INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANTS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE & CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANTS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE & CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANTS: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGENDA • What the program funds • Developing an application • Review criteria • Application submission • The review process • Questions, drafts, and consultations challenge@neh. gov

WHAT THE PROGRAM FUNDS Digital Infrastructure Challenge Grants provide funds to maintain, modernize, and sustain existing digital projects and platforms. • • • Development and modernization of digital architecture Improvements to data management Upgrading software and hardware systems Updating and enhancing existing content Improving user experience Training and outreach activities Digital preservation Associated personnel costs Business development activities related to all of the above

OTHER NEH PROGRAMS THAT FUND DIGITAL WORK • Humanities Collections and Reference Resources https: //www. neh. gov/grants/preservation/humanities-collections-and-referenceresources • Research and Development https: //www. neh. gov/grants/preservation/research-and-development • Digital Humanities Access Grants https: //www. neh. gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-advancement-grants • Digital Projects for the Public https: //www. neh. gov/grants/public/digital-projects-the-public • NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication https: //www. neh. gov/grants/research/neh-mellon-fellowships-digital-publication • Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations https: //www. neh. gov/grants/research/scholarly-editions-and-translations-grants

INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANTS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE In order to receive Federal matching funds, recipients must raise and certify funding from non-federal third-party sources. Special encouragement for two-year colleges, HBCUs, TCUs, and HSIs: 1: 1 matching requirement All other applicants: 3: 1 for projects requesting up to $500, 000 4: 1 for projects requesting $500, 001 -$750, 000 Application deadline: May 15

DEVELOPING AN APPLICATION • Involve the whole team in the planning and grant writing process. • Have institutional commitment for the project: Willingness to fundraise; space, personnel, equipment; recognition of faculty work. • Have solid data about the use of the digital resource, and an understanding of its significance to the user community. The project budget should be limited to requested NEH funds plus the minimum required nonfederal funds, even if the proposal is part of a larger project. Project Director & Humanities Professionals Development Staff Institutional Partners For purposes of expenditure, there is no distinction between federal funds and nonfederal gifts. Third-Party Funders Challenge Grants Institutional Grant Administrator User Community Technology Specialists

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO PREPARE • • • Narrative (10 pp) Budget Work Plan Institutional Profile Financial Summary List of Trustees and Staff Resumes for Key Personnel Letters of Commitment Data Management Plan Sustainability Plan Other Documentation listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity

INFRASTRUCTURE & CAPACITY BUILDING CHALLENGE GRANTS: REVIEW CRITERIA Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to review applications: • Impact and sustainability • The significance of humanities activities and audience reach • Personnel and project plan • Evaluation • Fundraising and financial capacity

Make your case Start with the review criteria Demonstrate your project’s significance Develop a clear and realistic work plan Provide context Make it sound interesting Include compelling letters of support —Maria Biernik/NEH

Remember your audience Write for specialists and generalists Avoid jargon Address the criteria Use concrete examples Show them you know what you’re doing Anticipate and answer possible concerns —Alamy

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION Ensure that your SAM. gov and Grants. gov registrations and passwords are current. Registration in all systems, including SAM. gov and Grants. gov, may take up to 1 month to complete. Use the Notice of Funding Opportunity to guide you through the submission process.

COMMON ERRORS • Ignoring the guidelines • Not making the case for significance • Waiting until the last minute to log in to grants. gov • An incomplete or unrealistic work plan • A budget that does not align with the project • Typos or grammatical errors

The life of your application Award notification Chairman’s decision National Council review Staff recommendations Review panels Submission

QUESTIONS? NEH staff will answer questions, provide telephone consultations, and read draft proposals submitted no later than April 3. challenge@neh. gov 202 -606 -8309