Teaching with Primary Sources | 030ADV21R0179

Opportunity Information: Apply for 030ADV21R0179

The Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) grant opportunity is a Library of Congress funding program designed to expand and strengthen how educators and learners use the Library's digitized primary sources in meaningful instruction. The core purpose is tightly connected to the Library of Congress mission: to share its collections broadly and to engage and inform the American public by serving as an enduring source of knowledge and creativity. In practical terms, TPS grants are meant to grow a nationwide network of partners that help teachers and students work directly with original historical materials, such as photographs, maps, manuscripts, recordings, and other primary source items available through the Library of Congress.

TPS projects are expected to support teaching and learning by building real-world resources and experiences around these materials. The notice highlights three common kinds of deliverables: professional development for educators (for example, workshops, institutes, coaching, or training series), curriculum development (lesson plans, units, or instructional frameworks grounded in primary source analysis), and digital products such as apps and interactive tools that make it easier for teachers and students to discover, interpret, and use Library of Congress collections. The overall emphasis is on innovative strategies, tools, and materials that improve instruction and deepen learning through primary sources.

A wide range of organizations are eligible and encouraged to apply, reflecting the program's goal of reaching diverse communities and educational settings. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. The program also allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses, along with other types of entities, as listed in the eligibility section. The description also explicitly notes the Library's history of awarding TPS grants to K-12 schools, universities, literacy organizations, museums, libraries, historical societies, community and civic groups, professional associations, and even home-schooling parent and caregiver associations, signaling that proposals can come from many corners of the education ecosystem as long as they align with the TPS purpose.

This opportunity is offered by the Library of Congress under a discretionary funding category, with awards made as cooperative agreements. That generally means the Library of Congress expects an ongoing partnership role with the recipient during the project, rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The funding listing provided includes an award ceiling of $100,000. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 42.010, and the funding activity category is Education.

A key application requirement is the submission method: proposals must be submitted electronically by email, not through Grants.gov. Applications sent through Grants.gov will not be accepted. The listing specifies that proposals must be emailed to Phoebe Coleman at tps-grant@loc.gov, and it directs applicants to consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) full announcement PDF for the complete requirements, selection criteria, and instructions.

Finally, the opportunity encourages collaborative partnerships, such as pairing an organization with strong content expertise with a state or regional educational entity that can support dissemination and educator engagement. This emphasis suggests the program values both high-quality educational content and the capacity to reach educators at scale, particularly through established networks that can deliver training and distribute curriculum or tools effectively.

• The Library of Congress in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Teaching with Primary Sources" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 42.010.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-05-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-28. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for 030ADV21R0179

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