Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00359

  • The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native American Youth Connect to National Parks" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jul 20, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of Intent. (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 $64,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
Apply for P16AS00359

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Opportunity Summary:

The Native American Youth Connect to National Parks grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00359) is a National Park Service program under the U.S. Department of the Interior designed to support projects that help Native American youth engage with and connect to units of the National Park System. It is offered as a discretionary funding opportunity in the natural resources activity area, and it is tied to CFDA 15.931, which generally covers National Park Service financial assistance programs. In practical terms, this opportunity is aimed at building meaningful, on-the-ground experiences that bring Native youth into parks, strengthen cultural connections to ancestral lands and stories, and encourage stewardship, learning, and long-term relationships with public lands.

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved in carrying out the project rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant with minimal federal participation. Cooperative agreements often include collaboration on planning, coordination with park staff, interpretation and education components, safety and compliance requirements for activities on federal lands, and joint oversight of project deliverables. If an applicant is considering this opportunity, it should be prepared for a partnership style of award administration where NPS staff may help shape program activities, provide access to park resources, assist with logistics, and ensure the project aligns with park priorities and federal guidelines.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofits that have IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status and are not institutions of higher education. That means eligible applicants are typically community-based nonprofits, youth-serving organizations, cultural and heritage nonprofits, or other charitable organizations that can credibly run youth programs and coordinate activities connected to national parks. Because the program title and description are focused specifically on Native American youth, competitive proposals would normally be expected to demonstrate authentic relationships with Native communities, culturally grounded program design, and a clear plan for engaging Native youth in ways that respect tribal sovereignty, cultural protocols, and community priorities.

The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $64,000 and indicates that one award is expected. This suggests a relatively focused, single-project effort rather than a broad nationwide competition supporting many grantees at once. With a funding cap at that level, proposed projects are likely to be scoped as short-term or pilot-scale programs: for example, a series of youth visits to a nearby national park, culturally informed stewardship or service projects, youth leadership and conservation training, interpretive or educational programming tied to Native histories and living cultures, or collaborative activities that connect youth with park staff, tribal educators, and cultural practitioners. While the source data does not provide a detailed list of allowable costs, typical expenses in programs like this often include program staffing, participant transportation, supplies and materials for educational and stewardship activities, workshop or event costs, and other direct expenses needed to safely and effectively run youth programming.

The posting date is July 20, 2016, and the listed original closing date is "Notice of Intent," which usually indicates the selection may have been made through a targeted or limited process, or that the first step involved submitting a notice of intent rather than a full application by a standard deadline. Opportunities with that kind of closing notation sometimes reflect special circumstances such as a planned partnership, a continuation project, or a program where the agency first requests a brief concept summary before inviting a full proposal. Anyone attempting to pursue something similar today would typically need to confirm whether the opportunity is archived, whether it was a one-time award, or whether a current or successor funding announcement exists.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a National Park Service-supported partnership with a nonprofit organization to create hands-on, culturally respectful experiences that connect Native American youth to national parks through education, cultural engagement, and stewardship. Key takeaways are the cooperative agreement structure (active NPS involvement), the narrow applicant eligibility (501(c)(3) nonprofits only, excluding universities), the modest single-award budget ceiling ($64,000), and the program purpose of strengthening Native youth connections to parks and public lands through planned, supervised programming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Native American Youth Connect to National Parks grant opportunity?

The Native American Youth Connect to National Parks grant opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) program under the U.S. Department of the Interior that supports projects helping Native American youth engage with and connect to units of the National Park System through on-the-ground experiences, learning, and stewardship.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is P16AS00359.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What activity area does this funding fall under?

The opportunity is offered as a discretionary funding opportunity in the natural resources activity area.

What CFDA number is this opportunity tied to?

This opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.931, which generally covers National Park Service financial assistance programs.

What is the main purpose of the grant?

The main purpose is to support meaningful, hands-on projects that connect Native American youth to national parks, strengthen cultural connections to ancestral lands and stories, encourage stewardship and learning, and build long-term relationships with public lands.

What type of award is used for this funding?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved in carrying out the project. Rather than a hands-off grant, the award is generally administered as a partnership where NPS staff may collaborate on planning, coordinate with park staff, support interpretation and education components, address safety and compliance requirements for activities on federal lands, and jointly oversee deliverables.

How involved might the National Park Service be during the project?

Based on the cooperative agreement structure described, NPS involvement can include helping shape program activities, providing access to park resources, assisting with logistics, coordinating with park staff, and ensuring alignment with park priorities and federal guidelines.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status and are not institutions of higher education.

Are colleges or universities eligible applicants?

No. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from eligibility.

What types of organizations are likely to be eligible?

Eligible applicants are typically community-based nonprofits, youth-serving organizations, cultural and heritage nonprofits, or other charitable organizations with the capacity to run youth programs and coordinate activities connected to national parks.

Is the program specifically focused on Native American youth?

Yes. The program title and description are focused specifically on Native American youth connecting with units of the National Park System.

What kinds of project qualities would likely be expected to be competitive?

Competitive proposals would normally be expected to show authentic relationships with Native communities, culturally grounded program design, and a clear plan for engaging Native youth in ways that respect tribal sovereignty, cultural protocols, and community priorities.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $64,000.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The opportunity indicates that one award is expected.

What does it imply that only one award is expected?

This suggests a focused, single-project effort rather than a broad competition supporting many grantees at once. Projects may be scoped as short-term or pilot-scale given the single-award approach and the stated funding cap.

What kinds of projects might fit within the scope of this opportunity?

Examples consistent with the description include a series of youth visits to a nearby national park, culturally informed stewardship or service projects, youth leadership and conservation training, interpretive or educational programming tied to Native histories and living cultures, and activities that connect youth with park staff, tribal educators, and cultural practitioners.

What kinds of costs might be supported by the grant?

The source information does not provide a detailed list of allowable costs. However, typical expenses in programs like this often include program staffing, participant transportation, supplies and materials for educational and stewardship activities, workshop or event costs, and other direct expenses needed to run youth programming safely and effectively.

When was this funding opportunity posted?

The posting date listed is July 20, 2016.

What is the listed closing date?

The listed original closing date is shown as "Notice of Intent."

What does a closing date listed as "Notice of Intent" usually mean?

"Notice of Intent" typically indicates the first step may have been submitting a notice of intent rather than a full application by a standard deadline. It can also suggest a targeted or limited process where the agency initially requests a brief concept summary before inviting a full proposal.

Could this have been a one-time or targeted funding opportunity?

Yes. The "Notice of Intent" closing notation, combined with the expectation of a single award, can reflect special circumstances such as a planned partnership, a continuation project, or a limited selection process.

If someone wanted to pursue something like this today, what should they verify?

They would typically need to confirm whether the opportunity is archived, whether it was a one-time award, and whether a current or successor funding announcement exists.

What is the overall takeaway about this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is best understood as an NPS-supported partnership with a nonprofit organization to create hands-on, culturally respectful experiences connecting Native American youth to national parks through education, cultural engagement, and stewardship, with active NPS involvement under a cooperative agreement and a modest single-award funding cap.

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