Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide
🏛 Bureau of Land Management (DOI-BLM)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities, tribal nations, and government agencies working on cultural and paleontological resource management on public lands.
Applicants must be able to partner with the Bureau of Land Management to advance heritage conservation, education, or research. For-profit companies and individuals cannot apply.
Projects may include inventory work, excavation, monitoring, collections management, public education, and tribal engagement. Work focuses on America's natural and cultural history across BLM-managed lands.
Youth Conservation Corps may not apply under this grant; they use a separate BLM funding stream.
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Program description
Broadly, the objective is to develop partnerships to improve access to, and use of, heritage resources, and promote their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values in a manner that meets U.S. Department of the Interior priorities and Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals. Individual projects shall meet one or more of the following objectives.Conduct studies, including inventory, excavation, records research, and collections-based research to improve the understanding of America”s natural and cultural history;Monitor at-risk heritage resources to track trends in condition and project effectiveness;Stabilize at-risk heritage resources;Train future cultural resource management practitioners and paleontologists through research projects, field schools and internships that highlight BLM resources;Assist with cultural heritage data and records management activities such as organizing, maintaining, and scanning site and survey records; creating, digitizing and maintaining geospatial data; and performing data entry;Preserve existing collections at recognized curation facilities through such activities as archival housing, stabilization or conservation;Broaden public access to museum collections;Promote engagement with Native American communities and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs;Promote public engagement, learning opportunities, and conservation/preservation ethics through heritage resources education and outreach programs, events, and products;Develop and maintain historic sites with interpretive and educational potential.Partner to support BLM”s Tribal consultation efforts
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (scope, objectives, methods, timeline)
- Budget and budget justification
- Evidence of organizational capacity or relevant experience
- Letters of support from BLM field office and project partners
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Land Management
- 📧 stephanie_lund@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 303-202-3865
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.224 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$6,291,839
-
$529,000
-
$500,000
-
$408,000
-
$398,703
-
$387,271
-
$348,268
-
$325,000
-
$304,000
-
$299,021
Top States by Funding
- AK 4 awards $6.8M
- UT 22 awards $2.3M
- NM 17 awards $2.0M
- NV 12 awards $1.2M
- CO 14 awards $1.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.224). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $4,427,519 | |
| 2020 | $2,215,221 | |
| 2021 | $570,172 | |
| 2022 | $2,230,857 | |
| 2023 | $2,980,974 | |
| 2024 | $1,424,908 | |
| 2025 est. | $1,870,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Nonprofits, tribes, colleges, universities, and government agencies can apply. For-profits and individuals cannot.
What kind of projects does this fund?
Inventory, excavation, monitoring, collections management, public education, tribal engagement, and site preservation projects.
When is the deadline?
August 14, 2026. Check for any updates closer to the deadline.
What is the typical award amount?
Awards range from $30,000 to $75,000 per project. Total program has $830,000 available.
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly explain how your project advances one or more of BLM's Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals.
- Demonstrate an existing partnership or clear collaboration plan with BLM field offices managing relevant sites.
- If your project involves tribal consultation or partnerships, detail cultural sensitivity approaches and consultation timelines.
- Show how your project will benefit public understanding or access to heritage resources beyond internal research.
- Be realistic about timelines and budget. Projects must be achievable within the award range and funding timeline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed BLM partnership or failing to identify the specific BLM field office. Proposing work outside the five core objectives (inventory, monitoring, stabilization, training, outreach). Submitting vague deliverables without clear metrics or milestones.
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