Opportunity Information: Apply for P21AS00199
The FY2020 Historic Preservation Fund African American Civil Rights History Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P21AS00199) is a discretionary grant program run by the National Park Service (NPS) through its African American Civil Rights Grant Program (AACR). Its purpose is to support projects that document, interpret, and preserve places and narratives connected to the African American struggle for equal rights as citizens, as well as projects addressing the history and impacts of the transatlantic slave trade. In practice, this program is geared toward helping communities, researchers, and preservation partners strengthen the historical record and elevate underrepresented civil rights stories by building the research foundation that preservation and public interpretation often depend on.
This particular announcement, P21AS00199, is specifically for history-focused work rather than construction or restoration. Funded activities include a broad range of research and documentation efforts tied to historic sites, such as surveys and inventories of historic resources, preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations, oral history projects, and related forms of historical research and documentation. The NPS 2008 publication, Civil Rights in America: A Framework for Identifying Significant Sites, is identified as a key reference for applicants and reviewers and is intended to help determine whether proposed topics, properties, and projects are appropriate and significant within the program’s scope.
A central detail is that the AACR program separates funding between history/documentation work and physical preservation work, and applicants are expected to choose the correct announcement number based on the type of project they are proposing. P21AS00199 covers historical research, documentation, surveys, and nominations. A different opportunity number, P21AS00200, is reserved for physical preservation projects at historic sites (for example, repairs, rehabilitation, and other hands-on preservation work). The notice also points applicants to a separate program, Historic Equal Rights (P21AS00201), which supports physical preservation only for sites connected to the broader struggle for civil rights for all Americans. This separation matters because proposals must align with the goals and allowable activities of the specific funding announcement under which they are submitted.
Funding for the AACR Grant Program is provided through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which is administered by NPS. For FY2020, Public Law 116-94 provided $15.5 million for the AACR program overall. Awards under this specific history-grants announcement have an award ceiling of $50,000. The grants are awarded through a competitive process, and one notable feature is that they do not require a non-Federal match, which can make them more accessible to organizations that might struggle to raise required cost share.
Eligibility is broad and includes state governments, local governments (including counties, cities or townships, special districts, and independent school districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The announcement also references eligibility for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined by 54 USC 300300. One key restriction is that grants are not available for sites or collections owned by the National Park Service, meaning projects must focus on non-NPS-owned resources even if they are historically significant.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed under CFDA number 15.904 and uses the grant funding instrument type. The original application closing date shown is January 12, 2021, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on November 9, 2020. Overall, P21AS00199 is best understood as a targeted federal funding source for building credible, well-documented civil rights history at the site level, supporting the kind of research, documentation, and nomination work that can lead to stronger preservation outcomes and more accurate public understanding over time.Apply for P21AS00199
- The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2020 Historic Preservation Fund- African American Civil Rights- History 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 2020-11-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-12. (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 $50,000.00 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.
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FAQs: FY2020 Historic Preservation Fund African American Civil Rights History Grants (P21AS00199)
What is the FY2020 Historic Preservation Fund African American Civil Rights History Grants opportunity (P21AS00199)?
P21AS00199 is a discretionary, competitive federal grant opportunity run by the National Park Service (NPS) through its African American Civil Rights Grant Program (AACR). It supports history-focused projects that document, interpret, and preserve places and narratives connected to the African American struggle for equal rights as citizens, as well as projects addressing the history and impacts of the transatlantic slave trade.
Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the National Park Service (NPS). Funding is provided through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which is administered by NPS.
What is the main purpose of this specific announcement?
This announcement is specifically intended for historical research and documentation work (not construction). It is geared toward strengthening the historical record and elevating underrepresented civil rights stories by supporting the foundational research and documentation that preservation and public interpretation often depend on.
Is this grant for construction, repairs, restoration, or rehabilitation work?
No. P21AS00199 is for history-focused work rather than construction or restoration. Physical preservation activities belong under a different announcement number.
What types of projects and activities are included under P21AS00199?
Funded activities include research and documentation efforts tied to historic sites and civil rights history, such as:
- Surveys and inventories of historic resources
- Preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations
- Oral history projects
- Other forms of historical research and documentation related to eligible topics and sites
How does P21AS00199 differ from P21AS00200?
P21AS00199 covers historical research, documentation, surveys, and nominations. P21AS00200 is reserved for physical preservation projects at historic sites (for example, repairs, rehabilitation, and other hands-on preservation work). Applicants are expected to choose the correct announcement number based on the project type.
How does this opportunity relate to the Historic Equal Rights opportunity (P21AS00201)?
The notice points to a separate program called Historic Equal Rights (P21AS00201). That opportunity supports physical preservation only for sites connected to the broader struggle for civil rights for all Americans. In contrast, P21AS00199 is a history/documentation-focused opportunity within the African American Civil Rights Grant Program.
Why is choosing the correct funding opportunity number important?
The AACR program separates funding between history/documentation work and physical preservation work. Proposals must align with the goals and allowable activities of the specific funding announcement under which they are submitted, so selecting the correct opportunity number is a key requirement.
What topics does the grant support?
The opportunity supports projects connected to:
- The African American struggle for equal rights as citizens
- The history and impacts of the transatlantic slave trade
Is there a key reference applicants and reviewers use to assess significance and fit?
Yes. The NPS 2008 publication Civil Rights in America: A Framework for Identifying Significant Sites is identified as a key reference. It is intended to help determine whether proposed topics, properties, and projects are appropriate and significant within the program scope.
What is the maximum award amount for this announcement?
The award ceiling for grants under P21AS00199 is $50,000.
Does this grant require a non-Federal match (cost share)?
No. A notable feature of this opportunity is that it does not require a non-Federal match, which can make it more accessible to applicants that may have difficulty raising cost share.
How much funding was provided for the AACR program overall for FY2020?
For FY2020, Public Law 116-94 provided $15.5 million for the AACR program overall (across the program, not necessarily limited to this single announcement).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- State governments
- Local governments (including counties, cities or townships, special districts, and independent school districts)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
The announcement also references eligibility for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian Organizations as defined by 54 USC 300300.
Are projects involving National Park Service (NPS)-owned sites or collections eligible?
No. One key restriction is that grants are not available for sites or collections owned by the National Park Service. Projects must focus on non-NPS-owned resources, even if the resources are historically significant.
Is this opportunity competitive?
Yes. Awards under this announcement are made through a competitive process.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.904.
What is the funding instrument type used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument type.
What was the application closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original application closing date shown is January 12, 2021.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates it was created on November 9, 2020.
In practical terms, what does this grant help communities and partners do?
In practice, this funding helps communities, researchers, and preservation partners build credible documentation and research at the site level, strengthen the historical record, and support accurate public interpretation. It is aimed at the kind of groundwork that can lead to stronger preservation outcomes and a better-informed public understanding over time.
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