CAPACITY BUILDIING FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) ARCHIVES | HBCU ARCHIVES 202411

Opportunity Information: Apply for HBCU ARCHIVES 202411

The Capacity Building for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Archives grant is a National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) funding opportunity designed to strengthen the long-term care, processing, preservation, discovery, and public access of archival collections held at HBCUs. The program is built around the idea that sustainable improvement happens faster and lasts longer when organizations work together, so NHPRC is specifically looking for collaborative teams of archivists and related practitioners. These teams may include HBCU-based archives, libraries, and research centers, as well as community-based archives and other cultural heritage partners that support HBCU collections or document African American and other marginalized histories. A strong proposal is expected to show that partners are sharing resources, building skills across institutions, and forming respectful, mutually beneficial relationships that especially help smaller and underserved HBCU repositories.

Project ideas are expected to fit within one or more major focus areas: education and training, capacity building, and preservation and digitization preparation. Under education and training, NHPRC is interested in practical archival training for staff who routinely handle archival work but may not have formal archival preparation, with an emphasis on tools and workflows they can immediately apply at their home institutions. Training related to electronic records and born-digital/digitized collections is also a priority, including guidance on systems, tools, and best practices for preserving, arranging, processing, and describing digital materials. Another encouraged model is a "traveling archivist" or field-service approach where experienced professionals visit partner HBCU repositories, survey collections and conditions, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to improve preservation and access. NHPRC also welcomes training partnerships that include community-based archives or local cultural memory organizations, aiming to build a community of practice that can lower costs, share expertise, and improve sustainability over time.

Within the capacity building category, the grant can support planning and assessment work that helps HBCU archives become more resilient and better positioned for future funding. This can include hiring consultants or providing direct assistance to create or strengthen foundational documents such as strategic plans, collection management plans, preservation plans, emergency/disaster plans, digital infrastructure plans, sustainability plans, and climate action plans. It can also support different forms of assessments that clarify needs and priorities, such as preservation assessments, self-assessments, and conservation assessments. NHPRC also highlights collaboration models that improve discovery and online access, such as consortial approaches that make HBCU collections easier to find and use for researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Overall, the emphasis is on strengthening the broader ecosystem that supports HBCU archives, not only improving one institution in isolation.

The preservation and digitization preparation component is geared toward concrete, essential upgrades that enable proper stewardship and future access work. Allowable activities include purchasing core preservation needs such as shelving, archival furniture, and collections management-related equipment or systems, as well as rehousing supplies like archival boxes and protective enclosures. The program can also support purchasing digitization equipment along with training so staff can use that equipment effectively and responsibly. While digitization itself may be part of broader capacity goals, the language here stresses readiness and preparation: putting the right physical and technical basics in place so collections can be preserved and made accessible over time.

NHPRC encourages prospective applicants to discuss ideas before submitting, especially if a concept does not fit neatly into the listed examples but still clearly builds HBCU archival capacity and improves discovery and access. There is also a structured opportunity for feedback: applicants are strongly encouraged to submit draft materials for comment, with drafts due by August 15, 2024. The final application deadline is November 7, 2024, and funded projects are expected to start no earlier than July 1, 2025.

Funding is offered as a one-year grant with awards typically ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, and there is a possibility of renewal for up to two additional years. NHPRC expects to make up to six awards, with up to $1,000,000 available across the category. The opportunity is a discretionary grant in the humanities funding area (CFDA 89.003). Cost sharing is not required, although applicants may include their contributions (including in-kind support) in the budget. A key financial rule is that NHPRC funds cannot be used for indirect costs; any indirect costs must be shown only as part of the applicant's cost share contribution.

Eligible applicants include US nonprofit organizations (including HBCUs and community-based organizations serving HBCUs), colleges and universities and other academic institutions actively serving HBCUs, and state or local government agencies. Collaborations involving HBCUs are strongly encouraged, and proposals that mainly consist of activities NHPRC considers ineligible will not be reviewed, so applicants are expected to consult NHPRC's guidance on what it does and does not fund and the rules for administering an NHPRC grant.

Finally, applicants must meet federal registration requirements to apply. The applicant organization must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), keep that registration active through the application and award period, and include a valid Unique Entity ID in the application. Because SAM and Grants.gov registration or renewal can take weeks, NHPRC emphasizes that applicants should confirm their accounts and passwords early, and it will not extend deadlines due to incomplete registrations.

• The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CAPACITY BUILDIING FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) ARCHIVES" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 89.003.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for HBCU ARCHIVES 202411

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