Overview
The Society of American Archivists (SAA) Foundation Opportunity Grant program provides funding to help archival repositories seize unexpected, time-sensitive opportunities, i.e., projects that would otherwise be out of reach without timely external financial support.
Applicants must clearly describe the unplanned opportunity that gives rise to their application and demonstrate the urgency with which it must be addressed.
The Opportunity Grant Fund differs from the SAA Foundation’s Catalyst Grant program in that it provides timely support for unplanned opportunities. In contrast, the Catalyst Grant is intended for planned, complex, and longer-term projects that advance one or more of SAA’s strategic goals; align with the mission, vision, and core values of the SAA Foundation; and contribute to the archival profession at large. Visit the Catalyst Grant program site for more information.
Opportunity Grant basic facts:
- Grant Amount: $300 to $2,500 (USD), with no matching funds required.
- Project Timeline: Applicants must demonstrate they are prepared to begin and complete the work within eight months of the award date.
- Application Period: The SAA Foundation accepts Opportunity Grant applications year-round until funds have been fully allocated. The application website will indicate when/if funds are exhausted for the current grant cycle.
- Submission and Review: Applications must be submitted online and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility
- Non-profit archival repositories located in the United States that steward collections that are open to the public
- Archivists residing in the United States who are affiliated with non-profit archival repositories that steward collections that are open to the public [Independent scholars or archivists not affiliated with a repository are not eligible.]
Applicants are not required to hold SAA membership to apply for an Opportunity Grant.
- Applicants who have previously received SAA Foundation funding must have submitted a final report for their last project before applying for an Opportunity Grant.
- Applicants who submitted an unsuccessful application for a Catalyst Grant are not eligible to apply for an Opportunity Grant for the same project.
- Projects requesting assistance with emergency preparedness or recovery efforts from major disasters are not eligible for Opportunity Grants. The National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives supports such initiatives.
- Financial support to attend the SAA Annual Meeting is ineligible for Opportunity Grants. The Annual Meeting Awards Fund is available for those requests.
- Salaries and Benefits: Funding may be used for salaries and benefits directly related to proposed project activities and proportional to time spent on the project (e.g., a percentage of salary based on project involvement). The SAA Foundation may cover benefits if they are clearly itemized in the budget.
- Fees and Honoraria: Consultant fees and honoraria paid to archivists, conservators, or consultants must be specific to the proposed project activities and time spent.
- Internships and Training Opportunities: Funding for internships and training opportunities will be considered if applicants can demonstrate that an opportunity would be lost without additional financial support.
- Project-Related Domestic Travel: Grant funds may be used for travel directly connected to project activities (e.g., visiting a donor site to appraise a collection). This includes domestic airfare, lodging, meals, mileage, and per diem, as long as rates do not exceed current federal guidelines.
- Supplies and Equipment: Funding may be used for archival supplies and equipment essential to project goals. The SAA Foundation does not fund general-purpose equipment, such as computers or printers.
- Postage: Mailing costs directly related to the project may be included. Applicants are encouraged to use bulk-mail rates when feasible.
- Overhead or indirect costs
- Fellowships, scholarships, or prizes
- Capital expenses, including construction, preservation, or renovation project
- Purchases of equipment (e.g., computers, printers) that are designed to support capacity building but are unrelated to a specific opportunity
- Lobbying and fundraising activities
- Expenses incurred prior to grant approval
- Food or beverages, except when covered under per diem guidelines for project-related travel
Eligible Project Examples
Examples of eligible projects are provided below. These examples are illustrative only and do not indicate priority or greater significance over other project types.
Sample project 1: An archival repository is eager to accept the donation of an archive from a collector, but the collector expects the repository to pay for the packing and shipping of the archive and expects a response within a short deadline; or evaluating the potential donation incurs costs not accounted for in the annual budget, such as out-of-town traveling to survey the archive. |
Sample project 2: An archival repository is considering acquiring an archive containing born-digital materials but lacks the expertise to evaluate them. The repository seeks funding to attend a training workshop to develop that expertise. |
Application Process
Application Submission: Online applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Application Confirmation: The SAA Foundation Grant Review Committee will confirm receipt of applications within five business days of receipt.
Application Review Schedule: The SAA Foundation Grant Review Committee will review applications the first week of each month.
- Applications received by 5:00 PM CT on the 24th of the month will be reviewed during the first week of the following month.
- Applications received on or after the 25th of the month may not be reviewed until the next review cycle. For example, a grant submitted on March 26 may not be reviewed until the first week of May.
| Submit grant applications before the 24th of the month for faster consideration. |
Applicant Notification: All applicants will be notified of their application status by email.
- Approved applicants will receive an approval letter and instructions for payment, evaluation, and project close out.
- Applicants not selected will be notified by email.
Distribution of Funds: The SAA Foundation requires the following documents before funds can be distributed:
- Awardee’s W-9
- Banking information
Application submission date | | | | |
| | Within 3 weeks of confirmation | 4 to 5 weeks from confirmation | Within 1 week of receipt of necessary documentation |
On or after 25th of month | | 3 to 8 weeks from confirmation | 4 to 10 weeks from confirmation | Within 1 week of receipt of necessary documentation |
Questions?
Originally adopted by the SAA Foundation Board of Directors, November 2024. Revised December 2025.
