Funding opportunities for libraries, archives, and special collections: May–December 2025
Rakuichi Hagiwara Bookplate. Digital USD, 1967-01-01. https://jstor.org/stable/community.32640921.
Finding the right funding can make all the difference when it comes to building collections, expanding digital access, or preserving cultural heritage. If you’re looking for library funding opportunities to apply for between May and December 2025, we’ve gathered some of the most reliable grants that prioritize digitization, collection development, preservation, and access.
The following opportunities are geared toward U.S.-based institutions and we’ve focused on programs that are expected to continue without major impacts from recent budget changes.
Federal funding opportunities
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
Helps small and mid-sized institutions preserve and manage humanities collections by funding assessments, policies, environmental monitoring, emergency planning, and training. Prioritizes underrepresented communities and institutions new to NEH funding.
- Award range: Up to $10,000 (or $15,000 for institutions outside the contiguous U.S.)
- Application available: October 8, 2025
- Application deadline: January 8, 2026
- Notification date: August 31, 2026
- Project start date: September 1–December 1, 2026
NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (Anticipated)
Funds planning and implementation of preventive care strategies for humanities collections, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and resilience. Supports institutions in improving storage and display conditions, reducing energy costs, and safeguarding collections from disasters.
- Award range: Planning: up to $50,000; Implementation Level I: up to $100,000; Implementation Level II: up to $350,000 (with additional support available for non-contiguous states/territories)
- Application available: October 9, 2025
- Application deadline: January 9, 2026
- Notification date: August 31, 2026
- Project start date: October 1, 2026 – January 1, 2027
NEH Preservation and Access Education and Training
Funds projects aimed at educating professionals who preserve humanities collections.
- Maximum award amount: $350,000
- Application opens: April 29, 2025
- Application deadline: June 17, 2025
- Project start date: Early 2026
Foundation and private funding opportunities
Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices
Supports digitization of rare and unique materials that document underrepresented communities.
- Award range: $50,000 to $300,000
- Initial call for proposals expected: August 2025
- Preliminary application deadline: October 2025
- Final application deadline (for invited applicants): Early 2026
- Project start date: Summer/Fall 2026
CLIR Recordings at Risk
Funds the digitization and preservation of at-risk audiovisual materials.
- Award range: $10,000 to $50,000
- Two application rounds expected: Spring 2025 and Fall 2025
- Project start dates: Fall 2025 (for spring round), Spring 2026 (for fall round)
Mellon Foundation Public Knowledge program
Provides major support for initiatives that advance preservation, access, and open knowledge.
- Award range: Typically hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars
- Application timeline: Rolling (submit inquiries at any time)
- Project start dates: Varies based on proposal timing
Endangered Archives Programme (EAP)
Supports the preservation and digitization of at-risk archival materials globally, especially those vulnerable due to environmental threats or neglect. Projects must demonstrate urgent need, cultural and research significance, and legal rights to digitize.
- Award range: Varies by project scope
- Application process: Two-stage (preliminary and detailed applications)
- Next application round opens: September 2025
- Preliminary application deadline: November 2025 (anticipated)
- Notification for detailed stage: December 2025
- Final application deadline: February 2026
- Project start date: No earlier than July 2026
National Film Preservation Foundation: Avant-Garde Masters Grants
Supports U.S.-based nonprofit and public archives in preserving significant works of American avant-garde cinema. Grants cover laboratory work for creating new film elements and public access copies of rare or experimental works produced before the last 20 years.
- Award range: $5,000 to $50,000
- Registration deadline: May 9, 2025
- Application deadline: June 13, 2025
- Notification date: Mid-August 2025
- Grant period: August 2025 to October 2026
Final notes
In addition to national and private grants, many U.S. state libraries, archives, and humanities councils offer local funding opportunities. Be sure to check with your state library agency or archives board for 2025 programs.
We hope this roundup helps you find the right funding path for your next project. To learn more about how JSTOR can empower libraries to build and safeguard their collections, visit our website. We’re well-positioned to support your library in sharing and preserving unique institutional collections–including audiovisual materials–with JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services.
About the author
Maria Papadouris is a Content and Community Engagement Manager at ITHAKA, where she works on bringing the JSTOR community together under the common goal of championing access to knowledge (and having a fun time doing it!). A first-generation Greek American and first-generation college student, Maria studied political science and creative writing, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to issues in the humanities. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in English literature, with interests in modern literature, critical theory (particularly around ideology and power), semiotics, and philosophy.