Oral History Grants: Project Grants, Transcription & Indexing and Presentation Grants

Oral History Grants: Project Grants, Transcription & Indexing and Presentation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Kentucky Historical Society
Amount: Up to US $7,500
Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Summary

The Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC) provides grants to support oral history projects that preserve and document Kentucky's rich history. These grants include Project Grants for creating research projects, Transcription and Indexing Grants for existing interviews, and Presentation Grants for showcasing oral histories through various media. Funding amounts range from $2,500 to $7,500 depending on the grant type. These initiatives aim to foster participation and ensure the preservation of significant narratives across the state.

Overview

NOTE: For feedback on a developing KOHC grant applications, submit a draft to the oral history administrator at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline. This is strongly encouraged for first-time applicants. Draft applications can be emailed for review. Preserving the stories that are a part of Kentucky’s history. Preserving the stories that are a part of Kentucky’s history. The Kentucky Historical Society houses the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC), the only state commission in the nation committed to statewide oral history documentation through granting programs and outreach. KOHC reaches across the state to record and preserve the diverse stories that make up Kentucky’s rich and colorful history. Since 1976 KOHC has: Awarded over $1 million to more than 600 individuals, colleges, universities, and community organizations, resulting in the collection of more than 35,000 interviews in repositories throughout the state. Secured nearly 10,000 interviews within the KHS Collection, making it one of the largest in the U.S. Oral History Grants The Kentucky Oral History Commission grant programs offer monetary, equipment, and training grants to assist amateur or professional oral historians with oral history research projects on topics of particular significance to Kentucky. These grants encourage statewide participation in the collection and preservation of historically valuable interviews. KOHC also offers accreditation for archives that want to be permanent repositories for oral history collections which KOHC sponsors through grant awarded funds and resources. Project Grants Project grants support the creation of Kentucky oral history research projects. All projects must comply with the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Standards. Amount of Funding Funding requests may not exceed $7,500. Transcription and Indexing Grants Transcription and indexing grants support the transcription or indexing of existing oral history interviews located in Kentucky repositories. Amount of Funding Grant requests may not exceed $5,000. No matching support is required. In other words, the Commission will fund 100 percent of eligible expenses not to exceed $5,000. Presentation Grants Presentation grants support the use of existing oral history collections in a variety of media including traditional exhibit, online exhibit, film, print publication, radio and podcast. Amount of Funding Funding requests may not exceed $2,500.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Project GrantsEligibility Requirements – The following may apply:Any nonprofit institution or organization with an existing oral history program. Individuals or organizations employing individuals with documented training and experience in oral history. Individuals or organizations employing individuals with some experience in the practice of oral history who have obtained an institutional or professional advisor with professional training and experience in oral history. All applicants are required to provide a 1-to-1 match (i.e., matching funds must be equal to or greater than requested amount). In-kind costs (non-cash, such as donated professional services, office space, etc.) qualify as matching expenses.Items Eligible for Funding – Funding can be provided for the following:Travel and SubsistenceSupplies and EquipmentStipendsVideo-historyTranscription & Indexing GrantsEligibility Requirements – The following may:  Any Kentucky-based institution or organization with an existing oral history collection may apply. Individuals may apply with a written agreement from a Kentucky repository for storage of and access to the interviews, transcripts and/or indexes. The recorded interviews must be completed and remitted to a repository PRIOR to submitting an application to ensure they are of sufficient quality and under adequate care to justify transcription and/or indexing. If the interviews are not currently in a repository, contact the Commission for a recommended Kentucky repository that may be willing to accept the interviews, transcriptions, and/or indexes. In lieu of a fiscal match requirement, the following are prerequisite to application:Applicants must have access to a transcription and/or indexing system appropriate to the recording medium. The applicant must audit the transcripts and/or indexes during the grant period. Plans and personnel for auditing must be detailed in the application.Items Eligible for Funding – Transcription grant funds may be used to support the cost for producing verbatim transcripts by an experienced transcriber, a transcription service, or digitally (by voice-recognition software). Auditing grant funds may be used to review each verbatim transcript or index for accuracy. Syncing grant funds may be used to sync a verbatim transcription with the interview using the Oral History Metadata Synchronizer (OHMS). Indexing grant funds may be used to support the personnel costs for producing a summary index by a competent indexer. Transcriber Qualifications – The proposed transcriber must have sufficient transcribing experience with oral history recordings, in the legal or medical profession, or other professions that require transcription of meetings, public hearings, etc. Submit a sample transcript completed by the proposed transcriber.Transcription Service Requirements – The proposed transcription service must have sufficient transcribing experience with oral history recordings and comply with Oral History Association Principles and Best Practices. Digital Transcription Requirements– Describe the proposed software or platform, indicate its rate of accuracy, and provide an audited sample transcript.Syncing Qualifications – Syncing in OHMS requires no prior qualifications or experience, but the timeline should include plans for training the syncer. Auditing Qualifications – Auditing requires no prior qualification or experience in auditing, but does require expertise in the interview topics and subject matter. Auditing digitally produced transcripts requires more time and skill in copyediting than those produced by a transcriber. Indexer Qualifications – The proposed indexer is required to have a base knowledge of oral history indexing. As digital, multi-level indexing is relatively new to oral historians and archives, the indexer is required to have indexed at least one interview. A sample of this work is suggested. Presentation GrantsEligibility Requirements – Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the KOHC to determine eligibility before applying. All interviews must be completed and remitted to a repository prior to application. Interviews in personal research collections are not eligible until submitted to a repository. Applicants with outstanding final reports or delinquent interviews funded through the KOHC or other KHS program will not be considered. The following may apply:Any nonprofit or organization with an existing oral history program and/or collection, presenting interviews for which it holds expressed use permission and/or copyright (i.e., release forms or deeds of gift) for each interview.  The following may also apply in partnership with a suitable repository:Any nonprofit or community-based organization that might further its mission by presenting oral histories. Individuals with professional or documented training and/or experience in oral history and its presentation media. Individuals with some experience in the practice of oral history and its presentation media who have obtained an institutional or professional advisor. Prior to selecting an advisor, applicants should contact the KOHC for approvalAll applicants are required to provide a 1‐to‐1 match (i.e., matching funds must be equal to or greater than the requested amount). In‐kind costs (non‐cash, such as donated professional services, office space, etc.) qualify as matching expense. Commission funds may not be matched by other KOHC or Kentucky Historical Society (i.e., Local History Trust Fund Grants) equipment, funds, or staff time.Items Eligible for Funding – KOHC funding can pay for the following:SuppliesTravelPrintingCommunicationsFeesStipends and ServicesRental

Ineligibility

Applicants may not apply for more than one KOHC grant in a single cycle. Applicants may not apply for funding for the same project in consecutive grant cycles.Project Grants:Applicants with outstanding final reports or delinquent interviews funded through the KOHC or other KHS program are ineligible. KOHC funds may not be matched by KOHC equipment, funds, or staff time.Items Ineligible for Funding – The following expenses cannot by paid using KOHC funds, but may be purchased with matching funds or used as an in‐kind matching if integral to the project::Indirect costs (e.g., office rental expense). Stipends and salaries for personnel not directly contributing to the grant-funded project through research, advisement, or interviewing.When using stipends and salary amounts as a match, all such personnel must be work directly on the project and their contribution calculated at an hourly rate.Equipment other than recording media and audio recorders. (Specifically, the Commission will not fund the purchase of photographic equipment, computers, and video equipment.)Activities funded through one of the KOHC grant categories (i.e., transcription, indexing, and presentation). Printing of promotional materials or other promotional activities. Production costs directly related to audiovisual, television, or other media presentation (e.g., editing). Presentation Grants:Items Ineligible for KOHC Funding – The following cannot be funded through KOHC, but may be purchased with matching funds or used as an in‐kind matching if integral to the project:Activities funded through of the KOHC grant categories (i.e., transcription, indexing, and preservation).Utility bills or rental for currently owned or leased properties.Non‐project (permanent/current) staff salaries or benefits.Equipment (other than recording media) and repairs.  Capital improvements, facility construction, structural renovations, and restorations.Publications or recordings for commercial purposes.Activities intended primarily for fundraising.Food, beverages, or other refreshments.Expenses incurred before the starting date of the period covered in the grant request.Programs with sectarian purposes.