Network to Freedom Grant Program

2022 Grants Awarded

The National Park Service announced the award of $150,000 in National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (NTF) Grants to 26 existing and prospective Network to Freedom members. This grant program, funded by the 400 Years of African American History Commission (400 YAAHC) and administered through the Association of African American Life and History (ASALH), will support community work to document, preserve, and interpret Underground Railroad history. To learn more about which Network to Freedom members received grant funding, check out our latest press release below.

The Network to Freedom funds competitively selected projects from member sites, programs, and facilities, when appropriations are available. Future funding opportunities will be announced on their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I apply for grants?

The Network to Freedom Program is currently accepting grant proposals. The application can be found here: ASALH PARTNERS | Apply (wpengine.com) 

Future funding opportunities will be posted to our website and distributed via our mailing list. To join our mailing list, email [e-mail].

Do you have to be a Network to Freedom Member in order to apply for grant funding?

Anyone can apply for a grant to develop a Network to Freedom historic site application.
Only current Network to Freedom members can apply for preservation and interpretation grants. 

What can I use the grant funding for?

The National Park Service supports projects that achieve the goals of preservation, interpretation, and education of Underground Railroad history. Specifically, the projects should support or enhance the Underground Railroad associations for which site, program, or facility was listed in the Network to Freedom. Examples of projects that support these objectives include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Markers or signs identifying the site as being in the Network to Freedom

• Interpretive markers, brochures, exhibits, websites;

• Historical research in support of interpretation or publications;

• Oral history and documenting oral traditions;

• Educational curricula and lesson plans;

• Cultural Resource surveys;

• Archeological surveys;

• Preservation and restoration of historic buildings, structures, landscapes;

• Projects to enhance accessibility of sites and programs (including installation of ramps or lifts)

• National Register documentation and nominations;

• Workshops and public educational programs;

• Technical assistance in associated site and/or landscape identification; and

• Preservation and stabilization of cultural artifacts, collections, and documents.
• Develop new Network to Freedom historic site applications
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How are grant/project awardees determined?

A committee of reviewers, including National Park Service Network to Freedom regional program managers, other National Park Service staff, and non-National Park Service reviewers will rank applications and make funding recommendations. The following criteria will be used to rank project applications:

• Need for the Project

• Work Plan and Time Line for Project Completion

• Project Outcomes

• Project Budget

• Bonus: New Grant Recipients

• Bonus: Matching Funds

• Bonus: Projects which highlight the connections between Underground Railroad activism and struggles for access to education, suffrage, and/or public accommodations