Foundational Planning Assistance is geared towards organizations that may not feel they are ready for DHPSNY’s Archival Needs Assessment, Preservation Survey, or Strategic Planning Process. This service is intended for organizations that need to invest in resource development and capacity building before they can reasonably embark on implementing recommendations frequently found in our other services. The overarching goal of Foundational Planning Assistance is to strengthen an organization’s capacity and prepare them to engage in a comprehensive assessment within the next one to three years. The final plan will provide the organization with a framework for institutional advancement, with an emphasis on strengthening the organizational components needed for optimal levels of collections stewardship. Areas of focus will include preservation concerns, collections management, resource allocation, and development.


Application materials for Foundation Planning Assistance are accepted year round, and reviewed on a monthly basis. 

Application Instructions
The application requires you to provide general information about your institution, answer a few brief narrative sections, and provide proof of nonprofit status. Responses to the General Information and Narrative questions require you to check off all applicable answers to each question and/or can be entered in the appropriate text box.

The only required attachment is Proof of Tax Exempt Status. This can be in the form of a letter or certificate from the Internal Revenue Service or New York Department of Taxation and Finance.


Please use the 'Save Draft' button at the bottom of the form to save your progress as you complete the application. Users can exit and return to the saved application before submitting.