Humanities Collections and Reference Resources

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has issued an update regarding changes to the regulations in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200), effective October 1, 2024. These updates will apply to all NEH awards with issuance dates on or after this date, and applicants may begin integrating these changes into their current proposals. Notable revisions include an increase in the de minimis indirect cost rate to 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs, an increase in the per-unit cost threshold for equipment and computers classified as supplies to $10,000, and a change in the reporting threshold for unused supplies from $5,000 to $10,000. Additionally, the limit for excluding subaward costs from modified total direct costs has increased to $50,000, conditional on pre-award establishment in the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. Post-award adjustments may also be possible within 90 days of the project start date, pending funding availability. Recipients must verify that subrecipients are not suspended or debarred from receiving federal funds, and the Single Audit Threshold has been raised to $1 million. The NEH’s Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program provides financial support to libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations to help them preserve, digitize, and provide access to significant humanities collections. Funding opportunities within the program offer up to $50,000 for planning projects and $350,000 for implementation projects, which have performance periods of two and three years, respectively. The program’s objectives are to improve public and scholarly access to collections through digital catalogs, databases, and finding aids, and to support the development of reference resources, such as encyclopedias and comprehensive databases. The program is dedicated to ensuring the accessibility and long-term sustainability of cultural materials, encouraging digitization efforts, and promoting open access and collaboration across institutions. It supports partnerships between smaller and larger institutions and advocates for open sharing and interoperability of digital resources, which strengthens public engagement with primary sources and cultural heritage. Additionally, the NEH encourages applicants to consider issues such as intellectual property rights, privacy, and cultural sensitivities when determining public access for their materials. For those planning to apply for the next cycle, application guidelines are anticipated to be available on April 15, 2025, with a submission deadline of July 15, 2025, and notification of award decisions by April 30, 2026. Project start dates for successful applicants are expected to be June 1 or September 1, 2026. Until updated guidelines are available, applicants can refer to the current instructions to understand application requirements and project planning essentials. For more information, NEH directs applicants to consult the official NEH page on the 2024 Revisions to 2 CFR 200.