Working on its own and with partners, the National Park Foundation funds grants and programs that meet priorities and critical needs across our National Park System in the areas of youth, community outreach, conservation and professional engagement. The Foundation actively supports the National Park Service in its goal to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment by its 100th anniversary in 2016. For more information about the National Park Foundation, visit www.nationalparks.org. View/Download the latest edition of the Foundation's quarterly newsletter (PDF 4 pages - 557k).

Below you will find brief summaries and deadlines for the current grant opportunities. Check back often for exciting new announcements. For additional information or questions about NPF programs and grants, please contact 202-354-6479.

Building Common Ground Grants Program
The focus of this grant program is to find ways to help national parks develop relevant and creative programs that tap into their own untold stories and welcome all Americans, regardless of their race, color or creed, to our shared heritage—America’s National Parks. In addition, this grant should help NPS sites build community relationships around a park/community event during Black History Month or National Park Week. Importantly, Building Common Ground Grants Programs should advance the goal of creating an awareness and appreciation for the diverse heritage and cultures that play an important role in our national parks.

The application is online and can be found at https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_328/?SA=SNA&FID=35014. Please see the RFP (pdf 199k) for directions on how to use the online application.

DEADLINE: December 11, 2009.

Grants Under $10,000
The National Park Foundation recognizes that sometimes the smallest grants can make the largest differences. This grant opportunity is designed to help parks which need a small amount of additional funding to strengthen the efforts of a local partnership or turn an underfunded and innovative idea into a successful project. The program also provides a systematic way for the Foundation to respond to the routine small grant requests that it receives from national parks by making awards every spring and autumn.

DEADLINE: March 1 and October 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010. Complete our online application form.

First Bloom
First Bloom connects kids to nature and national parks. Kids in the First Bloom program meet regularly with park rangers who engage them in outdoor, hands-on activities designed to build their knowledge and appreciation of national parks, stewardship, conservation, and native plants. Toward the end of their experience in the program, kids plant a native landscape at a national park. The planted landscape cements their connection to the park and is a feature of the park that all future visitors will enjoy.

Each First Bloom program, meaning the national park and youth program partner, can be awarded up to $20,000 in total to carry out project activities. The total award amount for each partner can be determined as the partners deem appropriate with the total between the two partners not exceeding $20,000. More information is coming at the beginning of next year.

Park Stewards Program
To demonstrate their commitment to creating and sustaining community efforts that are based on partnership and leadership development, the Bank of America is funding the National Park Foundation's Park Stewards Program. This program gives high school teachers and students the opportunity to explore the relevance of national parks to their lives and encourages them to become civically engaged stewards of their national parks.

The Park Stewards Program will place high school educators in national parks for immersing learning experiences during the summer or sabbatical in 2009. As a result of their in-park experiences the teachers will develop service-learning programs that will be implemented by their students in the school year 2009/2010; and they will design educational tools for use in their classrooms.

Through the Bank of America's generosity, the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service can reach out to young people through the Park Stewards Program, helping them make a connection with the parks and inspiring them to see themselves as part of the American leadership story.

Grants were awarded May 29, 2009. More information is coming at the beginning of next year. If you have questions, please contact Carolyn Hill, NPF Grants Team, at 202-354-6471, chill@nationalparks.org, or Mark Kornmann, 202-354-6489, mkornmann@nationalparks.org.

PARK Teachers Program
The National Park Foundation Parks As Resources for Knowledge (PARK) Teachers Program brings the rich science education resources of national parks together with teacher colleges and universities to enhance pre-service professional development for teachers through unique in-park teacher education opportunities and place-based learning. All national park service units may apply for the 2009-2012 program opportunity, which includes a $90,000 grant over the three-year period.

America's Best Idea Grants Program
The focus of this grant program is to extend the reach of the important lessons offered in the Ken Burns’ film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea to connect with underserved and under-engaged groups and engage them with the National Park Service. Through this grant program, NPF wants to connect with people who have had little or no experience in our national parks, as well as to find ways to deepen existing relationships. The scope of the project includes the development of programs and initiatives that will strengthen the National Park Service’s ability to serve and relate to underserved audiences. Importantly, America’s Best Idea Grant Programs should advance the goal of creating the next generation of stewards for America’s national parks. The application is online and can be found at https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_328/?SA=SNA&FID=35013. Please see the RFP (pdf 236k) for directions on how to use the online application.

DEADLINE: December 4, 2009.

Recycling At Work Grants
The program provides national parks with sustainable lumber for infrastructure improvements that enhance the visitor experience such as boardwalks, overlooks, docks, site amenities and fences. More information is coming later this year.

Active Trails!
The program provides funds to help parks enhance trails and engage the local community in a healthy and active lifestyle as well as trail stewardship. More information is coming later this year.

National Park Transportation Interpreter
The National Park Foundation is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications from National Park areas (defined as all sites administered by and/or affiliated with the National Park Service including, but not limited to, park units, national scenic and historic trails, national heritage corridors/areas, etc.) to participate in the 2009 National Park Foundation Transportation Interpreter Program. This program is a partnership between the National Park Foundation and the NPS, and is made possible through the generous support of Ford Motor Company.

This program is designed to support and enhance systems of alternative transportation offered at national parks through the placement of Transportation Interpreters onboard park buses, trains, ferries, etc. By providing exemplary interpretation, the Transportation Interpreter intends to encourage more visitors to use alternative transportation at national parks, helping to reduce vehicle congestion and other related impacts of personal vehicle use such as noise and air pollution. More information is coming in 2010.

National Park Transportation Scholar
This program provides National Park Areas with expert assistance on transportation related projects for six to 12 months, beginning on or about June 1, 2009. Transportation Scholars are individuals with substantial knowledge and expertise in transportation planning and related areas. The program will place four Transportation Scholars in National Parks, depending upon the number and scope of project proposals received from Parks. Parks that have previously been awarded Transportation Scholars may re-apply to the program; however, the total Scholar assistance may not exceed two years. More information is coming in early 2010.

For a list of all recent grants awarded by the National Park Foundation, click here.