Opportunity Information: Apply for 030ADV23R0050
The Library of Congress is offering the "Of the People: Widening the Path: Community Collections Grants to Individuals" program to fund contemporary cultural documentation projects that center the lived experiences, traditions, and creative practices of diverse and often underrepresented communities across the United States. Supported by a gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the opportunity is part of a multiyear initiative designed to bring community members directly into the process of building archival collections. The main idea is that communities should be able to document themselves from their own perspectives, rather than having their histories and cultural expressions interpreted only from the outside.
This funding supports individuals who propose to conduct cultural documentation fieldwork that will ultimately become an archival collection preserved by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and made publicly accessible through the Library of Congress website. Projects are expected to produce materials that help expand the Library's holdings with locally rooted knowledge and creativity, including contemporary documentation that reflects how communities live, work, celebrate, create, and remember today. A key expectation is authenticity and proximity: competitive proposals are expected to come from applicants who are members of the community being documented or who have close, credible ties and an active affiliation with that community.
The awards are structured as cooperative agreements, meaning the Library of Congress is not only providing funding but also playing an active support role. American Folklife Center folklorists and archivists may assist awardees with practical and technical aspects of documentation work, including guidance or training on fieldwork methods, archival standards, digital tools, and related best practices. In addition to one-on-one or project-specific help, Library staff plan to support a cohort-style experience where awardees can share lessons learned, approaches, and knowledge with one another, building a network of practitioners rather than operating in isolation.
Grant funds can be used for common, real-world costs associated with fieldwork and documentation. The opportunity specifically notes travel, equipment rental or purchase, and other expenses tied to collecting and preparing documentation materials. Awardees may also have the option, in consultation with American Folklife Center staff during the award process, to create public programs connected to their projects in their home communities. These public-facing activities may be supported by additional funds, depending on the project and the arrangement developed with the Library.
The program is also framed as relationship-building rather than one-time support. The American Folklife Center is seeking long-term connections with recipients and intends to create opportunities for awardees to present their work at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., giving broader visibility to the communities represented and the collections created.
Key administrative details include that the sponsoring agency is the Library of Congress, eligibility is limited to individuals, and the assistance listing is CFDA 42.011. The award ceiling is $50,000, with an expected 10 awards. The opportunity number is 030ADV23R0050, and the original application deadline listed is August 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted by email to AFC-grants@loc.gov following the instructions in Section D.6 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which contains the full requirements, required components, and submission rules.Apply for 030ADV23R0050
- The Library of Congress in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Of the People: Widening the Path: Community Collections Grants to Individuals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 42.011.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 30, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2023 August 18, 2023 at 200 PM Eastern Time. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Of the People: Widening the Path: Community Collections Grants to Individuals" program?
It is a Library of Congress funding opportunity that supports contemporary cultural documentation projects centered on the lived experiences, traditions, and creative practices of diverse and often underrepresented communities across the United States. The program is designed to help communities document themselves from their own perspectives and contribute those materials to a public archival collection.
Who is offering and supporting this grant opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the Library of Congress. The opportunity is supported by a gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is part of a multiyear initiative to bring community members directly into the process of building archival collections.
What kinds of projects does this program fund?
The program funds cultural documentation fieldwork that results in materials becoming an archival collection preserved by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and made publicly accessible through the Library of Congress website. The emphasis is on locally rooted, contemporary documentation that reflects how communities live, work, celebrate, create, and remember today.
What is the main purpose or idea behind the program?
The central idea is that communities should be able to document themselves and represent their histories and cultural expressions from within, rather than having those stories and practices interpreted only from an outside perspective.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to individuals.
Does the program expect applicants to have a connection to the community being documented?
Yes. Competitive proposals are expected to come from applicants who are members of the community being documented or who have close, credible ties and an active affiliation with that community. The program emphasizes authenticity and proximity to the community.
What happens to the materials created during the project?
The documentation produced through funded fieldwork is expected to become an archival collection preserved by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and made publicly accessible through the Library of Congress website.
Is this a standard grant or a different type of award?
The awards are structured as cooperative agreements. This means the Library of Congress is not only providing funding but also playing an active support role during the project.
What kind of support does the Library of Congress provide to awardees?
American Folklife Center folklorists and archivists may assist awardees with practical and technical aspects of documentation work. This may include guidance or training on fieldwork methods, archival standards, digital tools, and related best practices.
Is there a cohort or peer-learning component?
Yes. In addition to project-specific support, Library staff plan to support a cohort-style experience so awardees can share lessons learned, approaches, and knowledge with one another, building a network of practitioners.
What expenses can grant funds be used for?
The opportunity notes that funds can be used for common costs associated with fieldwork and documentation, including travel, equipment rental or purchase, and other expenses tied to collecting and preparing documentation materials.
Are public programs allowed as part of the project?
Awardees may have the option, in consultation with American Folklife Center staff during the award process, to create public programs connected to their projects in their home communities.
Is additional funding available for public-facing activities?
Potentially. Public-facing activities may be supported by additional funds, depending on the project and the arrangement developed with the Library.
Is the program intended to be a one-time grant or relationship-based?
The program is framed as relationship-building rather than one-time support. The American Folklife Center is seeking long-term connections with recipients.
Are there opportunities to present the work at the Library of Congress?
Yes. The American Folklife Center intends to create opportunities for awardees to present their work at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., helping provide broader visibility to the communities represented and the collections created.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing is CFDA 42.011.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expected 10 awards.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is 030ADV23R0050.
When was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline listed is August 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted by email to AFC-grants@loc.gov, following the instructions in Section D.6 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which contains the full requirements, required components, and submission rules.
Where can applicants find the full requirements and required application components?
The full requirements, required components, and submission rules are provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), specifically referenced as Section D.6 for submission instructions.
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