Community-Based Archives – Jul 2

Posted by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation on May 18, 2021

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Announces 2021 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Archives

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation invites community-based archives in the United States and its territories to submit applications for its 2021 Call for Proposals to Community-Based Archives.

Over the course of two open calls for proposals in direct support of archives, the foundation has awarded almost $3 million to over thirty organizations. This year, the foundation plans to make $1.5 million in grants for a third and final cohort of archives through the program, with preference given to those organizations planning to activate their archive through community-led advocacy and activation efforts.

Grants awarded through the call will provide support to archives in one or more of the following areas of need: operational costs, including staff, space, and utilities; collections care, including the acquisition of new materials, physical and digital storage fees, and access and preservation efforts; programming activities, including events, exhibitions, and publications; and activation and advocacy efforts, including resident community activist/archivist positions, ethical preservation of social media, and increased community use.

Two-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 will be awarded, with the grant period beginning January 1, 2022, and ending December 31, 2023. The foundation plans to convene representatives from the awarded archives both in person and online over the course of the grant term to build a cohort of organizations that would help and learn from each other.

Applications are due by Friday, July 2 at 9:00am ET. Applications will be evaluated by a panel that includes foundation staff, external reviewers, and members of the 2019 cohort. All applicants will be notified of the status of their submission by Friday, September 3. If selected, additional information and materials will be requested in a final proposal to be reviewed and approved by the foundation’s board of trustees.

For more information, see the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation website.

Deadline: July 2, 2021