Southwest Border Resource Protection Program
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to protect natural and cultural resources along the U.S.-Mexico border. Eligible applicants include NPS units, educational institutions, nonprofits, tribes, and local/state agencies. Projects must work with and benefit a specific NPS unit in the Intermountain Region (such as Big Bend National Park, Saguaro National Park, or Coronado National Memorial) and a protected area in Mexico. Funding supports research, monitoring, conservation, and interpretation projects addressing resource issues shared by both countries.
Funded activities include wildlife habitat management, invasive species monitoring, archaeological site research, historic structure restoration, and studies of border activity impacts on endangered species. Projects may address climate change effects on natural resources or involve cultural preservation along the border. Foreign entities cannot be direct recipients but may be subcontracted.
Program description
The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) provides financial assistance to National Park Service (NPS) units, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico. Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border. Applicants must work with and benefit an NPS unit in the Intermountain Region along the U.S. – Mexico border as well as a protected area in Mexico by addressing cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. These parks include Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument. Please note that applicants can work with other Intermountain Region parks near the U.S. Mexico Border, or not otherwise listed to support cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. The projects and activities will be individually authorized by separate awards, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the cooperator. Project categories include: Research & MonitoringCultural Resource examples:Identification, research, and evaluation of archeological and historic sitesNational Register of Historic Places nominationsNational Historic Landmark nominationsNatural Resource examples:Wildlife habitat managementInventory and monitoring of invasive plants and animalsImpacts from climate change to endangered speciesAssessments of the effects of border activities on threatened and endangered speciesConservation & PreservationCultural Resource examples:Stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic structures, archeological sites, trails and landsc
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative and Work Plan
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Letters of Support from NPS park unit and Mexican partner organization
- Organization Qualifications/Capability Statement
- Proof of Tax-Exempt Status (if nonprofit)
Program contact
- 👤 National Park Service
- 📧 Katie_Gaertner@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 202-697-2035
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 15.963 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.963). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $331,499 | |
| 2020 est. | $275,000 | |
| 2021 | $286,538 | |
| 2022 | $464,516 | |
| 2023 | $425,289 | |
| 2024 | $337,291 | |
| 2025 est. | $350,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $350,000 |
FAQ
Which parks are eligible for this program?
The program serves NPS units in the Intermountain Region along the U.S.-Mexico border. Eligible parks include Big Bend, Saguaro, Coronado National Memorial, Organ Pipe Cactus, and others listed in the RFP. Contact NPS to confirm eligibility for parks not listed.
Must our project involve Mexico?
Yes. Your project must work with and benefit both an eligible NPS unit and a protected area in Mexico. It must address cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries.
What types of projects are funded?
Eligible projects include wildlife research, invasive species management, archaeological assessments, historic site restoration, and studies of border activity impacts on resources. Interpretation and monitoring projects are also supported.
What is the typical award amount?
Individual awards range from $15,000 to $50,000. Funding depends on project scope and competition. Budget your activities realistically within this range.
Can we include indirect costs?
The RFP does not specify indirect cost policies. Verify with NPS before budgeting overhead. Some federal programs allow F&A; others do not.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish a formal partnership with your NPS park unit early. They must agree to cooperate on the project and authorize the work plan.
- Clearly articulate the shared resource issue affecting both the U.S. and Mexican protected areas. Generic projects will rank lower competitively.
- Document how illegal border activities (unauthorized roads, wildlife disruption, looting, vandalism) affect the specific resources you plan to address.
- Budget conservatively within the $15K–$50K range and show cost efficiency. Reviewers favor lean budgets with clear outcomes.
- Build in measurable outcomes (e.g., acres restored, species monitored, sites documented). Vague goals reduce competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without NPS park unit support or without specifying which park and Mexican partner area. Proposing research or projects that only benefit U.S. resources, ignoring the binational requirement. Underestimating scope and requesting an award amount mismatched to deliverables.
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