RFP #305: Documentary Heritage Program 2026-2027
Documentary Heritage Program (DHP) grants are designed to build more comprehensive and equitable documentation of New York State’s history and culture by supporting projects that identify, survey, collect, arrange, describe, and make available records that relate to groups and topics traditionally under-represented in the State’s historical record. DHP is administered by the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Archives, a unit of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Education Department.
October 1st, 2026 - September 30th, 2027
The Documentary Heritage Program is a statewide program established in 1988 by theÌýNew York Documentary Heritage Act (Education Law, Section 140) to provide financial support and guidance to not-for-profit organizations that hold, collect, and make available New York State's historical records. In 2026-2027, a total of $92,000 is available for DHP Grants.
Eligible applicants include chartered or incorporated not-for-profit organizations, archives, libraries, historical societies, museums, and other similar institutions which operate historical records programs within Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and consortia or partnerships of suchÌýorganizations. Historical service agencies, colleges, universities, professional associations, and other not-for-profit institutions or systems that provide public access to historical records are also eligible. Consortia must meet the requirements outlined in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Consortium Policy for State and Federal Discretionary Grant Programs. To be eligible to apply for a DHP Grant, applicants must have not-for-profit status under Part 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code unless they are a SUNY/CUNY institution specified in the RFP.
Grants will be made in amounts up to $5,000 for implementation projects and up to $25,000 for access projects. A maximum of $92,000 total is available for all grants combined in this cycle.Ìý
Grant funding priority is given to projects that identify, survey, collect, and make available historical records that relate to under-documented groups or subjects. Projects should address topics that are of significance to the history of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and which focus on the people, groups, events, or changing conditions that are under-represented in New York’s historical record.
For more information, please see RFP document.
Due date for submitting the Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for a DHP Grant for the 2026-2027 grant year is May 19, 2026. NOI is recommended, not required. Send the NOI toÌýdhs@nysed.gov.
The State of New York has implemented a statewide prequalification process to facilitate prompt contracting for not-for-profit applicants. All DHP Grant applicants are required toÌýprequalify prior to June 2nd, 2026 at 5:00 pm. All applicants must register in theÌýÌýand complete theÌýÌýprocess (also see Appendix 1 in the RFP).
Questions about the DHP Grant Guidelines and application should be emailed to archdhp@nysed.gov. Inquiries are invited and will be answered until May 12, 2026. Prior to this date, will be posted online on a rolling basis until May 19, 2026.Ìý
Applications must be submitted electronically by June 2nd, 2026 at 5:00 pm. The online DHP Grant Application is located on the . Also, the paper signature forms required for all applications must be postmarked by June 2, 2026 Ìýto the address below:
Documentary Heritage Program
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Archives
9C71 Cultural Education Center
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230