Advanced networks are making it possible for libraries to expand access and outreach opportunities in never-before imagined ways.

Digital Humanities Startup Grants

Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Website: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/digitalhumanitiesstartup.html

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications to the Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small grants to support the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities.

Innovation is a hallmark of this grant category. All applicants must propose an innovative approach, method, tool, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. These grants are modeled, in part, on the “high risk/high reward” paradigm often used by funding agencies in the sciences. NEH is requesting proposals for projects that take some risks in the pursuit of innovation and excellence. Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants should result in plans, prototypes, or proofs of concept for long-term digital humanities projects prior to implementation.

Deadline: February 23, 2011
Grant Amount:
Level I Grants: $5,000 - $25,000 
Level II Grants: $25,001 - $50,000

 

Digital Humanities Challenge Grants

Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Website: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/challenge.html

NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants, intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds (that is, funds that are invested, with both the income and the principal being expended over a defined period of years) that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Funds may also be used for one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly.

Deadline: May 4, 2011
Grant Amount: $30,000 - $500,000 (maximum amount $1,000,000 but requestors seeking over $500,000 should speak with an NEH program officer.

America’s Media Makers: Development Grants

Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Website: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/AmMediaMakers_development.html

Grants for America’s Media Makers support media projects that explore significant events, figures, or developments in the humanities in creative and new ways. America’s Media Makers projects promote active exploration and engagement for broad public audiences in history, literature, archaeology, art history, comparative religion, philosophy, and other fields of the humanities. NEH supports the development of humanities content and interactivity that excites, informs, and stirs thoughtful reflection. To that end, NEH urges applicants to consider more than one format for presenting humanities ideas to the public. Grants for America’s Media Makers should encourage audiences to engage with the humanities, promote dialogue and discussion, and foster learning among people of all ages. NEH offers two categories of grants for media projects, Development Grants and Production Grants.

Deadline: January 12, 2011
Grant Amount: $40,000 - $75,000 

American Heritage Preservation Grants

Funding Agency: Institute for Museum and Library Services
Website: http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/boa.htm 

Bank of America is partnering with the Institute for Museum and Library Services to provide grants to small museums, libraries, and archives. The grants will raise awareness and fund preservation of treasures held in small museums, libraries and archives.

Grants will help to preserve specific items, including works of art, artifacts and historical documents that are in need of conservation. Applicants will build on completed conservation assessments of their collections to ensure that the grants are used in accordance with best practices in the field, and underscore the importance of assessment planning.


National Leadership Grants

Funding agency: IMLS
Website: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nationalLeadership.shtm

IMLS National Leadership Grants support projects that have the potential to elevate museum and library practice. The Institute seeks to advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage and knowledge while enhancing learning. IMLS welcomes proposals that promote the skills necessary to devlop 21st century communities, citizens, and workers.

Successful proposals will have national impact and generate results—new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances—that can be widely adapted or replicated to extend the benefit of federal investment. The Institute seeks to fund projects that have the following characteristics:

Strategic Impact—Proposals should address key needs and challenges that face libraries and museums. They should expand the boundaries within which libraries and museums operate, show the potential for far-reaching impact, and influence practice throughout the museum and/or library communities.

Innovation—Proposals should demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the project area, and show how the project will advance the state of the art of museum and library service.

Collaboration—While partners are not required in all National Leadership Grant categories, the Institute has found that involving carefully chosen partners with complementary competencies and resources can create powerful synergies that extend project impact. Proposals should show understanding of the challenges of collaboration and propose means for addressing them.

Applications may be submitted in the following categories: Advancing Digital Resources, Research, Demonstration, and Library and Museum Collaboration Grants.

Collaborative Planning Grants are also available in any of the four categories to enable project teams from more than one institution to work together to plan a project for a National Leadership Grant.

http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/nationalLeadership.shtm

FY 2011 Deadline:

February 11, 2011

Grant
Amount:

$50,000–$1,000,000; up to
$100,000 for planning grants