRPF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving America’s audio heritage, and its grants help strengthen the capacity of institutions to care for, preserve, and provide access to these materials. The 2025 NRPF grants will support a range of preservation activities such as digitization, condition assessment, re-housing, environmental monitoring, inventorying, and planning or conducting workshops that build institutional knowledge. Funding is not available for acquiring new collections, restoring individual items, or commercial-only projects. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000 for projects lasting between six to twelve months. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit organizations such as archives, libraries, museums, universities, and other mission-aligned entities that hold or have stewardship of audio collections. In rare cases, other applicants may be considered if the audio collection is of extraordinary importance, but a nonprofit fiscal sponsor is usually required in such instances. All organizations must be able to demonstrate their rights and responsibilities over the collection in question. Applicants must submit a completed application using NRPF’s online Typeform portal by June 30, 2025. Applications require general organizational and contact information, a description of the audio collection or training program, a statement of significance, urgency, and condition, a detailed work plan including personnel, and a line-item budget. A budget narrative must also explain how each cost was determined. Proposals will be evaluated by experts in audio preservation based on the collection's significance, urgency of preservation needs, feasibility of proposed work, capacity to carry out the project, and cost reasonableness. Grants will be announced around September 1, 2025. For further details, applicants may access application instructions and a budget template via NRPF’s website or email info@recordingpreservation.org. While the foundation does not maintain a preferred vendor list, applicants are encouraged to consult the ARSC Audio Preservation Directory for vendor references.

Ensure clarity on collection significance, urgency, and proposed preservation plan. Identify external contractors in the proposal if applicable.