Open
Source verified July 6, 2026
Public Knowledge
Supports audio and audiovisual preservation work
Latest source updateLast Update: July 6, 2026Latest change: Changed: application process, contact or portal details, funding terms.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 6, 2026
Latest change: Changed: application process, contact or portal details, funding terms.
Grant changed: application process, contact or portal details
We detected changes to application process, contact or portal details, funding terms, scope and target audience, eligibility.
Funding available
$ 10,000 - $ 60,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The program supports Recordings at Risk awards for nonprofit academic, research, or cultural heritage organizations in the United States and Canada. It funds audio and audiovisual digital reformatting, metadata creation, and related project work within the program’s scope.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- General public
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Audio and audiovisual digital reformatting projects.
- Creating appropriate descriptive and technical metadata for digitized content.
Documents Needed
- Template Budget Detail Form (.xlsx)
- Template Budget Narrative (.docx)
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nonprofit academic, research, or cultural heritage organizations.
- Federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, tribal, or indigenous government units, provided cultural heritage is the primary function of the unit and grant funds will be used for charitable purposes within the scope of the program.
- Federally recognized tribal governments.
Who is not eligible
- In-house digitization projects are not eligible.
- Proposals exclusively focused on data migration or recovery from hard drives, CDs and DVDs are not eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Direct costs of audio or audiovisual digital reformatting services provided by an external service provider.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- In-house digitization projects.
- Software licensing and subscriptions.
- Film-to-film transfer.
- Proposals exclusively focused on data migration or recovery from hard drives, CDs and DVDs.
Eligible geographic areas
- United States
- Canada
- American Samoa
- Guam
- the Northern Mariana Islands
- the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- the U.S. Virgin Islands
- the Northwest Territories
- Yukon
- Nunavut
Selection criteria
- A project perceived to have a stronger potential impact due to a broader access policy may receive preference when two projects are otherwise evenly matched.
- Reviewers may factor an applicant’s previous success record with the program into deliberations and give preference to applicants submitting equally strong proposals who have not previously received funding.
How to apply
- Access the Recordings at Risk application form during an open call for applications.
- Use the Guidelines & Template to prepare the application responses.
- Submit the application through the CLIR Smapply portal.
Processing and Agreement
- CLIR staff review modification requests and determine whether additional documentation is necessary.
- All grant modification requests must be approved by CLIR staff before the proposed changes can be accepted as final.
- Recipients can expect to hear from staff within two weeks of submitting the form.
- Recipients must submit a final project report by the deadline specified in their award letters.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Public Knowledge Program
What is the Public Knowledge?
The program supports Recordings at Risk awards for nonprofit academic, research, or cultural heritage organizations in the United States and Canada. It funds audio and audiovisual digital reformatting, metadata creation, and related project work within the program’s scope.
How much funding can be received?
Public Knowledge Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $60,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Public Knowledge program?
To be eligible for the Public Knowledge program, you must:
Nonprofit academic, research, or cultural heritage organizations may apply.
Applicants must be located in the United States or Canada.
Organizations must collect, preserve, and share rare and unique materials with the general public.
What expenses are eligible under Public Knowledge?
Audio and audiovisual digital reformatting projects.
Creating appropriate descriptive and technical metadata for digitized content.
Who can I contact for more information about the Public Knowledge?
You can contact The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation by email at recordingsatrisk@clir.org or by phone at none.
Where is the Public Knowledge available?
The Public Knowledge program is available across Canada.
Who are the financial supporters of the Public Knowledge?
Public Knowledge is funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation