American Battlefield Protection

Active

Assistance listing
15.926
Agency
Grant awards
316 $19,220,902 in federal obligations

Program facts

Also known as
ABPP (Planning Grants)
Assistance type
  • Project Grant
Treasury account
  • 14-1042-0-1-303
More information

Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.

About this program

The National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (CFDA 15.926) funds non-land-acquisition projects that identify, evaluate, interpret, and protect historic battlefields and armed-conflict sites on American soil, with the most recent grant awards made in September 2025.

The program has distributed 316 Project Grants totaling $19.2 million in federal dollars since 2001, with activity accelerating in recent years—2023 saw 26 awards, compared to 12–16 annually in 2021–2022 and 2024–2025. Recipients have included state and local governments, universities, tribal entities, and nonprofits. Recent awards have funded archaeological surveys and documentation, master plans and interpretation plans, battlefield restoration and landscape reconstruction, digital exhibits and augmented-reality applications, and collections digitization. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received $143,901 to create a preservation and interpretation master plan; the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska received $200,000 to document battlefield heritage; and South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism received $317,308 to fabricate and install interactive exhibits at the Battle of Musgrove Mill visitors center. Combined federal and non-federal dollars obligated reached $24.8 million, indicating a non-federal cost share of approximately $5.6 million.

Funding concentration is split between two administrative entities within the National Park Service National Office (165 awards, $13.3 million) and the broader NPS apparatus (151 awards, $5.9 million), covering 100 percent of all awards. All grants are structured as Project Grants with individual award magnitudes typically ranging from $50 thousand to $400 thousand, though some scoping grants run lower and major restoration or interpretation projects occasionally exceed $600 thousand.

Three grant streams are currently open: Preservation Planning Grants (posted January 3, 2025; due March 31, 2025) fund research, archaeological surveys, interpretive planning, and documentation; Battlefield Restoration Grants (posted September 9, 2025; due January 8, 2026) support restoration of Civil War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 battlefields to day-of-battle conditions and require dollar-for-dollar non-federal match; and Battlefield Interpretation Grants (posted August 27, 2025; due November 25, 2025) fund technology-driven projects including mobile apps, augmented reality, digital exhibits, and wayfinding. All three require competitive merit review and are open to state, local, and tribal governments, universities, and nonprofit organizations including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities. Pre-application coordination with NPS ABPP staff is encouraged, and coordination with State Historic Preservation Offices is recommended. Projects requiring private property access require written landowner permission.

Objective and description

Objective

To provide Federal financial assistance to State, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to identify, evaluate, interpret, and protect historic battlefields and sites associa

Description

The American Battlefield Protection Program offers grants to help protect, preserve, and interpret historic battlefield sites across the country. These grants serve state, tribal, and local governments, as well as universities and nonprofit organizations, helping them carry out non-land-acquisition projects that make battlefield history accessible and meaningful to the public.

Eligibility

Applicant eligibility

Interstate, Intrastate, State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes: excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Public nonprofit institution/organizations (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Native American Organizations (includes lndian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, associations) State and local governments and agencies; public and State controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); and Native Hawaiian organizations including any organization that serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians, has as a primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians, and has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs. Multi-organizational applications are encouraged.

Beneficiary eligibility

Federal, U.S. Territories, Private nonprofit institution/organization, Interstate, Native American Organizations, Intrastate, State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments State and local governments and agencies; public and State controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education; nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); and Native Hawaiian organizations including any organization that serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians, has as a primary and stated purpose the provision of services to Native Hawaiians, and has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs.

Uses of assistance

Funds may be used for projects resulting in the protection and preservation of battlefield lands and their associated sites on American soil. No funding is given to projects dealing with acquisition of properties or land in fee or interest, payment of rent on properties or land, fund raising, lobbying, battle reenactments, new construction or reconstruction of historic resources, permanent staff positions, academic scholarships, capital construction or improvement projects (site excavation, trail or road construction, parking lots, visitor centers, scene restoration, etc.).

Length and time phasing of assistance

Assistance length and time depends on project complexity. Grant terms for funded projects are estimated to last two years, depending on the negotiated project statement of work.

How to apply

Preapplication coordination

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Informal pre-application coordination with ABPP staff is highly recommended. Coordination with appropriate State Historic Preservation Offices is recommended. Projects with access to private property require land owners written permission. The applicants should review the NPS ABPP Programmatic Agreement for Section 106 Review ABPP's Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Section 106 Review, available on the ABPP's program's website https://www.nps.gov/orgs/2287/upload/NPS-ABPP-Programmatic-Agreement_Amend-2_2022.pdf

Criteria for selecting proposals

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.

Award procedure

Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.

Deadlines

Preservation Planning Grants - Annual applications are posted in mid-December and due in mid-March. Battlefield Restoration Grants - Annual applications are posted in mid-March and due in mid-July. Battlefield Interpretation Grants - Annual applications are posted in mid-April and due in mid-August. Contact the headquarters office for specific application deadlines.

Time to approval or disapproval

Applications are reviewed and approved or disapproved by the National Park Service by the end of the Federal fiscal year.

Renewals

If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.

Appeals

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.

Grant opportunities

Opportunity Status Posted Applications due
FY2025 ABPP - Battlefield Restoration Grants P25AS00475 Closed
FY2025 ABPP - Battlefield Interpretation Grant P25AS00477 Closed
FY2025 ABPP - Preservation Planning Grants P25AS00476 Closed
FY2024 ABPP - Battlefield Interpretation Grant P24AS00521 Closed
FY2024 ABPP - Battlefield Restoration Grants P24AS00519 Closed
FY2024 ABPP - Preservation Planning Grants P24AS00516 Closed
FY2023 ABPP - Battlefield Interpretation Grant P23AS00487 Closed
FY2023 ABPP - Battlefield Restoration Grants P23AS00479 Closed
FY2023 ABPP - Preservation Planning Grants P23AS00120 Closed
FY2022 Battlefield Restoration Grants P22AS00623 Closed
American Battlefield Protection Program - Battlefield Interpretation Grant P22AS00245 Closed
FY2022 American Battlefield Protection Program: Preservation Planning Grants P22AS00131 Closed
FY2021 Battlefield Interpretation Grants P21AS00291 Closed
Battlefield Preservation Planning Grants P21AS00206 Closed
Battlefield Preservation Planning Grants - American Battlefield Protection Program P20AS00026 Closed
American Battlefield Protection Program P19AS00020 Closed
FY 18 American Battlefield Protection Program Battlefield Preservation Planning Project Grants P18AS00003 Closed
American Battlefield Protection Program Battlefield Preservation Planning Project Grants P15AS00175 Closed
American Battlefield Protection Program Battlefield Preservation Project Grants P14AS00392 Closed
Show all 19

Grant awards

Award Recipient Federal obligations Awarded
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01783 Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission $61,857
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01781 University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill $88,775
5.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are… P25AP01774 Qawalangin Tribe Of Unalaska $200,000
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01782 Susquehanna Heritage Corporation $73,485
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01780 East Carolina University $131,314
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01779 New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection $200,000
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01778 Massachusetts Historical Society $83,656
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01777 University Of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. $200,000
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01776 University Of Florida $80,317
15.926 american battlefield protection programhistoric battlefields and associated sites of armed conflict are powerful… P25AP01775 Archaeology Southwest $78,595

Latest 10 of 316 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.

Top recipients by federal obligations

10 of 180 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.

Federal obligations by fiscal year

Fiscal year Federal obligations
FY2026 -$81,102
FY2025 $2,124,315
FY2024 $2,205,965
FY2023 $1,332,214
FY2022 $2,267,257
FY2021 $231,155
FY2020 $1,113,072
FY2019 $1,157,759
FY2018 $888,566
FY2017 $1,096,010
FY2016 $1,095,306
FY2015 $1,198,000
FY2014 $1,332,612
FY2013 $894,475
FY2009 $29,000
FY2008 $172,320
FY2005 $1,243,114
FY2004 $406,064
FY2002 $493,500
FY2001 $25,300
Show all 20

Quick answers

What is Assistance Listing 15.926?

Assistance Listing 15.926 is American Battlefield Protection, a federal grant program run by National Park Service (Department of the Interior).

What is the CFDA number for American Battlefield Protection?

Its CFDA number is 15.926: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.

How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.926 awarded?

316 grant awards under 15.926 have obligated $19,220,902 in federal funds to 180 recipients.

Who receives the most funding from 15.926?

The recipients obligated the most under American Battlefield Protection are American Battlefield Trust ($1,814,255), SC Battleground Preservation Trust ($485,725) and Gulf Archaeology Research Institute, Inc. ($409,450).

How much did 15.926 obligate in fiscal year 2025?

Grants under 15.926 obligated $2,124,315 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.

Are there open grant opportunities under 15.926?

No opportunity listed under 15.926 is open now. The latest, FY2025 ABPP - Battlefield Restoration Grants, was posted on September 9, 2025.

On GovTribe

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