Preservation and Access Education and Training | 20250520 PE

Preservation and Access Education and Training (NEH) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the NEH Preservation and Access Education and Training grant?

This is a grant program from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), offered through its Division of Preservation and Access. It supports education and training initiatives that strengthen the ability of cultural heritage professionals to care for and provide access to humanities collections.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The goal is practical, skill-building training that helps staff at cultural institutions become stronger stewards of humanities materials, with an emphasis on real-world preservation and access practices.

3) What kinds of collections or materials does this program relate to?

The program is focused on collections that require informed preservation and access strategies, including archives, manuscripts, rare books, photographs, audiovisual recordings, digital assets, and other humanities resources.

4) What types of activities or programs can be supported?

NEH is looking to support structured learning experiences such as workshops, institutes, seminars, classroom-style courses, online training, hybrid training, and other organized education and training programs intended to improve professional practice in preservation and access.

5) Is the emphasis more on theory or on hands-on training?

The stated emphasis is on practical, skill-building training. Projects should focus on knowledge and skills that participants can apply in day-to-day preservation and access work.

6) Who is the intended audience for the training supported by this grant?

The intended audience is cultural heritage professionals and staff at cultural institutions who are responsible for caring for and providing access to humanities collections.

7) Does the training need to benefit more than one institution?

Yes. NEH indicates it intends to fund organizations that can deliver training with national, regional, or statewide reach. The training is meant to have broad impact beyond a single institution and build capacity across the field.

8) What does NEH mean by "national, regional, or statewide reach"?

Based on the program description, it means the training should be designed to serve participants and institutions beyond one local organization, with a scope broad enough to strengthen preservation and access practice across a wider community of professionals.

9) What is the funding category and assistance listing for this opportunity?

It is a discretionary grant under the Humanities funding activity category, listed as CFDA 45.149.

10) How many awards does NEH expect to make?

NEH expects to make around 10 awards.

11) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum (ceiling) award amount is $350,000 per grant.

12) When is the application deadline?

The listed application deadline is June 17, 2025.

13) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple public and nonprofit entity types that commonly host professional training programs.

14) Are state, county, or city governments eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments.

15) Are special district governments eligible?

Yes. Special district governments are listed as eligible applicants.

16) Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.

17) Are federally recognized Native American tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

18) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants, with an exclusion noted for higher education institutions in that nonprofit category.

19) If our organization is eligible, what capabilities does NEH expect us to have?

The description indicates the program is geared toward organizations with the capacity to convene participants, provide instruction or mentorship, and deliver training that meaningfully improves preservation and access work across cultural institutions.

20) Does the summary list specific required training topics?

No specific required topics are listed in the summary provided. However, the purpose of the program makes clear that projects should address real-world knowledge and skills needed to preserve collections and ensure they can be responsibly accessed by researchers, students, and the public.

21) What is meant by "preservation and access" in this program context?

In this program context, preservation refers to the informed care and stewardship of humanities collections, and access refers to enabling responsible use of those collections by audiences such as researchers, students, and the public.

22) Where should applicants look for the most complete eligibility rules?

NEH notes that applicants should consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) section on eligibility for full details and any specific conditions.