FY2021 Historic Preservation Fund- History of Equal Rights- Preservation Grants | P21AS00430

Opportunity Information: Apply for P21AS00430

The FY2021 Historic Preservation Fund - History of Equal Rights - Preservation Grants opportunity (National Park Service, opportunity number P21AS00430) is a competitive federal grant program designed to help preserve historic sites that are directly connected to the long, ongoing struggle for equal rights in the United States. The program sits under the National Park Service's History of Equal Rights Grant Program (often shortened to HER) and is financed through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), with the NPS serving as the administering agency. The basic purpose is straightforward: support preservation work that protects and sustains places where major equal-rights stories unfolded, so those sites can remain intact and meaningful for the public.

This funding can cover a broad range of preservation-related project types, not just construction. Eligible work includes architectural and preservation professional services and planning products such as historic structure reports and preservation plans, as well as physical preservation work to historic structures. In other words, projects can range from the "figure out what needs to be done and how to do it correctly" phase (documentation, planning, professional assessments) to the "do the preservation work" phase (hands-on preservation activity at a structure). Awards are made through a competitive selection process, and a notable feature is that there is no non-federal match requirement for this program, which can make it more accessible for applicants that do not have large fundraising capacity or available matching funds.

The notice also emphasizes that applicants must apply under the correct opportunity number based on the type of work and the subject focus. P21AS00430 is the main HER preservation grant announcement described here, but there are separate, related announcements specifically for African American Civil Rights projects: P21AS00431 is limited to physical preservation of African American historic sites, and P21AS00432 is limited to African American historical research and documentation projects. The practical takeaway is that the NPS split these topics into distinct lanes, so a project that fits one of the African American Civil Rights categories should be submitted under the corresponding dedicated announcement rather than under the general HER opportunity.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public, nonprofit, and educational organizations: state governments; local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special district governments); independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and other tribal organizations. Nonprofits may apply whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. The opportunity description also notes eligibility for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined by federal law (54 USC 300300). One clear restriction is that grants are not available for sites or collections owned by the National Park Service, meaning NPS-owned properties are not eligible recipients/beneficiaries under this funding.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant (not a formula entitlement), with the listed assistance listing CFDA 15.904 and an award ceiling of up to $500,000 per award. The original closing date for this FY2021 announcement was December 1, 2021, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on September 30, 2021.

• The National Park Service in the arts, humanities, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2021 Historic Preservation Fund- History of Equal Rights- Preservation Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.904.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-09-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-12-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for P21AS00430

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