Opportunity Information: Apply for 20200115 PJ
The National Digital Newspaper Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Preservation and Access, to expand a nationwide digital collection of historically significant U.S. newspapers. The central goal is to identify, digitize, and make publicly available newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 representing every state and U.S. territory. The end product is a unified, searchable national resource that is preserved for the long term and hosted by the Library of Congress (LC), with free online public access.
This opportunity is issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which generally means NEH expects a more active partnership role than a standard grant might involve, often including coordination around project plans, technical requirements, digitization standards, and delivery of content for permanent public hosting. The program sits within the humanities funding area (CFDA 45.149) and supports work that strengthens access to primary source materials used for research, teaching, journalism, family history, and community heritage, while also improving preservation outcomes by creating high-quality digital surrogates.
Eligible applicants cover a broad range of public and nonprofit entities that are positioned to manage newspaper collections and statewide or regional digitization efforts. This includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under that specific nonprofit category). In practice, applicants are often state libraries, universities, historical societies, or other organizations with demonstrated capacity for stewardship of newspaper collections, rights and permissions management where needed, and the technical and project management resources required for large-scale digitization projects.
For the cycle described in the source data (Funding Opportunity Number 20200115 PJ), applications were originally due January 15, 2020, with the opportunity created on November 20, 2019. NEH anticipated making about 13 awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $325,000 per award. Funding is intended to support the work necessary to build out the national collection, typically including activities like selection of historically significant newspaper titles within the eligible date range, preparation of materials, digitization, creation of searchable text (often via OCR), quality control, and packaging and delivery of files and metadata in line with Library of Congress requirements so the content can be integrated and maintained as part of the permanent national database.
Overall, the program is designed to help ensure that vital newspaper records documenting U.S. history and daily life over nearly three centuries are not only preserved, but also made easy to discover and use by anyone, without cost, through a long-term, nationally managed platform at the Library of Congress.Apply for 20200115 PJ
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Digital Newspaper Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.149.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 15, 2020. (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 $325,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district 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.
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National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP)?
The National Digital Newspaper Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity run by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), through its Division of Preservation and Access. Its purpose is to expand a nationwide digital collection of historically significant U.S. newspapers and make them freely available online as part of a unified, searchable national resource hosted by the Library of Congress (LC).
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is to identify, digitize, and make publicly available newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 representing every state and U.S. territory, and to deliver those digitized files and metadata to the Library of Congress for long-term preservation and free public access.
Who offers and administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), specifically through its Division of Preservation and Access, with long-term hosting and public access provided by the Library of Congress.
What type of funding instrument is NDNP?
It is issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This generally indicates NEH expects a more active partnership role than with a standard grant, often involving coordination on project plans, technical requirements, digitization standards, and delivery of content for permanent public hosting.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean in practical terms for applicants?
Based on the description provided, it means NEH is likely to be more directly involved during the project than in a typical grant. Applicants should be prepared for coordination with NEH and for meeting specific technical and content delivery requirements so materials can be hosted and preserved long term by the Library of Congress.
What is the CFDA number or funding area for this program?
The program is within the humanities funding area and is identified as CFDA 45.149.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under that specific nonprofit category)
What types of organizations typically apply?
Applicants are often state libraries, universities, historical societies, or similar organizations that have experience stewarding newspaper collections and can manage digitization at scale, including project management and technical capabilities.
What date range of newspapers is eligible for digitization?
The program focuses on newspapers published between 1690 and 1963.
Why is the program limited to newspapers published between 1690 and 1963?
The opportunity description sets the scope as 1690 to 1963 to build a consistent national digital collection of historically significant newspapers within that defined time period.
What is the intended end product of NDNP-funded work?
The intended end product is a unified, searchable national resource of digitized newspapers that is preserved for the long term and hosted by the Library of Congress, with free online public access.
Where will the digitized newspapers be hosted?
The digitized newspapers are intended to be hosted by the Library of Congress as part of a permanent national database, with free online access for the public.
Will the public have to pay to access the digitized newspapers?
No. The program description specifies free online public access through the Library of Congress-hosted platform.
What kinds of activities can grant funds support?
Funding is intended to support work needed to expand the national collection, typically including:
- Selecting historically significant newspaper titles within the eligible date range
- Preparing materials for digitization
- Digitizing newspapers
- Creating searchable text (often via OCR)
- Conducting quality control
- Packaging and delivering files and metadata that meet Library of Congress requirements
Does the program require OCR or searchable text?
The description notes creation of searchable text is typically part of NDNP projects, often produced via OCR, along with quality control so the content can function well as a searchable national resource.
Are there specific technical requirements or standards for digitization and delivery?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes coordination around technical requirements and digitization standards, and it specifically notes that files and metadata must be packaged and delivered in line with Library of Congress requirements so the content can be integrated and maintained as part of the permanent national database.
What role does the Library of Congress play in the program?
The Library of Congress hosts the unified, searchable national newspaper resource, preserves it for the long term, and provides free online public access. NDNP-funded projects deliver digitized content and metadata to LC for integration into that resource.
What role does NEH play during the project?
NEH offers the funding through a cooperative agreement and is expected to take an active partnership role, including coordination around plans, technical expectations, digitization standards, and content delivery for permanent public hosting.
How many awards were expected for the referenced cycle?
For the cycle described (Funding Opportunity Number 20200115 PJ), NEH anticipated making about 13 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount listed for the referenced cycle is $325,000 per award.
When was the application due for the cycle referenced in the provided information?
For the referenced cycle (Funding Opportunity Number 20200115 PJ), applications were originally due January 15, 2020.
When was the referenced opportunity created?
The provided information states the opportunity was created on November 20, 2019.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number mentioned in the description?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is 20200115 PJ.
What is meant by "historically significant" newspapers in this context?
The description indicates NDNP supports selection of historically significant newspaper titles within the eligible date range to represent every state and U.S. territory as part of a national research resource. The specific criteria for significance are not detailed in the information provided, but the intent is to support broad historical coverage and value for public use.
Does the program aim to include every state and U.S. territory?
Yes. A stated goal is to represent every state and U.S. territory in the national digital collection.
What kinds of users benefit from this program?
The digitized newspaper collection is described as supporting research, teaching, journalism, family history, and community heritage, while also improving preservation outcomes by creating high-quality digital surrogates.
How does NDNP support preservation?
NDNP supports preservation by creating high-quality digital surrogates of historically important newspapers and ensuring the resulting digital files are preserved long term through a nationally managed platform hosted by the Library of Congress.
What capacity is implied for organizations applying to NDNP?
The description suggests applicants typically need demonstrated capacity to manage newspaper collections and statewide or regional digitization efforts, including project management and technical resources for large-scale digitization, plus the ability to handle rights and permissions management where needed.
Is this program focused on a specific subject area?
Yes. It is positioned within the humanities and focuses on access to primary source newspaper materials that document U.S. history and daily life over nearly three centuries.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
Next opportunity: NAGPRA CONSULTATION/DOCUMENTATION GRANTS FY2020
Previous opportunity: 2020 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation – Small Grants (Cameroon)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (20200115 PJ) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities Apply for 20200305 HT Funding Number: 20200305 HT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Apply for 20200130 PF Funding Number: 20200130 PF Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section FY 2020 Annual Program Statement (APS) Apply for DOSRUS20GR001 Funding Number: DOSRUS20GR001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| State Board Programming Grants Apply for STATE 202006 Funding Number: STATE 202006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions Apply for EDITIONS 202006 Funding Number: EDITIONS 202006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions Apply for EDITIONS 202010 Funding Number: EDITIONS 202010 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Archives Collaboratives Apply for COLLABORATIVES 202006 Funding Number: COLLABORATIVES 202006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Fellowships Open Book Program Apply for 20200316 DR Funding Number: 20200316 DR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $5,500 |
| U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, PAS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement Apply for PAS MRT FY20 01 Funding Number: PAS MRT FY20 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Mauritania Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Awards for Faculty Apply for 20200408 HB Funding Number: 20200408 HB Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Summer Seminars and Institutes for Higher Education Faculty Apply for 20200303 FS EH Funding Number: 20200303 FS EH Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $235,000 |
| Summer Seminars and Institutes for K-12 Educators Apply for 20200303 FV ES Funding Number: 20200303 FV ES Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $235,000 |
| Fellowships Apply for 20200408 FEL Funding Number: 20200408 FEL Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, PAS SMALL GRANTS Request for Statements of Interest Apply for PAS MRT FY20 02 Funding Number: PAS MRT FY20 02 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Mauritania Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| NEH - Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication Apply for 20200422 FEL Funding Number: 20200422 FEL Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan Apply for 20200422 FO Funding Number: 20200422 FO Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2021 Apply for DOS PARIS PD 2020 CA 003 Funding Number: DOS PARIS PD 2020 CA 003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to France Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $249,000 |
| 2020 Public Diplomacy Grants Program Apply for DOS MSU PASPDGP FY20 Funding Number: DOS MSU PASPDGP FY20 Agency: Department of State, U. S. Mission to Lesotho Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants Apply for 20200515 CHA Funding Number: 20200515 CHA Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Research and Development Apply for 20200515 PR Funding Number: 20200515 PR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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