Held in Trust: A National Convening on Conservation and Preservation | 20191218 PB

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is "Held in Trust: A National Convening on Conservation and Preservation"?

"Held in Trust: A National Convening on Conservation and Preservation" is a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding opportunity administered through NEH's Division of Preservation and Access. It supports one high-impact national effort to assess the United States conservation and preservation landscape and produce concrete, field-wide recommendations to strengthen long-term preservation capacity.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to take stock of the national infrastructure that supports conservation and preservation of cultural heritage and to chart a clearer path forward. Rather than funding preservation work at individual institutions, the project is intended to evaluate what is working, what is at risk, and what needs to change across the field to ensure long-term care and access for humanities collections.

Is this opportunity meant to fund hands-on preservation work at a single institution?

No. The stated goal is not simply to fund preservation work at individual institutions. It is designed to evaluate the broader national preservation ecosystem and produce actionable recommendations that can strengthen the field overall.

How many awards does NEH expect to make under this opportunity?

NEH expected to make one award total.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling was $500,000.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. This means NEH anticipated an active partnership role with the recipient, rather than a hands-off relationship typical of some grants.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for the recipient?

Based on the description, a cooperative agreement implies NEH expected to be actively engaged as a partner with the funded organization while the project is carried out, rather than simply providing funds with minimal ongoing involvement.

What are the major deliverables required of the funded organization?

The funded organization is responsible for two major deliverables: (1) planning and hosting a national convening focused on substantive dialogue about the state of conservation and preservation in the United States, and (2) producing, publishing, and disseminating a report that synthesizes findings from the convening and related evaluation work, establishing a national strategic vision with actionable guidance and resources for the field.

What is the national convening expected to cover?

The convening is intended to foster substantive dialogue about the state of conservation and preservation in the United States, including persistent challenges, emerging needs, and shared future goals. It is also framed to be relevant to broader public understanding of why preservation matters.

Who is the convening intended to bring together?

The convening is meant to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including conservators, preservation administrators, collection stewards, educators, allied professionals, professional organizations, and thought leaders from across the country.

What is the expected report, and what should it accomplish?

The recipient must produce, publish, and disseminate a report synthesizing what is learned through the convening and related evaluation work. The report is expected to establish a national strategic vision for preservation, provide actionable guidance, and identify resources that can support the field.

Is the report intended to be shared publicly?

Yes. The report is described as a widely shared roadmap rather than an internal memo. It is expected to be published and disseminated for broad use.

Who is the intended audience for the report?

The intended audience includes practitioners and institutions responsible for collections, training and education programs, professional associations and networks that set standards and coordinate activity, and the general public who benefit from preserved cultural heritage and improved access.

What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions).

Why does the eligibility list include such a wide range of organization types?

The eligibility range reflects that preservation leadership and infrastructure are distributed across many types of organizations, including universities, major nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments, all of which may be positioned to convene national stakeholders and develop an authoritative strategic report.

What is the CFDA number and program area for this opportunity?

The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity in the humanities with CFDA 45.149.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is 20191218 PB.

When was the opportunity created and what was the original deadline?

The opportunity was created on November 12, 2019, with an original application deadline of December 18, 2019.

What does "single, high-impact national effort" mean in practice?

Based on the description, it means NEH intended to fund one nationally visible project capable of convening key voices from across the country and producing field-shaping outcomes, rather than distributing funding across multiple smaller, localized projects.

How is this opportunity connected to NEH's "A More Perfect Union" initiative?

This program was explicitly aligned with NEH's "A More Perfect Union" special initiative, which emphasizes advancing civic education and commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary. The connection is that preserving humanities collections supports public memory, scholarship, community identity, and the material foundation for teaching and discussing the nation's history leading up to major commemorations and beyond.

Why does NEH frame conservation and preservation as a civic and cultural priority?

The opportunity emphasizes that conservation and preservation are not only technical concerns. Preserving documents, artworks, artifacts, historic records, and other humanities collections strengthens public memory and civic education by ensuring long-term care and improving access to cultural heritage.