Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid for Competitive Grants

The objectives of the competitive grant programs under this Assistance Listing are broad but are all generally intended to provide funding to document and preserve cultural resources that are important to American history. Following Congressional guidance, specific grant programs emphasize social, cultural, or historic themes and target funding to historic events like the struggle for civil and equal rights in the United States, documenting and preserving the stories of underrepresented communities, or preserving sites associated with the founding of the nation.

Examples of grant programs could include: African American Civil Rights, Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization, History of Equal Rights, Semiquincentennial, Underrepresented Communities, Tribal Heritage, and future competitive grant programs as may be created by Congress.

Eligible applicants are defined as applicants in either appropriations law or approved spending plans developed for the programs. Eligible projects must be for sites listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. If not listed, projects must prepare a nomination and secure listing by the NPS prior to the completion of the grant project.
State governments, territorial governments, units of local government, Certified Local Governments, public institutions of higher education, the District of Columbia government, nonprofits, Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and 3 specific foreign countries (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia). Some programs may not be open to all these entities dependent on Congressional direction. In limited circumstances and when authorized by Congress, individuals and federal agencies may be eligible.

Standard Forms in the SF-424 series are required along with other forms approved by the Office of Management and Budget, as necessary. Funding announcements for all grants under this Assistance Listing number, along with application procedures, packages, and instructions, points of contact, and procedures for submitting applications will be made available on Grants.gov when applications are being accepted.
This Assistance Listing covers multiple grant programs. Each grant program will have its own schedule during which applications are opened, accepted, reviewed, and awarded. Generally, applications will be accepted on grants.gov for 60 days.

An appropriation is allocated by Congress to the National Park Service under the Historic Preservation Fund for competitive grant programs. Competitive grants are awarded based on a merit review of applications received under defined criteria by qualified federal staff. Recommendations are sent for approval and then grants are announced first to Congress and then publicly through an NPS press release. Each program may have unique review criteria and funding limitations.

The date rage for approval or disapproval varies depending on the type, complexity, and number of applications received. Review of applications and award announcements generally within 6 months of the application due date, depending on any additional review by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, or Congress.