The National Park Service (NPS) provides grants to local communities to help document, interpret, and preserve sites and stories related to civil rights. Many of these grants are competitive which means that an organization will submit an application that is reviewed and scored to determine if it will receive funding. Information about various grant programs will be found on NPS websites but the actual announcement of applications and submission of applications will take place through Grants.gov. Preparing and submitting an application takes time, so make sure to start investigating how to apply early.
African American Civil Rights Grants
African American Civil Rights (AACR) grants fund a broad range of planning, development, and research projects for historic sites including: survey, inventory, documentation, interpretation, education, architectural services, historic structure reports, preservation plans, and "bricks and mortar" repair. Grant projects are split into two categories: preservation projects and history projects. Preservation project grants are for the repair of historic properties. History project grants are for more interpretive work such as exhibit design or historical research. This competitive grant program provides grants to states, tribes, local governments (including Certified Local Governments), and nonprofits. Non-federal matching share is not required.
Visit the Historic Preservation Fund website to apply for an African American Civil Rights grant.
Other NPS Grant Programs Connected to Civil Rights
The National Park Service administers several other grant programs that broadly support important civil rights stories and places throughout the United States including the Save America's Treasures program, the History of Equal Rights program, the HBCU program, and the Underrepresented Communities program.
Each program will have its own application cycle and requirements; however, taken together, they all support documentation and preservation of important sites to the struggle for civil rights.
Grants for Civil Rights Projects
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AACRAfrican American Civil Rights GrantsGrants to document, interpret, and preserve the sites and stories related to the African American struggle to gain equal rights
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SATSave America's Treasures GrantsFunding for bricks and mortar work and/or conservation work on nationally significant artifacts and historic sites
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HERHistory of Equal Rights GrantsGrants that aim to preserve sites related to the struggle of all people to achieve equal rights in America
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HBCUHBCU GrantsGrants to restore structures on Historically Black Colleges & Universities campuses considered to be the most historically significant
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URCUnderrepresented Communities GrantsGrants to increase the number of listings in the National Register of Historic Places associated with underrepresented communities
News About Civil Rights Grants
Showing results 1-10 of 17
- National Park Service
National Park Service Awards $1.25 Million to Recognize Historic Underrepresented Communities
- Type: News
- Offices: Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate, State, Tribal, more »
- Date Released: 2025-01-15
The National Park Service today announced $1,250,000 for 20 projects in 17 states and the District of Columbia for the survey and nomination of places and properties associated with groups that are underrepresented on the National Register of Historic Places.
- National Park Service
National Park Service and Partner Agencies Award $25.7 Million to Preserve Significant Historic Sites and Collections
- Type: News
- Offices: State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2024-08-20
The National Park Service (NPS) today announced $25.7 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to fund 59 projects that will preserve nationally significant sites and historic collections in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
- National Park Service
National Park Service Awards $23.4 Million to Preserve African American Civil Rights History
- Type: News
- Offices: Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate, State, Tribal, more »
- Date Released: 2024-04-30
The National Park Service today awarded $23.4 million to 39 projects in 16 states and the District of Columbia as part of the Historic Preservation Fund’s African American Civil Rights grant program, which focuses on the preservation of sites and stories directly associated with the struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights.
- National Park Service
National Park Service awards $1.25 million to recognize historic underrepresented communities
- Type: News
- Offices: Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate, State, Tribal, more »
- Date Released: 2024-02-08
The National Park Service today announced $1,250,000 to 21 projects in 19 states and the District of Columbia for the survey and nomination of sites and districts associated with communities that are underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service and partner agencies announce $25.7 million in Save America’s Treasures grants
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2023-09-12
The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), today announced $25.7 million in Save America’s Treasures grants from the Historic Preservation Fund. The funding announced today will support 58 projects in 26 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia that will preserve nationally significant sites and collections.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service awards $21 million to help preserve African American civil rights history
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2023-05-25
The National Park Service (NPS) awarded $21 million today to 37 projects in 16 states as part of the Historic Preservation Fund’s African American Civil Rights grant program, which funds preservation projects and efforts of sites tied to the struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service awards $4.48 million to help preserve America’s equal rights history
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2023-02-09
The National Park Service today awarded $4.48 million to eight projects in seven states as part of the Historic Preservation Fund‘s (HPF) History of Equal Rights grant program, which focuses on the preservation of sites directly associated with the struggle for all Americans to gain equal rights.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service and partner agencies announce $15.5 million in Save America’s Treasures grants
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2021-09-10
The National Park Service, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services announced $15.5 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to help fund 49 projects in 29 states.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service and partner agencies announce $24.25 million in Save America’s Treasures Grants
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2022-09-09
The National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services today announced $24.25 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to fund 80 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
- Office of Communications
National Park Service awards $15 million to help preserve African American civil rights history
- Type: News
- Offices: Office of Communications
- Date Released: 2021-07-27
The National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Grant Program has awarded $15,035,000 million to 53 projects in 20 states to help preserve sites and history related to the African American struggle for equality.
Last updated: May 1, 2024