DC Oral History Collaborative Grants

Jump to the Continuing Oral History Projects grant – applications close May 1!

Through the DC Oral History Collaborative, HumanitiesDC offers three grants to fund various types of oral history work. Grants support amateur, first-time oral historians as well as experienced practitioners. In addition to funding, grantees join the DC Oral History Collaborative and receive access to its resources and trainings.

Oral HIstory INterviewing grant

Request for Proposals (RFP)
Application Questions

This grant opportunity funds community organizations and individuals to conduct oral history projects that are then formally archived in the DC Public Library. Grantees receive extensive training and guidance on how to conduct oral history interviews and the components necessary to archive them. We welcome applicants who have never conducted oral history interviews as well as those with experience! 

Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations who propose collection of new oral history interviews
Award Amount: Up to $8,000 (with additional funds available for translation of transcripts)
2025 applications are now closed

Read our Humanist Highlight about 2024 DC Oral History Collaborative grantee Necothia Bowens and her work to highlight DC rollerskating history through oral history interviews.

CONTINUING ORAL HISTORY PROJECTS grant

This grant opportunity funds the continuation of oral history projects funded by HumanitiesDC in 2024 or earlier.

Request for Proposal (RFP)
Application Questions
Next Grant Workshop: March 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm

Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations that have already completed and closed out previously-funded oral history interviewing projects
Award Amount: Up to $8,000 (with additional funds available for translation of transcripts)
Application opens: March 4, 2025
Application submission deadline: May 1, 2025

BEYOND THE ARCHIVES GRANT

Request for Proposals (RFP)
Application Questions

This grant opportunity funds community organizations and individuals to produce public humanities projects from existing oral history collections in any archive. Applicants must identify the archived oral histories in their application. Potential projects may include exhibitions, performances, listening stations, written research, film/video, curricula for K-12 and higher education, websites, and computer applications based on and directly using existing oral history collections. Selected grantees will work with staff from the DC Oral History Collaborative throughout their projects.  

Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $12,000
2025 applications are now closed

Applicant Resources